Digitalizing Sustainability Governance in Aquaculture: Implications for Smallholder Inclusion

Digital tools are increasingly used to make food production more sustainable. From mobile apps to online data platforms, these technologies promise to help farmers improve their practices and connect to global markets. But what do these changes mean for small-scale farmers?

This PhD research examines how digital technologies are changing the way sustainability is organized and monitored in the aquaculture sector. Based on in-depth field research, it shows that digital tools do not only create new connections, but also change power relations. They influence who is involved in sustainability programs, what the conditions for participation are, and how decisions are made.

The research finds that small-scale farmers are not automatically included when digital technologies are introduced. Instead, inclusion depends on how digital systems are designed, implemented and governed. By highlighting these dynamics, the study contributes to debates on the contribution of digital technologies to fair and sustainable food systems.