Responsible digital agri-food innovation in Australian and New Zealand public research organisations

Abstract

This article analyses digital agricultural technologies (agtech) innovation in two public research organisations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand through the lens of responsible innovation (RI), and how corresponding activities were realised in practice. Four virtual workshops explored the operationalisation of RI and its efficacy in digital agtech development. Thematic analysis of workshop materials provided scope to assess the recognised and realised value of RI in both digital agtech programmes, which we found lagging behind RI's full, perhaps idealised, potential. The value proposition of RI can, therefore, not be taken for granted without support for its operationalisation and institutionalisation. Given growing demands on public research organisations to responsibly develop transformational research and innovation, the article outlines recommendations for turning RI aspirations into situated research practices. We conclude that the next phase of agtech innovation should align with the co-evolution of rural social research and its contribution to more responsible digital agtech innovation.