In tree nurseries, digital applications are increasingly being used to support cultivation processes in a more precise, sustainable, and efficient way. Using imaging technologies such as satellite or drone imagery and in‑field camera systems, information is collected on crop growth, vitality, and spatial variation within plots. These images are analysed to reveal patterns that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, such as plant stress, growth differences, or developmental anomalies.
From an ELSA research perspective, the use of these technologies raises important ethical, legal, and societal questions. Data ownership is a central issue: who owns the collected images and analyses, and who is allowed to reuse or commercialise this data?
Through ELSA Scans and stakeholder dialogues, relevant values, risks, and opportunities for improvement are identified. This may lead not only to adaptations in technological design, but also to recommendations regarding organisational and legal conditions.
Read more about the ELSA Scan, which can be requested as a research service through the AgrifoodTEF network. This Testing & Experimentation Facility (TEF) network offers testing opportunities for companies and other organisations developing AI innovations.
