Closing the Adoption Gap: Scaling Digital Agriculture in ASEAN
The Grow Asia Digital Learning Series (DLS) has made a return in 2026. Throughout May, Grow Asia ran a three-part fireside chat series, Closing the Adoption Gap: Leadership Perspectives on Scaling Digital Agriculture in ASEAN. Hosted by Erika Balzarelli of The Sustainable Smallholder, lead author of Grow Asia's report Accelerating Smallholder Adoption at Scale in ASEAN, the series brought together leaders from telecommunications, agri-fintech, and development finance to explore a central question: if the technology exists, what is preventing digital agriculture from reaching scale?
The DLS is part of the regional GrowVentures Impact Fund, supported by IFAD and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Across all three episodes, a consistent message emerged: scaling digital agriculture is not primarily a technology challenge. Success depends on the systems, partnerships, incentives, and people that enable solutions to reach farmers and create lasting value.