Emerging Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technologies in Digital Agriculture – Perspectives in the AI era and Challenges

XXX-X-XXXX-XXXX-X/XX/$XX.00 ©20XX IEEE Eme ging Blockchain & Dis ibu ed Ledge Technologies in Digi al Ag icul u e - Pe spec i es in he AI E a and Challenges E osyni Bi akou Ag icul u al Uni e si y o A hens A hens, G eece [email p o ec ed] Cons an ina Cos opoulou Ag icul u al Uni e si y o A hens A hens, G eece [email p o ec ed] Eugenia Ka amouzi Rezos B ands S.A. Pa as, G eece [email p o ec ed] Ma ia N aliani Ag icul u al Uni e si y o A hens A hens, G eece [email p o ec ed] Ca e ina Cons an inou Rezos B ands S.A. Pa as, G eece [email p o ec ed] Kopilo ić Nikola Te a Consul ing No i Sad, Se bia [email p o ec ed] Kons an inos Demes ichas Ag icul u al Uni e si y o A hens A hens, G eece [email p o ec ed] Panagio is Panopoulos Rezos B ands S.A. Pa as, G eece [email p o ec ed] Dimi ios Tsolis Rezos B ands S.A. Pa as, G eece [email p o ec ed] Abs ac —This a icle s udies he bene i s, challenges and u u e po en ial o combining blockchain, Dis ibu ed Ledge Technologies and A i icial In elligence in digi al ag icul u e. Thei con e gence p esen s signi ican oppo uni ies in c i ical a eas o ag icul u e, such as supply chain aceabili y, inancial inclusion, en i onmen al moni o ing, and decen alized da a go e nance. These echnologies can shape he u u e o digi al ag icul u e by de eloping inclusi e, in elligen , and decen alized sys ems ha a e bo h echnologically ad anced and aligned wi h social equi y and en i onmen al sus ainabili y. Keywo ds—Blockchain, Dis ibu ed Ledge Technologies, Digi al Ag icul u e, Secu i y, T aceabili y, Sma Con ac s. I. INTRODUCTION The con e gence o digi al echnologies is ede ining he landscape o mode n ag icul u e. As global ood sys ems ace inc easing p essu e om clima e challenges, popula ion g ow h, and sus ainabili y demands, he in eg a ion o inno a i e digi al solu ions has become impe a i e. Among hese, blockchain and Dis ibu ed Ledge Technologies (DLTs) ha e eme ged as ans o ma i e ools wi h he po en ial o enhance anspa ency, aceabili y, and us ac oss ag icul u al alue chains [1], [2]. Concu en ly, he apid e olu ion o A i icial In elligence (AI) is unlocking new dimensions in da a-d i en decision-making and au oma ion, u he ampli ying he capabili ies o blockchain-based sys ems. This pape explo es he syne gies be ween blockchain, DLTs, and AI in he con ex o digi al ag icul u e (DA), o e ing a o wa d-looking pe spec i e on how hese echnologies can join ly add ess long-s anding challenges, such as supply chain ine iciencies, da a silos, and p o enance e i ica ion. I also c i ically examines he ba ie s o adop ion ha should be o e come o ealize he ull po en ial o hese echnologies [3]. By si ua ing blockchain and DLTs wi hin he b oade AI-d i en ans o ma ion o ag icul u e, his s udy aims o con ibu e o he ongoing discou se on sus ainable inno a ion in ag i- ech ecosys ems. The s uc u e o he pape is as ollows: he backg ound sec ion includes basic no ions o blockchain and DA, as well as he main ba ie s ha hinde blockchain in eg a ion in o ag icul u e. Then, wo case s udies demons a e good p ac ices o blockchain applica ion in speci ic ag icul u al domains. In he nex wo sec ions, he con e gence o blockchain and AI in DA is p esen ed, elabo a ing on he bene i s and he adop ion pe spec i es co espondingly. Nex , he challenges and u u e esea ch oppo uni ies a e discussed. Finally, he conclusions o he pape a e gi en. II. BACKGROUND Blockchain is a o m o DLT ha acili a es he secu e, anspa en , and immu able eco ding o da a ac oss a decen alized ne wo k [4]. T ansac ions o da a en ies a e o ganized in o blocks, c yp og aphically connec ed o p eceding ones, and con i med h ough consensus mechanisms, like P oo o Wo k o P oo o S ake. DLTs encompass mo e han jus adi ional blockchains, suppo ing di e se s uc u es, such as di ec ed acyclic g aphs and pe missioned ledge s, each wi h unique consensus p o ocols and le els o decen aliza ion [5]. These sys ems enable eliable collabo a ion among mul iple pa ies, elimina ing he need o cen al in e media ies, making hem pa icula ly e ec i e in complex, mul i-s akeholde en i onmen s, like ag icul u e. Once p ima ily linked o c yp ocu encies, such as Bi coin, blockchain has ans o med in o a gene al-pu pose echnology wi h wide- anging applica ions ac oss a ious indus ies. In he inancial sec o , i suppo s decen alized inance (DeFi) and enables seamless c oss-bo de paymen s. In supply chains, i enhances anspa ency and aceabili y om sou ce o end use . In heal hca e, i sa egua ds pa ien da a and consen p ocesses and in he ene gy indus y, i enables decen alized ene gy ading. These di e se applica ions unde sco e i s lexibili y in asse acking, pe mission managemen , and au oma ion h ough sma con ac s, capabili ies ha a e inc easingly being applied in DA [6]. DA in ol es le e aging in o ma ion and communica ion echnologies o imp o e and op imize ag icul u al p ocesses. This digi al shi in ag icul u e is powe ed by cloud compu ing, edge echnologies, and in eg a ed pla o ms ha ga he , p ocess, and isualize eal- ime da a om he a m. In addi ion, sma a ming expands on his concep by inco po a ing senso ne wo ks, In e ne o Things (IoT) de ices, d ones, geog aphic in o ma ion sys ems, sa elli e image y, and machine lea ning o enable p ecise, da a-d i en decisions di ec ly a he ield le el. I s main goals include imp o ing esou ce e iciency, o ecas ing yields, managing pes s, and p omo ing sus ainable p ac ices [7]. Blockchain emains a p omising echnology o DA. None heless, he e a e s ill many challenges ha ha e o be add essed. In he con ex o aceabili y wi hin DA, he eliable acquisi ion o da a collec ion, holis ic da a in eg i y and he complexi y o in eg a ion in o he exis ing a ming sys ems a e included amongs o he s. Fu u e esea ch ac i i ies may ocus on exis ing and new DLT echniques and sys ems o achie ing eliable aceabili y o ood p oduc s in supply chains [8]. One o he bigges challenges wi h blockchain and DLT is scalabili y and pe o mance, pa icula ly when dealing wi h la ge-scale ag icul u al supply chains. Resea ch should be conduc ed so as o in es iga e and de elop me hods and use o ools o op imizing he pe o mance and scalabili y o blockchain and DLT, while also ensu ing ha hey emain secu e and decen alized. Mo eo e , he e a e many di e en and he e ogenous blockchain and DLT pla o ms, and ensu ing in e ope abili y be ween hem is c i ical o achie ing widesp ead adop ion in he ag icul u al sec o . Resea ch should be de eloped so as o analyze exis ing s anda ds and p o ocols o in e ope abili y, as well as o implemen me hods o in eg a ing blockchain and DLT wi h o he eme ging echnologies, such as IoT and AI [9]. The adop ion o sma con ac s in DA may ace se e al challenges, including complexi y, secu i y and eliabili y. Sma con ac s ope a e based on p ede ined ules and condi ions. These can be complex o de elop and execu e, especially o a me s and s akeholde s wi hou echnical expe ise. Also, ensu ing he secu i y o sma con ac s is pa amoun , as ulne abili ies in he code can lead o isks, such as hacking, manipula ion o da a [2], and inancial losses [10]. Resea ch e o s could ocus on me hodologies and good p ac ices o achie e eliabili y o sma con ac s, which depend on unde lying blockchain echnology o execu ion. In o de o o e come he abo e-men ioned obs acles, i is p oposed o s udy he con e gence o blockchain and AI in DA. The combined in eg a ion o hese echnologies in DA can c ea e powe ul syne gies ha con ibu e o enhancing e iciency and us and d i ing inno a ion in he sec o [11]. III. CASE STUDIES In his sec ion, wo case s udies, namely s awbe ies and walnu s, a e p esen ed o demons a e good p ac ices o blockchain applica ion in speci ic ag icul u al domains. A. S awbe ies S awbe ies, one o he mos widely aded ui s wo ldwide, ha e expe ienced consis en g ow h in hei plan ing and ha es a ea, and yield in ecen yea s [12]. They a e in high demand ac oss bo h he Eu opean esh ma ke and he ood indus y [13]. Technologies like blockchain and AI can g ea ly bene i his sec o . Sea ching cu en bibliog aphy, i becomes e iden ha he po en ial o combining blockchain and AI o s awbe ies is no ye explo ed. Howe e , he e a e some good p ac ices o blockchain implemen a ion. Walma uses blockchain o ace he o igin o o e wen y- i e p oduc s, including s awbe ies, allowing in his way consume s o au hen ica e he p oduc s’ jou ney [14]. Ano he case ega ds he collabo a ion o be y p oduce s wi h he IBM Food T us pla o m ha enables hem o ack hei p oduce om a m o able, ensu ing eal- ime isibili y in o p oduc o igin, handling condi ions, and dis ibu ion pa hways [15]. Mo eo e , ano he example ega ds in eg a ing blockchain echnology wi h IoT de ices o imp o e he e iciency and secu i y o s awbe y shipmen s. In his app oach, IoT senso s moni o c i ical pa ame e s, such as empe a u e, humidi y, and loca ion, h oughou he anspo a ion p ocess, ensu ing op imal condi ions o he pe ishable goods. The collec ed da a is hen eco ded on o a blockchain, p o iding an immu able and anspa en ledge accessible o all s akeholde s, including a me s, anspo e s, e aile s, and consume s [16]. Analyzing hese case s udies o s awbe y cul i a ion, i is e inced ha blockchain echnology can be bene icial o his cul i a ion in a ious in e dependen aspec s: T anspa ency and T aceabili y: Blockchain echnology enhances in en o y aceabili y and anspa ency wi hin supply chains. I allows o eal- ime acking and ensu es a secu e and unal e able eco d o acking he o igin and jou ney o s awbe ies, namely om a m o o k; Food Sa e y: Blockchain helps mi iga e ood sa e y isks, pa icula ly o s awbe ies ha a e pe ishable i ems, and imp o e ood quali y h ough moni o ing. This blockchain implemen a ion helps a oid e o s, and ine iciencies and p o ides swi esponse o any anomalies de ec ed o s awbe ies du ing ansi and apid ecalls; Fai T ade and Au hen ici y: Blockchain enables di ec paymen s o s awbe ies p oduce s, educing eliance on in e media ies. Also, i e i ies ce i ica ions and p e en s aud; Sma Con ac s o Paymen s: Blockchain ensu es ha paymen e ms a e execu ed exac ly as ag eed upon; Sus ainabili y: Blockchain con ibu es o sus ainabili y by imp o ing in en o y managemen and educing was e; and Consume Τ us : Blockchain ensu es compliance wi h egula o y s anda ds hus mee ing g owing consume demands o ood sa e y and quali y. I can o e in e ac i e expe iences wi h a me s’ a m- o- able s o ies wi h consume s, gi en e idence on e hical p ac ices, ul ima ely enhancing he ma ke oppo uni ies o s awbe ies. B. Walnu s The Walnu Fund se es as a p ac ical case s udy o blockchain applica ion in ag icul u e, demons a ing he easibili y and bene i s o in eg a ing digi al ledge echnologies in o a ming in es men s. I s app oach aligns wi h he b oade mo emen owa ds DA, whe e echnology enhances sus ainabili y, anspa ency, and economic iabili y [17]. The Walnu Fund ep esen s an inno a i e model a he in e sec ion o sus ainable ag icul u e and blockchain echnology. Es ablished as he wo ld's i s online ag icul u e in es men pla o m ocused on walnu plan a ions, he Walnu Fund allows indi iduals o in es in ully managed walnu ees. In es o s can pa icipa e wi h a minimum in es men , making i accessible o a b oade audience. The und emphasizes long- e m, sus ainable e u ns, wi h walnu ees o e ing yields o e se e al decades. In 2024, he Walnu Fund launched i s i s ini ial oken o e ing, ma king a signi ican s ep in okenizing ag icul u al asse s. Each oken co esponds o a sha e in he yield o a walnu ee, p o iding a anspa en and decen alized me hod o in es o s o ack and claim hei e u ns. This case exempli ies how blockchain can be applied in ag icul u e o enhance anspa ency, aceabili y, and in es o engagemen . By okenizing eal-wo ld ag icul u al asse s, i b idges he gap be ween adi ional a ming and mode n digi al inance. This model showcases he po en ial o blockchain o e olu ionize in es men in ag icul u e, making i mo e inclusi e, e icien , and democ a ic. IV. THE CONVERGENCE OF BLOCKCHAIN AND AI IN DA The con e gence o blockchain and AI in DA ep esen s a signi ican leap o wa d in he ques o mo e anspa en , au onomous, and da a-in elligen ood sys ems. While each echnology independen ly o e s subs an ial bene i s, hei combined applica ion unlocks no el unc ionali ies ha add ess pe sis en challenges in ag icul u al ecosys ems- anging om da a agmen a ion and aud o ine iciencies in decision-making and esou ce managemen . In he ollowing, signi ican bene i s o his con e gence o DA a e analy ically p esen ed. A. Da a In eg i y Mee s In elligen Analy ics Blockchain p o ides a ampe - esis an , e i iable da a laye , ensu ing ha inpu s in o AI models a e us wo hy. In ag icul u al con ex s, whe e da a o en comes om di e se, un e i ied sou ces [18]- such as IoT senso s, mobile apps, and ield agen s - his syne gy is c ucial. Fo ins ance, AI algo i hms ained on au hen ica ed blockchain-s o ed da a (e.g., c op yields, wea he pa e ns, pes icide usage) can deli e mo e accu a e p edic ions and diagnos ics, educing he isks o model bias o manipula ion. B. Au oma ed and T us ed Decision-Making Combining p edic i e capabili ies o AI wi h blockchain- enabled sma con ac s makes easible eal- ime, au oma ed decision-making ha is bo h audi able and sel -en o cing. In a p ecision a ming scena io, AI can de e mine op imal i iga ion schedule based on wea he o ecas s and soil da a, while blockchain-based con ac s au oma ically ac i a e i iga ion sys ems o no i y s akeholde s wi hou manual in e en ion, ensu ing anspa ency and accoun abili y a each s ep. C. Decen alized AI Ma ke places and Fede a ed Lea ning The eme gence o decen alized AI and ede a ed lea ning models u he s eng hens his con e gence. Fa me s and ag i- ech companies can ain AI models locally on hei de ices o edge nodes wi hou ans e ing sensi i e da a, hen agg ega e insigh s on a blockchain o wide use. This p omo es da a p i acy, model obus ness, and collabo a i e inno a ion, especially in smallholde a ming communi ies wa y o cen alized da a ha es ing. D. Tokeniza ion and Incen i e Mechanisms Blockchain okeniza ion capabili ies in oduce new incen i e s uc u es o encou age da a sha ing and sus ainable p ac ices. AI can assess he quali y o ele ance o sha ed da a (e.g., pes ou b eak epo s, c op moni o ing), while blockchain enables ai and anspa en dis ibu ion h ough digi al okens. This model no only d i es pa icipa o y da a ecosys ems, bu also democ a izes access o ag i-digi al economies. E. Enhanced T us in Human-AI Collabo a ion In ag icul u al domains, whe e us in digi al sys ems emains low, he audi able na u e o blockchain builds con idence in AI-d i en decisions. S akeholde s can ace he da a lineage, model logic, and decision a ionale- enabling explainable AI (XAI) wi hin us ed amewo ks. This is especially c i ical in policy-sensi i e a eas like ood sa e y, land use, and clima e adap a ion. F om he abo e-men ioned examples, i is shown ha oge he , blockchain and AI, a e no me ely addi i e in ag icul u e- hey a e mu ually enabling a new class o decen alized, in elligen ag icul u al sys ems. Thei con e gence suppo s a shi om siloed digi al ools owa d in e ope able, a me -cen ic ecosys ems ha can scale sus ainably ac oss egions and alue chains. V. ADOPTION PERSPECTIVES OF BLOCKCHAIN AND AI IN DA The adop ion o blockchain and AI in DA can be iewed h ough di e en pe spec i es. In his wo k, ou majo pe spec i es a e examined, namely echnological, economic, egula o y and policy, and social and e hical. Ini ially, om he echnological pe spec i e, he con e gence o blockchain and AI wi h IoT and edge compu ing is a c i ical d i e o p ecision ag icul u e. IoT de ices collec high- equency da a, which AI p ocesses o guide a m ope a ions. Blockchain can hen eco d and e i y his da a o aceabili y and au oma ion h ough sma con ac s [19]. Howe e , issues o scalabili y (especially in public blockchains, like E he eum) and in e ope abili y be ween di e en pla o ms and legacy sys ems hinde widesp ead adop ion [20]. Cu en solu ions, such as sidechains, sha ding, and c oss-chain p o ocols, a e p omising, bu s ill in ea ly deploymen s ages in ag icul u al con ex s. F om an economic s andpoin , blockchain and AI echnologies can educe ansac ion cos s, elimina e in e media ies, and minimize aud- especially in supply chains and ag i- inance. Sma con ac s au oma e paymen s, educing ime and adminis a i e o e head. Ye , o smallholde a me s, he cos o implemen a ion- ha dwa e, in e ne access, echnical suppo - can ou weigh pe cei ed sho - e m bene i s. Cos -bene i analyses in Sub-Saha an A ica and Sou h Asia sugges ha adop ion is mo e easible when bundled wi h digi al ad iso y o coope a i e-based models [21]. F om he egula o y and policy pe spec i e, a majo ba ie o blockchain-AI adop ion in ag icul u e is he lack o clea egula o y amewo ks. Issues, like sma con ac legali y, da a so e eign y, and digi al asse classi ica ion a e un esol ed in many ju isdic ions. Go e nmen s ha e shown in e es in blockchain o land egis ies and subsidy disbu semen , bu policy emains agmen ed. In e na ional o ganiza ions, such as FAO, ITU, and ISO a e beginning o de ine in e ope abili y and da a go e nance s anda ds, which will be c ucial o c oss-bo de ag i-da a lows and blockchain-based ade. Regula o y sandboxes may o e a pa h o con olled expe imen a ion and policy co-design. Finally, om he social and e hical pe spec i es, he human dimension o adop ion is o en o e looked. Digi al li e acy, pa icula ly in u al a ming communi ies, emains low. Wi hou inclusi e aining and suppo , a me s may be excluded o become passi e da a p o ide s in sys ems hey do no con ol. E hical conce ns aise ques ions, such as: “Who owns he senso and a m-le el da a?”; “A e a me s adequa ely compensa ed?”; “Can a me s unde s and and con es decisions made by AI models in luencing hei li elihoods?”. Mo eo e , blockchain o e s audi able anspa ency, bu i s immu abili y aises p i acy challenges, pa icula ly in sha ing sensi i e land o gene ic da a. E o s o build a me -cen ic da a go e nance amewo ks and XAI models a e essen ial o building us and e hical in eg i y [19]. TABLE I. ADOPTION PERSPECTIVES AT A GLANCE Pe spec i e Key Oppo uni ies Main Ba ie s Technological IoT/AI in eg a ion, edge p ocessing Scalabili y, in e ope abili y Economic Lowe ansac ion cos s, DeFi High ini ial cos s o smallholde s Regula o y Land egis y, compliance acking Policy gaps, lack o s anda ds Social & E hical Fa me empowe men , XAI Digi al li e acy, da a e hics VI. CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Despi e he p omising po en ial o blockchain and AI in ans o ming DA, se e al echnical, economic, ins i u ional, and e hical challenges con inue o hinde widesp ead adop ion and scalabili y [22]. Unde s anding hese limi a ions is c ucial o de eloping ealis ic deploymen s a egies and designing inclusi e, esilien ag i- ech ecosys ems. Blockchain sys ems, pa icula ly public ledge s, o en su e om limi ed scalabili y due o consensus mechanisms ha equi e signi ican compu a ional esou ces. This cons ain is pa icula ly ele an in ag icul u e, whe e eal- ime da a om IoT de ices and senso s should be p ocessed con inuously. Simila ly, in e ope abili y be ween a ious blockchain pla o ms and wi h exis ing ag icul u al in o ma ion sys ems emains limi ed, c ea ing da a silos and hinde ing in eg a ion wi h AI-d i en analy ics ools. Also, he deploymen o hese echnologies can be cos - p ohibi i e, especially o smallholde a me s and s akeholde s in low-income egions. Ini ial in es men s in digi al in as uc u e, senso echnologies, and secu e ne wo ks, along wi h he ongoing cos s o da a s o age and model aining, can exceed local budge s [23]. This aises conce ns abou digi al equi y and he isk o excluding ulne able popula ions om he bene i s o DA. In addi ion, he need o la ge da ase s o AI and blockchain immu abili y a ec s da a p i acy and owne ship. While blockchain can secu e da a p o enance, i also makes i di icul o dele e o al e sensi i e in o ma ion [24]. Mo eo e , ques ions on who con ols ag icul u al da a, how i is mone ized, and whe he a me s uly bene i om da a- d i en sys ems o a e me ely da a p o ide s o ex e nal en i ies, a e aised. Also, he e is a signi ican egula o y gap. Legal unce ain ies a ound sma con ac s, okeniza ion, and c oss- bo de da a lows limi inno a ion and in es men . Howe e , he absence o s anda dized p o ocols o da a quali y, and AI explainabili y hampe s us and adop ion among public ins i u ions and in e na ional s akeholde s. Ano he majo ba ie is he limi ed digi al li e acy among end-use s, including a me s, coope a i es, and e en ex ension wo ke s. The complexi y o hese echnologies can lead o discou agemen o misuse. Use -cen e ed design, capaci y building, and localized solu ions a e essen ial o ensu e meaning ul adop ion and long- e m impac . Fu he mo e, blockchain echnologies, especially hose elying on p oo -o -wo k, can ha e subs an ial ene gy demands, aising sus ainabili y conce ns in ag icul u al se ings. E o s o shi owa d g eene consensus mechanisms (e.g., p oo -o -s ake, DAGs) a e ongoing bu no ye widesp ead. Fu u e esea ch and inno a ion should p io i ize he c ea ion o in e ope able DA ecosys ems ha in eg a e blockchain, AI, IoT, and geospa ial echnologies. Open s anda ds and APIs will be c ucial o enabling seamless da a exchange ac oss pla o ms, educing edundancy, and acili a ing collabo a ion among di e se ag icul u al s akeholde s. The e is an eme ging oppo uni y o ede ine da a owne ship h ough a me -cen ic go e nance amewo ks, such as da a coope a i es o oken-based da a exchange sys ems. By gi ing a me s con ol o e how hei da a is accessed, sha ed, and mone ized-po en ially h ough blockchain-enabled sma con ac s- u u e sys ems can ensu e e hical, anspa en , and equi able pa icipa ion in he digi al economy. In addi ion, u u e blockchain a chi ec u es should ocus on ligh weigh , ene gy-e icien consensus mechanisms and edge AI compu ing o suppo scalable, low-cos applica ions sui able o u al and esou ce-cons ained en i onmen s. Ad ancemen s in sa elli e in e ne and 5G will u he enhance connec i i y and eal- ime da a capabili ies. As AI con inues o guide decision-making in ag icul u e, he e will be a g owing need o XAI solu ions ha can be unde s ood and us ed by non-expe use s. Fu he mo e, he ise o blockchain-based DeFi can imp o e access o c edi and in es men in ag icul u e. Tokenized asse s, mic oloans, and blockchain c owd unding pla o ms could help de- isk smallholde ag icul u e and open up new unding models, pa icula ly in unde se ed ma ke s. In pa allel, go e nmen s and in e na ional bodies ha e an oppo uni y o os e inno a ion by c ea ing egula o y sandboxes, whe e eme ging blockchain-AI solu ions can be es ed in eal-wo ld ag icul u al con ex s wi h suppo i e o e sigh . Finally, add essing he abo e-men ioned challenges equi es a mul i-s akeholde app oach ha combines echnological inno a ion wi h inclusi e policies, local capaci y-building, and in e na ional coope a ion. A balanced iew o bo h he po en ial and he limi a ions is essen ial o ensu e ha blockchain and AI se e he needs o all ac o s in he ag icul u al alue chain-especially hose a he ma gins. VII. CONCLUSIONS As he ag icul u al sec o con inues o unde go digi al ans o ma ion, he con e gence o blockchain, DLTs, and AI p esen s unp eceden ed oppo uni ies o eshape ood sys ems. As his pape has demons a ed, he con e gence o hese echnologies holds signi ican p omise ac oss key ag icul u al sec o s- om supply chain aceabili y and inancial inclusion o en i onmen al moni o ing and decen alized da a go e nance. By le e aging he s eng hs o blockchain in da a in eg i y, decen aliza ion, and audi abili y, alongside he capabili ies o AI in pa e n ecogni ion, p edic ion, and au oma ion, s akeholde s in ag icul u e can add ess longs anding challenges, such as in o ma ion asymme ies, ine iciencies, and us de ici s. Howe e , he ealiza ion o his po en ial is no wi hou ba ie s. Issues ela ed o scalabili y, digi al inclusion, egula o y unce ain y, and e hical da a use mus be add essed h ough a ge ed inno a ion, suppo i e policy, and inclusi e design. Looking o wa d, he pa h o sus ainable and equi able ag i-digi al ans o ma ion will depend on collabo a i e e o s among a me s, IT p o essionals, policymake s, and esea che s. I will equi e no only echnological de elopmen , bu also a deep commi men o aligning hese ools wi h he eal-wo ld needs and alues o ag icul u al communi ies. In summa y, while blockchain and AI in DA a e s ill eme ging, hei con e gence ep esen s a c i ical on ie o shaping he nex gene a ion o ag i- ood sys ems-ones ha a e no only sma e and mo e e icien , bu also mo e anspa en , us wo hy, and sus ainable. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The pape has been suppo ed by - TALLHEDA P ojec , “TRANSFORMING ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE WITH SUCCESSFUL ALLIANCES OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN DIGITAL AGRICULTURE”, GA No 101136578. This p ojec is unded by he Eu opean Union unde Ho izon Eu ope esea ch and inno a ion p og amme. REFERENCES [1] Chen, H.-Y., Sha ma, K., & Sha ma, C. (2023). In eg a ing Explainable A i icial In elligence and Blockchain o Sma Ag icul u e: Resea ch P ospec s o Decision Making and Imp o ed Secu i y. Sma Ag icul u al Technology, 6(2), 100350. 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