Data-driven digital participation in agri-food context
Khondokar Humayun Kabir, Ataharul Huq Chowdhury, Uduak Ita Edet · 2024
During the past few decades, the agriculture sector has undergone an enormous transition regarding its various aspects, especially how advice is administered to producers and consumers, thanks to advancements in communication technologies. Increased access to free and easy information on various digital channels, especially social media platforms, has brought major challenges for the farmers and the public to be exposed to misleading information. This phenomenon, known as information disorder, has significant implications for communication for development and communication for social change scholars and practitioners working with rural and agricultural communities. To address this issue, this chapter examines the power, profit, and propaganda framework, which sheds light on the complex web of misinformation within the agri-food domain. The power, profit, and propaganda framework illuminates the interplay between power dynamics, economic incentives, and deliberate propaganda, providing insight into the underlying forces driving the spread of polluted information. The chapter examines various factors, including social media platforms, scientific literacy gaps, confirmation bias, political interests, the media landscape, and globalization, that amplify misinformation. By understanding these contextual nuances, stakeholders can develop strategies to combat information disorder and foster a more discerning and informed society.