1. Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh.
2. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Social Research, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

*             Correspondence: sfakhtar@juniv.edu.bd

Keywords: digital innovation, technological social innovation, food access, climate change adaptation, community-led approaches

1. INTRODUCTION

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global food security. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and cyclones have disrupted agricultural production, destabilized local food systems, and intensified malnutrition and poverty, particularly in developing countries [1]. Rural communities are disproportionately affected because they depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture, lack access to markets and advanced technology, and often have limited financial capacity to invest in adaptive measures. As a result, food production and access are highly vulnerable to climate variability, leading to cycles of food insecurity, income loss, and heightened socioeconomic inequality. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [2] highlights that in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, climate-induced crop failures threaten both subsistence farming and regional food supply chains. The disruption of local food production also contributes to malnutrition, reduced household income, and migration pressures, compounding socio-economic vulnerability. Conventional top-down interventions, including government subsidies, emergency food aid, or infrastructure projects, have often failed to deliver context-specific solutions, resulting in low adoption and limited impact on local communities. In response to these challenges, digital and technological social innovations have emerged as transformative tools to improve food access in climate-affected communities. These innovations integrate technology with participatory, community-led approaches to address both the technical and social dimensions of climate adaptation [3]. Examples include: Mobile-based agricultural advisory platforms: Applications delivering real-time information on weather forecasts, pest and disease alerts, soil fertility, and market prices. Digital marketplaces and e-commerce platforms: Tools connecting farmers to buyers, reducing dependency on intermediaries, improving income stability, and enhancing food distribution efficiency. Precision agriculture tools: Soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation systems, and GPS-enabled machinery that optimize resource use, increase productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Early warning systems (EWS) and predictive analytics: GIS mapping, climate models, and mobile alerts that enable timely responses to floods, droughts, or pest outbreaks. These technologies not only provide actionable information but also foster social engagement, knowledge sharing, and participatory decision-making. By integrating local knowledge with technological innovation, communities can co-design adaptive solutions that are culturally appropriate, locally relevant, and sustainable over time. Evidence suggests that technology alone is insufficient to ensure food security in climate-affected areas. The success of digital interventions depends on community ownership, social innovation, and participatory governance [4]. Community-led approaches encourage active involvement in problem identification, solution design, and monitoring, ensuring that innovations align with local priorities. Participatory engagement also enhances trust, adoption rates, and long-term sustainability. In Kenya, I Cow delivers SMS-based livestock management guidance, empowering farmers with knowledge that directly increases livestock productivity and income stability [5]. In India, digital grain banks managed by women’s cooperatives leverage technology for inventory tracking and distribution, reducing food loss and enhancing access to nutritious food [6]. In Ethiopia, farmer cooperatives trained in climate-smart agriculture and digital irrigation scheduling have achieved significant yield improvements, even during periods of low rainfall [7]. These examples highlight that combining technology with local participation can transform adaptation strategies, optimize food production, and improve resilience to climate shocks. Despite their promise, digital and technological innovations face several adoption barriers such as many farmers, particularly older adults or women, lack the skills to utilize advanced tools effectively. Poor connectivity, intermittent electricity, and lack of technical support hinder consistent use of digital platforms. High initial costs of precision agriculture tools or mobile platforms restrict access for smallholder farmers. Traditional practices or skepticism toward new technologies can reduce adoption rates [8]. Addressing these challenges requires integrated strategies, including capacity-building programs, affordable technology access, participatory governance, and supportive policy frameworks. This paper examined the role of digital and technological social innovations in improving food access in climate-affected communities. By synthesizing existing research and highlighting best practices, the paper provides actionable insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and local stakeholders seeking to strengthen climate resilience and food security through digital innovation.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

Digital platforms, including mobile applications, SMS-based services, and web portals, have become crucial in delivering agricultural knowledge to farmers in climate-affected communities. These tools provide real-time information on weather forecasts, pest and disease alerts, soil health, and market prices, enabling farmers to make informed decisions that improve productivity and reduce losses. For instance, in Kenya, the iCow platform sends SMS reminders to farmers regarding livestock vaccination schedules, feeding practices, and breeding cycles. Farmers using iCow reported a 15–20% increase in livestock productivity and greater income stability, highlighting the potential of mobile-based advisories in strengthening climate resilience [9]. Similarly, Esoko in West Africa connects farmers to buyers through mobile messaging and digital marketplaces, offering price information and market alerts that reduce dependency on intermediaries and enhance income transparency. While these platforms have improved market access and decision-making, their adoption is uneven due to digital literacy gaps, gender disparities, and inconsistent network coverage. Moreover, the long-term impacts of these platforms on nutritional outcomes and food security remain under-researched.

3. DIGITAL MARKETPLACES AND E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS

Digital marketplaces and e-commerce solutions are increasingly bridging the gap between smallholder farmers and consumers, reducing inefficiencies in food distribution and improving access to markets. Agro Centa in Ghana is an example of a digital platform that links smallholder farmers to wholesalers and retailers, facilitating better price discovery, reducing post-harvest losses, and ensuring timely delivery of produce. Farmers using AgroCenta reported increased incomes, enabling investment in climate-resilient crops and technologies. Despite these benefits, adoption challenges persist, including the need for financial literacy, reliable digital payment systems, and adequate logistics infrastructure. Without these supporting mechanisms, the advantages of digital marketplaces may primarily accrue to well-connected or wealthier farmers, potentially exacerbating inequities in food access.

4. PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES

Precision agriculture and climate-smart technologies provide innovative solutions for optimizing resource use, enhancing productivity, and reducing environmental impacts. Tools such as soil moisture sensors, smart irrigation systems, GPS-guided machinery, and drone-based crop monitoring enable farmers to make data-driven decisions. In Ethiopia, farmer cooperatives that integrated digital irrigation scheduling with climate-smart agriculture practices, including drought-tolerant crops, achieved a 20–30% increase in yields even during periods of low rainfall [10]. These technologies help reduce vulnerability to climate variability and improve food security. However, widespread adoption is constrained by high initial costs, technical complexity, and maintenance requirements. Ensuring affordability, local capacity-building, and ongoing technical support is essential for scaling these interventions.

5. EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

Early warning systems (EWS) and predictive analytics leverage digital technologies to anticipate climate risks and enable timely responses. Mobile alerts, GIS mapping, and AI-driven climate models provide communities with actionable information to safeguard crops and livelihoods. For example, in Bangladesh, flood EWS allowed communities to adjust planting schedules, protect stored produce, and evacuate vulnerable crops, significantly reducing post-harvest losses [11]. In the Philippines, predictive models forecasted typhoon impacts, allowing farmers and local authorities to coordinate adaptive responses, such as crop relocation and livestock protection. While these systems improve community resilience, their effectiveness depends on trust, technological literacy, and timely dissemination. Integrating local knowledge into system design enhances relevance and encourages adoption.

6. SOCIAL INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Social innovation and community engagement are critical for the success of digital and technological interventions. Participatory approaches ensure that innovations are culturally appropriate, equitable, and sustainable. In India, digital grain banks managed by women’s cooperatives use technology to track inventory and distribution, reducing post-harvest losses and improving household nutrition [12]. Similarly, in Uganda, mobile-based farmer knowledge networks facilitate peer-to-peer learning, collaborative problem-solving, and coordinated crop management. Community-led approaches enhance adoption, trust, and long-term sustainability. However, social hierarchies, gender inequality, and power dynamics can influence participation and equitable benefit distribution, requiring careful attention in program design.

7. CROSS-REGIONAL CASE STUDIES

Several successful cases illustrate the potential of digital and technological social innovations in improving food access across different continents. In Sub-Saharan Africa, iCow improved livestock productivity and income stability, while Esoko enhanced market access and price transparency. In South Asia, women-led digital grain banks in India reduced food loss and improved nutrition, and in Ethiopia, digital irrigation combined with climate-smart agriculture increased crop yields. In Bangladesh, mobile-based flood EWS reduced post-harvest losses and enhanced preparedness. These examples demonstrate that when technology is integrated with participatory, community-led approaches, food access and climate resilience improve significantly.

8. CHALLENGES TO ADOPTION

Despite promising outcomes, adoption of digital and technological innovations faces multiple challenges. Technical barriers, including limited digital literacy and lack of technical skills, hinder effective use of tools. Infrastructure limitations, such as poor internet connectivity and unreliable electricity, reduce accessibility and consistency of use. High costs of precision agriculture technologies and digital platforms restrict access for smallholder farmers, while socio-cultural resistance, including traditional practices and risk aversion, slows adoption [13]. Additionally, insufficient policy support and lack of integration with national adaptation plans limit scalability and long-term sustainability. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated interventions, including capacity-building programs, affordable technology access, participatory governance, and supportive policies.

9. SYNTHESIS OF LITERATURE

The literature emphasizes that combining digital and technological innovations with community participation is crucial for improving food access in climate-affected communities. Successful interventions are context-specific, align with local socio-cultural conditions, integrate local knowledge, provide capacity-building support, and ensure affordability [14]. However, gaps remain in assessing the long-term impacts on household food security and nutrition, ensuring equitable access for marginalized groups, and evaluating the scalability of community-led digital interventions. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, cost-effectiveness analysis, and integration of ecosystem-based approaches with technological solutions.

10. IMPLICATIONS

Digital and technological innovations for improving food access present wide-ranging implications for policy, society, technology, environment, and sustainable development. Governments and development agencies must establish inclusive regulatory frameworks, provide financial incentives, and integrate digital platforms within agricultural and climate adaptation policies to ensure equitable adoption. Socio-economically, these tools enhance farmers’ income, market access, and climate resilience, while empowering marginalized groups and promoting gender equity through community-led initiatives. Technologically, precision agriculture, smart irrigation, and AI-based monitoring improve productivity and resource efficiency, though sustained adoption depends on continuous training and localized support. Environmentally, digital tools promote sustainable resource management by reducing water and fertilizer waste, improving soil health, and supporting climate-smart practices. These innovations align closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals—particularly poverty reduction, food security, gender equality, and climate action—by fostering inclusive growth and resilience. However, to ensure long-term effectiveness, stakeholders must address persistent barriers such as limited digital literacy, infrastructure gaps, and weak policy integration through participatory, capacity-building approaches that promote equitable and sustainable outcomes.

11. CONCLUSION

Digital and technological social innovations have emerged as critical tools to improve food access in climate-affected communities. Mobile-based agricultural advisory platforms, digital marketplaces, precision agriculture tools, and early warning systems collectively enhance adaptive capacity, optimize resource use, and reduce vulnerability to climate shocks. Community engagement and participatory approaches are central to the effectiveness of these interventions, ensuring cultural relevance, equitable access, and long-term sustainability. Case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America demonstrate that when technology is integrated with social innovation, rural communities experience increased productivity, improved nutrition, and greater resilience to climate variability. The literature highlights several important insights. First, technology alone is insufficient; combining digital tools with community-led approaches significantly enhances adoption and sustainability. Second, equitable access—particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups—is essential for achieving meaningful improvements in food security. Third, capacity building and technical support are necessary to overcome barriers such as digital illiteracy and infrastructural constraints. Finally, integrating technological innovations with policy frameworks and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies amplifies their impact and ensures alignment with broader sustainable development goals, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

12. RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings, several recommendations emerge. Policymakers and development practitioners should prioritize supportive governance frameworks, digital literacy programs, and financial mechanisms to facilitate technology adoption. Community involvement in the co-design, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions is crucial for sustainability. Scaling interventions should emphasize affordability, technical support, and context-specific adaptation to local environmental and social conditions. Moreover, future research should focus on longitudinal impact assessments, cost-effectiveness studies, and strategies to integrate social and technological innovations with ecosystem-based approaches, ensuring that interventions are both sustainable and inclusive. In conclusion, community-led digital and technological innovations offer a context-sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable pathway to improve food access and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable rural areas. By bridging technology with participatory governance and local knowledge, these approaches address both technical and social dimensions of climate adaptation, empowering communities to better withstand climate shocks and secure food security. While challenges remain in adoption and scalability, the integration of technology, social innovation, and policy support provides a robust framework for achieving sustainable food systems in climate-affected regions.

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