DIGITALIZATION IN PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PROTECTION IN BULGARIA – CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE GOALS

Abstract

According to the "Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas of the Republic of Bulgaria for the period 2023-2027", Bulgaria is significantly behind the other EU members in terms of digital technologies, especially in agriculture. The present study aimed to follow the historical development of agriculture up to the so-called “fourth revolution” - Digital agriculture (DA). DA can be considered from a scientific and practical point of view. Science can demonstrate and prove the benefits of using a given tool or software by comparing the results with those obtained using standard analysis methods. From the users' point of view, the product must be easy to use, accessible from a technical and economic point of view and, most importantly, provide accurate information. Many investigations on DA are made in Bulgaria, but most of them study it economically. Farmers have access to a variety of DA products, but unfortunately research shows that a small percentage of them use them. Although only 14% of farmers apply modern digital technologies, there is a trend towards increasing their interest in DA, which will accelerate in the future.