Ethical Considerations and Policy Frameworks for Deploying Artificial Intelligence in Soil Conservation
摘要
Soil conservation stands at the intersection of environmental sustainability, food security, and rural livelihoods, yet it faces mounting pressures from climate change, land degradation, and unsustainable practices. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative opportunities to address these challenges through advanced prediction, monitoring, and management tools. In India, the integration of AI into soil conservation is particularly significant, given the country’s vast Soil Health Card database, evolving digital agriculture initiatives, and predominance of smallholder farming systems. This chapter explores critical issues including the risks of inaccurate AI-generated recommendations, data ownership and intellectual property, the digital divide, and the implication of privacy and sovereignty over soil data. It also highlights the need for embedding environmental ethics, sustainability, biodiversity, and intergenerational justice into AI design and deployment. Policy frameworks emerge as pivotal in balancing innovation with safeguards; India’s Agristack and Soil Health Card Scheme provide a starting point, but stronger protections for farmer rights, accountability, and participatory governance are essential. Drawing insights from global frameworks such as the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) principles, and FAO guidelines. Ultimately, this chapter highlighted how AI can serve as a collaborative partner, complementing indigenous knowledge, empowering farmers, and fostering ecological resilience.