Thomas Daum

Papers

Total Citations

131

H-Index

About

Thomas Daum is a leading researcher at the intersection of agricultural development, digitalization, and sustainability, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. His work critically examines how emerging technologies—from farm robots to digital livestock tools—shape the future of food systems. Daum’s most cited paper, “Farm robots: ecological utopia or dystopia?” (83 citations), provocatively explores the dual potential of automation to either advance or undermine ecological farming. In his equally influential study, “Connected cows and cyber chickens?” (48 citations), he provides a rare, systematic stocktaking of digital livestock tools in Kenya and India, revealing a gap between high hopes for poverty alleviation and environmental gains and the on-the-ground reality. By blending empirical case studies with forward-looking ethical analysis, Daum challenges both techno-optimism and techno-pessimism, offering nuanced insights for policymakers and practitioners. His work is essential reading for anyone interested in the responsible design and governance of agricultural technologies in the Global South.