One of the driving forces behind the increasing integration of digitalization into modern Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is the belief that technology could be a “quick fix” for several complex problems (e.g. monitoring of animal health and behavioral deviations, welfare assessment, better use of limited human labor). The development of new solutions within PLF is impossible without technological and data processing innovation. However, such innovation should be developed in responsible fashion by explicitly addressing various ethical considerations, such as acceptability of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in previously human-centric livestock farming, its effects on established moral norms when it comes to animals as sentient beings, daily interactions between humans and the animals in their care, and ownership and use of data generated by PLF systems.
The aim of this Research Topic is to investigate the degree of inclusion of ethical and social aspects into the developmental/innovative framework within Precision Livestock Farming.
Contributions are welcome that address or explore:
• The ethical side of automation in PLF
• Integration of PLF solutions in the existing laws and regulations
• Societal impacts of automated/digitalised livestock production
• Working ethics and changes to human-animal relationship resulting from AI and automation
• Risks and challenges of AI decision-making in PLF
• Impact of increased reliance on PLF technology on who farms or works on live-stock farms
One of the driving forces behind the increasing integration of digitalization into modern Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) is the belief that technology could be a “quick fix” for several complex problems (e.g. monitoring of animal health and behavioral deviations, welfare assessment, better use of limited human labor). The development of new solutions within PLF is impossible without technological and data processing innovation. However, such innovation should be developed in responsible fashion by explicitly addressing various ethical considerations, such as acceptability of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in previously human-centric livestock farming, its effects on established moral norms when it comes to animals as sentient beings, daily interactions between humans and the animals in their care, and ownership and use of data generated by PLF systems.
The aim of this Research Topic is to investigate the degree of inclusion of ethical and social aspects into the developmental/innovative framework within Precision Livestock Farming.
Contributions are welcome that address or explore:
• The ethical side of automation in PLF
• Integration of PLF solutions in the existing laws and regulations
• Societal impacts of automated/digitalised livestock production
• Working ethics and changes to human-animal relationship resulting from AI and automation
• Risks and challenges of AI decision-making in PLF
• Impact of increased reliance on PLF technology on who farms or works on live-stock farms
