• animal production
• digital divide
• digitalization
• farm to fork
• indicator

The analysis of the evolution of the animal production sector shows that, over time, the integration of technology, instrumentation and all activities in the subsidiary sectors has taken place according to a truly global approach. This approach starts from the need to increase livestock production and includes the need to protect the environment, the human health and the animal welfare. The digital transformation involving specific sectors of livestock activity often plays an important role in the farm to fork strategy outlined by the European Union, especially concerning the environmental impact of supply chains. Modern and efficient management of livestock farms will make possible to achieve in a faster way the Sustainable Development Goals linked to the 2030 Agenda of the Organization of United Nations (UN). Most Member States have made progress in digital transformation, while the adoption rate of advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data remains low. It is necessary to increase the spread of connectivity infrastructures, in particular the 5G, essential for highly innovative services and applications. Digital skills are another important area where Member States need to make more progress. The Digital Divide (or gap between those who use IT and those who do not due to lack of infrastructure and/or skills) is increasingly an obstacle to digital transformation. In the agricultural sector, it is essential to understand the impacts of the ongoing digital transformation on the dynamics of the livestock sector. In particular, traditional indicators for evaluating farms may not be sufficient. Traditional indicators for evaluating livestock farms have typically focused on measures of productivity and cost-effectiveness. For example, an agricultural business may be highly productive and profitable, but may not be fully exploiting the benefits of digitalization. To address this issue, new statistical indicators have been developed that can provide information on the level of digitalization and potential areas for improvement in livestock operations. The objective was to evaluate more precisely the current state of the digitalization of livestock farms in Italy with a “readiness” Index by analyzing and comparing the various statistical surveys produced by Istat. For instance if a farm collects large amounts of data but does not analyze it effectively, this may indicate a need to improve data analysis tools or training of farm staff. Similarly, if a farm uses digital technologies to collect data but does not integrate it into business management decisions, this may suggest a need for better communication and collaboration between different departments or staff on the farm. By identifying these areas for improvement, livestock sector or in general the agricultural one can be helped to optimize the use of digital technologies and improve overall operational efficiency. Another benefit of using simpler statistical indicators to evaluate digitalization on farms is that they can help promote transparency and accountability. By providing a more complete picture of the extent to which agricultural businesses use digital technologies, these indicators can help raise trust among stakeholders. This is especially important given the growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical farming practices. By demonstrating their commitment to digitalization, livestock farms can show that they are making progress to improve their operations and reduce their environmental impact. In conclusion, the development of more modern and more easily calculable indicators compared to more complicated statistical techniques difficult to access to a user not expert in data analysis are a valuable tool to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of livestock operations in the digital era.