Harvesting the Future: A Review of Artificial Intelligence Integration in the Philippine Agricultural Sector

Abstract

The global agricultural sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which offers solutions to longstanding challenges of food security and resource management. In the Philippines, a nation heavily reliant on its agricultural output and facing threats from climate change and resource degradation, the adoption of AI in agriculture is a critical area of development. This review article examines the current landscape of AI integration within the Philippine agricultural sector. Following the IMRAD (Introduction, Methodology, Results and Discussion, and Conclusion) structure, this paper synthesizes peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025. The primary goal is to provide a detailed overview of the prevailing trends, benefits, and challenges of AI in this context, with a special focus on the emerging issue of cybersecurity in farm management systems. Key findings indicate that AI presents significant opportunities for enhancing crop yields, improving resource management, and increasing administrative efficiency in the agricultural sector. However, its implementation is significantly hindered by a persistent digital divide, the high cost of technology, a lack of farmer training, and the absence of a robust national policy framework. Concurrently, the increasing digitization of agricultural data and operations exposes the sector to new cyber threats, including data breaches and disruption of smart farming systems, which are outpacing the development of adequate security measures. This article concludes that a multi-faceted approach is necessary for the Philippines to fully leverage AI in agriculture. Recommendations include strategic investments in digital infrastructure for rural areas, the creation of localized and affordable AI-powered agricultural tools, comprehensive training programs for farmers, the development of clear ethical guidelines and data privacy protocols, and a significant enhancement of the nation's cybersecurity framework within the agricultural sphere.