COMPUTER-BASED NETWORKS - PERSPECTIVES FOR AGRICULTURE - CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FUTURE-ROLE OF INTERNET OR SIMILAR COMPUTER-BASED NETWORKS FOR FARMERS

The Internet is an international and open communication platform with few behavioural restrictions. Technical progress in the field of infor mation- and communication-technology has been extremely dynamic. Also the usage of these technologies took a very dynamic course. In Germany bigger agricultural enterprises use these technologies more often tha n small ones. The application of information- and communication-techno logy in agricultural enterprises at present is mainly in office work a nd in specific production activities for the purpose of control and do cumentation. Consequently the farmers take little advantage of the hig h potential of these technologies in the area of communication and dat a-exchange. Farmers could for instance build computer-based informatio n and communication networks to improve the actually bad market transp arency on farm inputs.