The magnitude of public concerns about agricultural innovations has often been underestimated, as past examples, such as pesticides, nanotechnology, and cloning, demonstrate. Indeed, studies have proven that the agricultural sector presents an area of tension and often attracts skepticism concerning new technologies. Digital technologies have become increasingly popular in agriculture. Yet there are almost no investigations on the public acceptance of digitalization in agriculture so far. Our online survey provides initial insights to reduce this knowledge gap. The sample (n = 2012) represents the German population in terms of gender, age (minimum 18 years), education and size of place of residence. Results showed that if the potential of digital farming technologies (DFT) regarding animal welfare and environmental protection was described, respondents reacted positively. Thus, the general attitudes of respondents toward the benefits of DFT were mostly positive. The approval to increasing adoption rates of particular DFT by providing subsidies was also high. Linear regression models showed that the dominant positive influences on respondents’ attitudes toward the benefits of DFT were a generally positive attitude toward farming and a strong trust in farmers in Germany. Confronting respondents with pictures showing DFT resulted in many spontaneous negative associations and general criticism of agricultural production. The latter holds true for DFT in animal husbandry in particular. However, as agriculture as a whole is criticized by many groups in Germany, it is unlikely that benefits from digitalization will significantly increase the public acceptance of agriculture as a whole.

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了解公众对数字农业技术的态度接受程度：德国的一项全国性调查

正如过去的例子，如农药、纳米技术和克隆所表明的那样，公众对农业创新的担忧程度经常被低估。事实上，研究已经证明，农业部门是一个紧张的领域，并且经常引起人们对新技术的怀疑。数字技术在农业中越来越受欢迎。但到目前为止，几乎没有关于公众对农业数字化接受度的调查。我们的在线调查提供了减少这种知识差距的初步见解。样本（n = 2012）代表德国人口的性别、年龄（至少 18 岁）、教育和居住地面积。结果表明，如果描述数字农业技术 (DFT) 在动物福利和环境保护方面的潜力，受访者反应积极。因此，受访者对 DFT 的好处的总体态度大多是积极的。通过提供补贴来提高特定 DFT 的采用率的批准率也很高。线性回归模型表明，对受访者对 DFT 利益态度的主要积极影响是对农业的普遍积极态度和对德国农民的强烈信任。面对显示 DFT 的图片的受访者会导致许多自发的负面联想和对农业生产的普遍批评。后者尤其适用于畜牧业的 DFT。然而，由于农业整体受到德国许多团体的批评，数字化带来的好处不太可能显着提高公众对农业整体的接受度。