Where is the Land in the New Digital Economy?

Although land may no longer be considered a traditional production factor in the new digital economy, it remains essential to our existence and the infrastructure that supports digital products and services. As the world increasingly relies on the internet and data-driven technologies, the role of land, while less visible, continues to underpin the digital ecosystem. This research aims to explore the evolving role of land in the digital economy and smart agriculture through a systematic literature review and qualitative thematic analysis. Our findings reveal that land serves as a foundational element for digital infrastructure, such as cloud computing centers, which support data production and drive the new economy. These infrastructures represent the modern equivalent of land in a digital context, enabling the emergence of data as a key resource. On the other hand, land remains the main production factor in the digital (smart) agriculture, meaning an agriculture that is more productive by automation tools (GPS and IoT sensors), reduced waste and optimized resource use (remote sensing, satellite and automated machinery), digital cadastral technologies, weather forecasting done with machine learning algorithms to increase accuracy and more sustainable by green and lower carbon print (smart tractors and drones). In the same time, population is increasing over the world, and the smart digital agriculture becomes a high demand for the survival of our global economy. So, land in the digital economy has evolved from a static physical resource to a dynamic infrastructure supported by digital technologies, critical for both urban and rural development. Our study traces the transformation of land from its traditional role to its contemporary form in the digital ecosystem, emphasizing the need to integrate digital economics into broader discussions of global economic dynamics. We also recommend further research into the role of technological innovation in a resource-constrained world, particularly in terms of sustainability and land use, with a focus on localized and bottom-up approaches to sustainable development.