Big data and smart farming technologies have the potential to significantly impact socio-economic relationships in the agriculture industry. They may lead to either strongly integrated supply chains where farmers have limited freedom, or more open collaboration networks that empower farmers. In reality, the impact is likely to fall somewhere in between these scenarios. The technologies connect sensors on farms and equipment to analyze data and optimize operations. However, their adoption also raises issues around data ownership, privacy, and the balance of power between different players in the food chain. Infrastructure and software development will be key to addressing these challenges.