Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural
https://revistasober.org/article/doi/10.1590/1806-9479.2021.245721
Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural
Original Article

A theoretical framework on network's dynamics for precision agriculture technologies adoption

Um referencial teórico sobre a dinâmica de redes para adoção de tecnologias de agricultura de precisão

Deborah Bentivoglio; Giorgia Bucci; Matteo Belletti; Adele Finco

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Abstract

Abstract: Recently, the agricultural sector has had to face several challenges related to the innovation process, the most significant of which seems to be that of its digital transformation. As a consequence, the issue of digital technology adoption is becoming of important scientific interest due to its potential impact on products, services, processes, and new business models. In general, the adoption behavior can be indirectly explained by studying factors that lead a firm to innovate; among these factors, the literature emphasizes the function of networks. The objective of the paper is to investigate the role of networks as key drivers of precision agriculture technologies adoption. To achieve this goal, qualitative research was developed by using 8 case studies recollected among that few Italian farms which can be defined as innovative for having already experienced precision agriculture. Results show that only a few farms can develop and manage innovations internally; success often requires cooperation between individual actors and organizations. Finally, the paper provides some practical advice and a set of propositions for those farms that are trying to achieve digital technological innovations.

Keywords

precision agriculture, technology adoption, networks, qualitative research, theoretical framework

Resumo

Resumo: Nos últimos anos, o setor agrícola tem enfrentado diversos desafios relacionados com o processo de inovação, sendo que o mais significativo parece ser o da sua transformação digital. Por consequência, a questão da adoção da tecnologia digital está se tornando de importante interesse científico e atraindo a atenção de uma série de pesquisadores devido ao seu impacto potencial em produtos, serviços, processos e novos modelos de negócios. Em geral, o comportamento de adoção pode ser explicado indiretamente pelo estudo de fatores que levam uma empresa a inovar; entre esses fatores, a literatura enfatiza a função das redes. O objetivo do artigo é investigar o papel das redes como principais impulsionadoras da adoção de tecnologias de agricultura de precisão. Para atingir este objetivo, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa qualitativa a partir de 8 estudos de caso representados por fazendas italianas, com experiência em agricultura de precisão. Os resultados mostram que apenas algumas fazendas têm a capacidade de desenvolver e gerenciar inovações internamente; o sucesso frequentemente requer cooperação entre atores individuais e organizações. Finalmente, o artigo fornece alguns conselhos práticos e um conjunto de propostas para as fazendas que estão tentando alcançar inovações tecnológicas digitais.
 

Palavras-chave

agricultura de precisão, adoção de tecnologia, redes, pesquisa qualitativa, quadro teórico

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