Entrepreneurial Identity and Adoption of Precision Agricultural Tools

Topic and applicability to the Conference theme This paper deals with precision agricultural tools (PATs), a way of farming which relies on specialized equipment, software and IT services. In the last period, it has gained ground in European Union. As a matter of fact, the widespread adoption of precision agricultural tools is one of the objectives in which policy-makers have been more focused in recent years to respond to the need to produce food in a more sustainable way. Aim The aim of the paper is to explore factors affecting farmers’ adoption of precision agriculture in rural enterprises of Italy, by focusing on the entrepreneurial variables. Research questions concerns the relevance of entrepreneurial variables eventually affecting adoption of PATs. Methodology In order to investigate the process of technology adoption related to precision agriculture, a questionnaire is submitted to a sample of Italian farms. The questionnaire has been structured in order to apply the AKAP (Awareness, Knowledge, Adoption, Product) sequence and to link each step of the process to the farmers’ entrepreneurial profile. Contribution As far as our knowledge is concerned, even though socio-personal, demographic and cultural factors have been deeply recognized as key variables affecting PATs’ adoption, no researches have been carried out to point out the specific entrepreneurial dimension. Implication for policy The analysis we intend to develop has relevant policy implication, within the context of a new participatory approach to agricultural innovation, grounded on the partnership for innovation (EIP-AGR). The possibility to link innovation adoption to entrepreneurial profile address specific policy goals with the purpose of targeting rural development policy on the basis of both entrepreneurial aptitude and entrepreneurial skills of farmers.