Evolutionary scenarios for agricultural business models

The combination of ongoing trends such as increased productivity, demand for capital-intensive technology, and urbanization will in all probability reshape the dimension of a number of business models in agriculture. The purpose of this chapter is to identify possible agribusiness models for developed and developing countries, particularly for the European context and sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia-Pacific area. To parse out these constructs, several socioeconomic and technological factors, key facts, and figures about worldwide agriculture have been gathered and analyzed, taking into account global and local patterns affecting changes in farm structure and food chains. We have hence identified seven possible innovative agricultural business models to be applied in Europe and in low-income countries, with innovation driving products, processes, and technologies: while in Europe business models are more focused on defining farm structures and consumers' eating habits, in developing countries they concentrate on ensuring stable food chains for the immediate future. This review contributes to the scientific debate by providing evidence on the strengths and weaknesses of different business models, helping to understand how the agricultural development process unfolds in relation to business and technology in the decades to come. Moreover, it helps actors of food value chains to understand drivers and trends of the agriculture of the future, enabling farmers and technology providers to converge their interests.