Abstract
The technology transfer (TT) process has been studied from different approaches to improve productivity and competitiveness in agricultural chains. However, the process is not always presented successfully due to heterogeneity and inequality in the technological capacities (TC) of the agents that are part of the transfer process, in addition to the geographical context, the interaction networks and decision rules, which are key factors to understand the TT phenomenon. In this context and as a case study, the Colombian National Federation of rice growers promoted the development and adoption of technology that increased crop competitiveness and sustainability by implementing a technology transfer program known as the Massive Technology Adoption Program (AMTEC—Adopción Masiva de Tecnología) on rice. With the AMTEC program, average production costs were reduced by 26% (USD 119 per hectare), and it increased average yields by 23% (1.27 tonnes per hectare), which shows the importance of introducing technologies in productive chains in developing countries. This research provides a better understanding of the TT processes, based on the analysis of the interaction dynamics and behaviour patterns between the agents (i.e., generators, intermediaries, or users) in the TT processes. As an analysis tool, the agent-based modelling paradigm (ABM) was proposed to study the emergence at the macro-level of behaviour patterns of a system from the interactions of semi-intelligent agents at the micro-level, using experiments.
Highlights
technology transfer (TT) in agricultural chains is a complex social phenomenon in which the capabilities, interaction, and decision making of agents linked to the processes of generation, diffusion, and use of technology [1] are a critical factor to guarantee its success
The American model of technology transfer developed in the 1960s with the introduction of corn hybrids [3], and it examined some peculiarities: (1) innovation was focused on a product; (2) researchers developed advances with a focus on defined objectives; and (3) extension processes followed a top-down approach in which farmer groups used the improvements through technology packages disseminated by extension services
Sustainability 2021, 13, 11143 perspective [4], adding feedback elements between the parts, which reduce the gaps between the technology developer and its user, turning the latter into an active subject of theprocess process who participates in different stages of both consultation and application, who participates in different stages of both consultation and application, facilitating facilitating the generation of technologies much more and making them moreforadaptthe generation of technologies much more and making them more adaptable producers
Summary
TT in agricultural chains is a complex social phenomenon in which the capabilities, interaction, and decision making of agents linked to the processes of generation, diffusion, and use of technology [1] are a critical factor to guarantee its success These technological developments from universities and private companies simplify agronomic production schemes, increasing yields and the specialty of the processes [2]. A second generation transfer model called the “feedback model” (see Figure 1) seeks to improve the efficiency of the process, understanding its complexity from a top-down perspective [4], adding feedback elements between the parts, which reduce the gaps between the technology developer and its user, turning the latter into an active subject of the Sustainability 2021, 13, 11143.
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