Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft - Empirische Untersuchungen zur Nutzung von Smartphones

Abstract

The dissertation deals with four different questions concerning the use of smartphones and smartphone apps in agriculture. Due to their computer-like computing power, mobile internet reception and high mobility, smartphones are particularly suitable for agriculture and field or barn use. The dissertation explicitly answers the following research questions empirically on the basis of online surveys with German farmers between 2016 and 2019: 1) Which factors influence the decision of German farmers to use a smartphone? 2) Can an extended technology acceptance model contribute to the understanding of the frequency of use of herd management smartphone apps in dairy farming? 3) Which factors influence German farmers' willingness to pay for crop protection smartphone apps? 4) Can a model of the "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)" contribute to the understanding of the usage decision for Crop Protection Smartphone Apps? The collected data sets were analysed using logit models (1), partial least squares structural equation models in combination with ordered logit models (2), probit models and partial least squares structural equation models in combination with logit models (4) to answer the research questions. The results show that socio-economic characteristics (e.g. age, education of the farmer), farm characteristics (e.g. farm size and location) as well as attitudes and motives of the farmer play a role in the use, application and willingness to pay for smartphone or smartphone apps. The results are therefore of interest to policy makers in the field of digitisation in agriculture as well as manufacturers and providers of apps for agricultural purposes.