Abstract
The global economy, and agriculture, in particular, faces significant challenges and transformation pressures. A major challenge, and opportunity, is the transformation towards digital agriculture or agriculture 4.0, where knowledge transfer (KT) has an important role to play not only in ensuring that digital innovations reach end-users, but also that these innovations contribute to development in rural landscapes. This paper analyses the role of KT in the framework of digital transformation (DT) in the Andalusian olive landscape. Thus, from the perspective of knowledge-generating agents, the main knowledge emitting and receiving actors in the DT are identified by using Social Network Analysis techniques (SNA). Subsequently, the performance of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) in KT is evaluated by using the multi-criteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The results suggest that the knowledge-generating agents, the knowledge transfer actors, and the scientific and dissemination media actors are the main knowledge emitters and highlight their role as cohesive actors of the social network. The main knowledge receivers are olive growers, cooperatives and non-cooperative groups. The results also indicate that the global performance of the TIS in the KT function is medium/low. Furthermore, in the KT sub-functions where the TIS in DT performs best is the quality of the transfer processes of DT, and where it performs worst is the sufficiency of spaces for KT.
Highlights
Today, digital agriculture or agriculture 4.0 presents itself as one of the main challenges, and opportunities, for transforming the rural landscape [1,2,3] Digital transformation (DT), i.e., the implementation of digital technologies, in rural environments would contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating hunger and to combating climate change [4,5,6].The period of growth in mobile connections is expected to come mainly from rural communities [7]
This paper aims to contribute to filling this knowledge gap, both empirically and methodologically, by analysing the role of knowledge transfer (KT) in the framework of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) of digital transformation (DT) in the Andalusian olive landscape
Previous studies in the olive sector in Andalusia have analysed its innovation capacity linked to the technological packages of organic farming [46,47], integrated production [48] and different certified quality systems such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) [49,50]
Summary
Digital agriculture or agriculture 4.0 presents itself as one of the main challenges, and opportunities, for transforming the rural landscape [1,2,3] Digital transformation (DT), i.e., the implementation of digital technologies, in rural environments would contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating hunger and to combating climate change (e.g., through the efficient use of water, fertilisers and plant protection products, use of cleaner energy, traceability of food chains, among others) [4,5,6].The period of growth in mobile connections is expected to come mainly from rural communities [7]. The potential benefits of digital agriculture are compelling, but major transformations of farming landscapes, rural economies, communities and natural resource management will be needed [9,10]. This implies major changes in public policies, as they should focus on boosting knowledge diffusion [11,12,13], as new knowledge disseminated from public and private research and development could encourage information-based entrepreneurship and often manifests in new high-tech or ICT companies [14].
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