Competitiveness of Food Industry in the Era of Digital Transformation towards Agriculture 4.0

Ismael Cristofer Baierle (), Francisco Tardelli da Silva, Ricardo Gonçalves de Faria Correa, Jones Luís Schaefer, Matheus Becker Da Costa, Guilherme Brittes Benitez and Elpidio Oscar Benitez Nara
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Ismael Cristofer Baierle: Graduate Program in Agro-Industrial Systems and Processes, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Francisco Tardelli da Silva: Graduate Program in Agro-Industrial Systems and Processes, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Ricardo Gonçalves de Faria Correa: Graduate Program in Agro-Industrial Systems and Processes, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Jones Luís Schaefer: Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
Matheus Becker Da Costa: Department of Industrial Systems and Processes, University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), Santa Cruz do Sul 96815-900, Brazil
Guilherme Brittes Benitez: Polytechnic School, Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR), Londrina 86072-360, Brazil
Elpidio Oscar Benitez Nara: Polytechnic School, Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR), Londrina 86072-360, Brazil

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Industry 4.0 and its technologies can potentially increase business competitiveness in the age of digital transformation through the implementation of its technologies. These digital technologies are increasingly present in the food industry, characterizing the concept of Agriculture 4.0. This digital transformation is a reality; however, it is unclear which digital technologies are most useful for each industry sector. Therefore, this paper seeks to explore the current state of implementation of digital technologies in different industrial sectors and which digital technologies should be leveraged to increase the performance of the agribusiness system. To do so, we used secondary data from a large-scale survey of 28 industrial sectors, representing 2225 companies in the Brazilian industry. Analyzing the different industrial sectors allowed us to present a framework of digital transformation to boost food industry competitiveness towards Agriculture 4.0. The results show that the food industry usually uses only one digital technology, showing the need for simultaneous and joint investments in the other technologies presented in this research. Public policies must be directed to encourage the expansion of digital technologies in the food industry.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; Agriculture 4.0; competitiveness; open innovation; emerging countries; digital transformation; agroindustry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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