Exploring digitalisation in the agri-food sector and its paradoxes: Evidence from a comparative study with small French companies

Mathilde Aubry (), Ben Hamadi, Roland Condor (), Nazik Fadil and Christine Fournes
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Mathilde Aubry: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Ben Hamadi: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Roland Condor: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Nazik Fadil: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
Christine Fournes: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School

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Abstract: This paper discusses the results of a study on the digitalisation of the agri-food sector in a French region characterised by small-and medium-sized farms. Our results, which rely on a survey comparing digital practices in the agri-food sector with other sectors, reveal a paradox. While digitalisation is mostly perceived as a panacea capable of increasing agricultural productivity while respecting the planet, it is not widespread in the agri-food sector and even less than in other sectors of the same size. At the same time, the perceived impact of digitalisation is also lower than in other sectors. To increase the digitalisation of this sector, two elements emerge from our results: both the implementation of a global digital transformation strategy and membership of a professional association are required. Here, we refer to a broad definition of digitalisation, which includes organisational and social aspects, and does not only address technological dimensions. Our study challenges the technocentric and productive vision of digitalisation. It suggests that farmers' institutional environments and policies need to take a more holistic view of digitalisation to provide increased sense and generate engagement.

Keywords: Empirical study; Organisational impact; Small business; Farms; Agri-food sectors; Digitalisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-08-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04430806v1
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Published in Studies in Agricultural Economics, 2022, 124 (2), pp.44-58. ⟨10.7896/j.2305⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04430806

DOI: 10.7896/j.2305

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