AI and new business models in agriculture: the ZERO case study

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing technology that is having an impact on several business fields. The agricultural sector is facing several challenges, which may be supported by the use of such a new advanced technology. The aim of the thesis in the first part is to map the state-of-the-art of AI applications in agriculture, their advantages, barriers, implications, and the ability to lead to new business models. A structured literature review has been conducted, and thirty-seven contributions have been analyzed and coded using a detailed research framework. Findings underline the multiple uses and advantages of AI in agriculture and the potential impacts for farmers and entrepreneurs, even from a sustainability perspective. Several applications and algorithms are being developed and tested, but many barriers arise, starting from the lack of understanding by farmers and the need for global investments. A collaboration between scholars and practitioners is advocated to share best practices and lead to practical solutions and policies. The promising topic of new business models is still underinvestigated and deserves more attention from scholars and practitioners. In the second part of the thesis we realized a semi-structured interview based on the ZERO case study, an italian company focused on vertical farming and high-technological agriculture.