Innovation obstacles in an emerging high tech sector: the case of precision agriculture in Argentina

LOPEZ ANDRES; JEREMIAS LACHMAN

Management Research. The Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management

Emerald

Año: 2019

1536-5433

This paper adds to the literature about innovation obstacles by focusing on an emerging high-tech sector in a developing country. The case of precision agriculture in Argentina is studied combining econometric techniques and qualitative analysis. Based on a survey to 67 firms that develop precision agriculture technologies in Argentina we examine the impact of different types of obstacles on firms? growth and innovation activities. This analysis is complemented with the findings that emerge from a series of interviews with different stakeholders (firms? managers, policy makers, experts, farmers, etc.). We find that market and cost factors negatively affect firms? growth, while institutional obstacles reduce the amount of innovation efforts. In turn, knowledge barriers positively impact on the relevance firms assign to R&D activities. We also identify different strategies that firms have put in place to overcome the barriers they face. Finally, we discuss the policy implications of our findings.