Smart agrifood: Time for a New Awareness!

Free Content Report Smart AgriFood Smart agrifood May 2025 25 pages pdf

What you will learn

The report presents the findings of the 2024 Research on digital innovation trends in the agricultural and agri-food sector. Starting from the key challenges facing the industry, it explores the role of emerging digital technologies—such as Artificial Intelligence—in enhancing the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability. The analysis then focuses on the Italian market for Agriculture 4.0 solutions, examining its overall value, adoption levels, and the digital maturity of farmers.

Table of Contents

1
Introduction
2
Executive Summary
3
Digital innovation: the key to sustainability in the agri-food sector
4
Evolution of the Agriculture 4.0 Market
5
Challenges to the Digitalization of the Agri-Food sector and future developments
6
Glossary
7
Methodology Notes
8
Reports
9
Observatories On Demand
10
Project Team
11
Digital Innovation Observatories
12
RISE Laboratory
13
Research Supporters

Index of Graphs

1
Application Areas of AI in the Agri-Food Sector (64 Projects, Initiatives, and Use Cases)
2
Market Value Evolution of Agriculture 4.0 in Italy (Based on 52 Solution and Service Providers)

You will know how to answer these key questions

What are the key trends currently shaping the agri-food sector, and what role does digital innovation play?
What is the value of the Agriculture 4.0 solutions market in Italy?
What is the current level of adoption of Agriculture 4.0 technologies in the country, and how digitally mature is the agricultural sector?
What are the most promising applications of Artificial Intelligence in the agri-food industry?
What opportunities does carbon farming offer the agricultural sector, and how do digital solutions contribute to this practice?
How have global investments in smart agrifood startups evolved, and how are these startups driving innovation in the sector?

The methodology used in this Report

The Smart AgriFood Observatory aims to provide in-depth insight into digital innovation within the agri-food sector, with a specific emphasis on how digitalization influences the competitiveness, efficiency, quality, and sustainability of supply chains.
To pursue this objective, the Observatory has adopted a multi-method research approach, leveraging a range of methodologies such as
– Review of academic and grey literature.
– Analysis of regulations and policies on relevant topics.
– Discussion tables with stakeholders in the sector.
– Mapping and analysis using original frameworks developed by the Observatory. In particular, for the analysis of the Agriculture 4.0 market in Italy, 1,100 solutions offered by 386 providers were identified, along with 3,210 smart agrifood startups.
– Online surveys (targeting both supply and demand sides). Specifically, for the farmer survey, 1,248 valid responses were collected for analysis.
– Analysis and mapping of initiatives. In particular, for the carbon farming research, 435 international projects were examined; for the analysis of AI implementation in the agrifood sector, 64 projects were analyzed Introduction.

Authors