IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v14y2024i1p99-d1313305.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A First View on the Competencies and Training Needs of Farmers Working with and Researchers Working on Precision Agriculture Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Anastasios Michailidis

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Chrysanthi Charatsari

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Thomas Bournaris

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Efstratios Loizou

    (Department of Regional and Cross Border Development, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece)

  • Aikaterini Paltaki

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Dimitra Lazaridou

    (Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Agricultural University of Athens, 36100 Karpenisi, Greece)

  • Evagelos D. Lioutas

    (Department of Supply Chain Management, International Hellenic University, 60100 Katerini, Greece)

Abstract

The penetration of precision agriculture technologies in agrifood systems generates the need for efficient upskilling programs targeted at farmers and other actors. A critical first step in this direction is to uncover the training needs of the actors involved in precision agriculture ecosystems. The present study aimed to identify and assess gaps in competencies related to precision agriculture technologies of Greek livestock farmers and researchers specialized in this field. For farmers, we followed a partially mixed research design. To uncover researchers’ training needs, we chose a qualitative-dominant mixed approach. The results revealed that farmers lack competencies concerning the exploitation of precision agriculture technologies. Depending on their area of expertise, researchers have needs associated with predicting how research affects the future of farming and understanding how precision agriculture artifacts interplay with socio-environmental and economic factors. Despite the limited generalizability of the findings, which represent a limitation associated with the reliance of data on two small sample sizes, our results indicate that, beyond technology-related competencies, it is essential to enhance the capacity of producers and researchers to foresight and shape potential (digital) futures.

Suggested Citation

  • Anastasios Michailidis & Chrysanthi Charatsari & Thomas Bournaris & Efstratios Loizou & Aikaterini Paltaki & Dimitra Lazaridou & Evagelos D. Lioutas, 2024. "A First View on the Competencies and Training Needs of Farmers Working with and Researchers Working on Precision Agriculture Technologies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:1:p:99-:d:1313305
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/1/99/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/1/99/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Emily Duncan & Alesandros Glaros & Dennis Z. Ross & Eric Nost, 2021. "New but for whom? Discourses of innovation in precision agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 1181-1199, December.
    2. E. M. B. M. Karunathilake & Anh Tuan Le & Seong Heo & Yong Suk Chung & Sheikh Mansoor, 2023. "The Path to Smart Farming: Innovations and Opportunities in Precision Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Nancy Leech & Anthony Onwuegbuzie, 2009. "A typology of mixed methods research designs," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 265-275, March.
    4. Nametshego Gumbi & Lucas Gumbi & Hossana Twinomurinzi, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Digital Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Édson Luis Bolfe & Lúcio André de Castro Jorge & Ieda Del’Arco Sanches & Ariovaldo Luchiari Júnior & Cinthia Cabral da Costa & Daniel de Castro Victoria & Ricardo Yassushi Inamasu & Célia Regina Grego, 2020. "Precision and Digital Agriculture: Adoption of Technologies and Perception of Brazilian Farmers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sergio Monteleone & Edmilson Alves de Moraes & Roberto Max Protil & Brenno Tondato de Faria & Rodrigo Filev Maia, 2024. "Proposal of a Model of Irrigation Operations Management for Exploring the Factors That Can Affect the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in the Context of Agriculture 4.0," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-33, January.
    2. Chrysanthi Charatsari & Anastasios Michailidis & Evagelos D. Lioutas & Thomas Bournaris & Efstratios Loizou & Aikaterini Paltaki & Dimitra Lazaridou, 2023. "Competencies Needed for Guiding the Digital Transition of Agriculture: Are Future Advisors Well-Equipped?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Hans-Joachim Schramm & Carolin Nicole Czaja & Michael Dittrich & Matthias Mentschel, 2019. "Current Advancements of and Future Developments for Fourth Party Logistics in a Digital Future," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Hrosul, Viktoriia & Kruhlova, Olena & Kolesnyk, Alina, 2023. "Digitalization of the agricultural sector: the impact of ICT on the development of enterprises in Ukraine," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 9(4), December.
    5. Tatiana Khavenson, 2019. "Integration of Schools in Latvia and Estonia Using Curriculum Reforms," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 77-100.
    6. Bentivoglio, Deborah & Bucci, Giorgia & Belletti, Matteo & Finco, Adele, 2022. "A theoretical framework on network’s dynamics for precision agriculture technologies adoption," Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural (RESR), Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural, vol. 60(4), January.
    7. Tetsuya Tanioka & Rozzano C. Locsin & Feni Betriana & Yoshihiro Kai & Kyoko Osaka & Elizabeth Baua & Savina Schoenhofer, 2021. "Intentional Observational Clinical Research Design: Innovative Design for Complex Clinical Research Using Advanced Technology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Ayham A. M. Jaaron & Chris J. Backhouse, 2017. "Operationalising “Double-Loop” Learning in Service Organisations: A Systems Approach for Creating Knowledge," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 317-337, August.
    9. McGrath, Karen & Brown, Claire & Regan, Áine & Russell, Tomás, 2023. "Investigating narratives and trends in digital agriculture: A scoping study of social and behavioural science studies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    10. Drew D. Bowman & Leia M. Minaker & Bonnie J. K. Simpson & Jason A. Gilliland, 2019. "Development of a Teen-Informed Coding Tool to Measure the Power of Food Advertisements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-19, November.
    11. Хавенсон Т. Е., 2019. "Интеграция Школ В Латвии И Эстонии Через Реформу Содержания Образования," Вопросы образования // Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 77-100.
    12. Patricio Vladimir Méndez-Zambrano & Luis Patricio Tierra Pérez & Rogelio Estalin Ureta Valdez & Ángel Patricio Flores Orozco, 2023. "Technological Innovations for Agricultural Production from an Environmental Perspective: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Kristina Beethem & Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt & Jennifer Lai & Tian Guo, 2023. "Navigating the information landscape: public and private information source access by midwest farmers," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 1117-1135, September.
    14. Bi-Juan Zhong & Yaping Gong & Oded Shenkar & Yadong Luo & Zhixing Xiao & Shuming Zhao, 2023. "Managing the hearts of boundary spanners: CEO organizational identification and international joint venture performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 87-119, March.
    15. Sheikh Basharul Islam & Suhail Ahmad Bhat & Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi, 2021. "Determining the Influence of Private Labels on Sales of National Brands: A Qualitative Approach," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 10(2), pages 133-145, June.
    16. Sarah Ruth Sippel, 2023. "Tackling land’s ‘stubborn materiality’: the interplay of imaginaries, data and digital technologies within farmland assetization," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 849-863, September.
    17. Snow, Stephen & Fielke, Simon & Fleming, Aysha & Jakku, Emma & Malakar, Yuwan & Turner, Charles & Hunter, Tammy & Tijs, Sigrid & Bonnett, Graham, 2024. "Climate services for agriculture: Steering towards inclusive innovation in Australian climate services design and delivery," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    18. Maurício Roberto Cherubin & Júnior Melo Damian & Tiago Rodrigues Tavares & Rodrigo Gonçalves Trevisan & André Freitas Colaço & Mateus Tonini Eitelwein & Maurício Martello & Ricardo Yassushi Inamasu & , 2022. "Precision Agriculture in Brazil: The Trajectory of 25 Years of Scientific Research," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-29, November.
    19. Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji & Fatemeh Yaftiyan & Aliasghar Abbasi-Kamardi & Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi & Jean-Michel Sahut & Leo-Paul Dana, 2023. "A synthesis of boundary conditions with adopting digital platforms in SMEs: an intuitionistic multi-layer decision-making framework," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 1723-1751, October.
    20. Noorhazlina Ali & Philomena Anthony & Wee Shiong Lim & Mei Sian Chong & Edward Wing Hong Poon & Vicki Drury & Mark Chan, 2021. "Exploring Differential Perceptions and Barriers to Advance Care Planning in Dementia among Asian Patient–Caregiver Dyads—A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:1:p:99-:d:1313305. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.