The nurturing role of the local support ecosystem in the development of the Agtech sector in Argentina
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2044-0839
Article publication date: 22 April 2022
Issue publication date: 2 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of the paper is to learn about the enabling factors that fostered the development of the Agtech sector in Argentina. The authors analyze how the local ecosystem (S&T institutions, incubators and accelerators, domestic clients, venture capitals and other actors) contributed to the emergence, consolidation and early internationalization of Agtech ventures.
Design/methodology/approach
Throughout 2020 the authors held 16 semi-structured interviews with experts, CEOs and managers of Agtech firms, incubator and accelerator managers, as well as with other stakeholders of the Agtech sector. All the interviews were recorded and then transcribed. The authors also undertook two case studies, one on a consortium of agricultural producers that created an Agtech incubator, and another on a successful Agtech venture. The selection of the case studies was based on the information collected during the interviews with local stakeholders (“snowballing technique”).
Findings
Linkages with the actors of the local ecosystem allowed Agtech ventures to validate their services and value proposition, identify business opportunities, improve and develop technologies, obtain funding, and reach out to new national and international customers.
Research limitations/implications
While a case study methodology does not allow for direct generalization to other experiences, the authors’ findings shed light on relevant factors behind the development of the Agtech sector in Argentina which cannot be easily captured through quantitative methods.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to achieve a better understanding of the factors that allow the emergence and consolidation of young ventures based on disruptive technologies in Latin America. Hence, it contributes to the advancement of knowledge in an emerging field: the generation and dissemination of 4.0 technologies in developing regions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Inter-American Development Bank. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, its respective Boards of Directors, or the countries they represent.
Citation
Lachman, J. and López, A. (2022), "The nurturing role of the local support ecosystem in the development of the Agtech sector in Argentina", Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 714-729. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-10-2021-0264
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited