The role of digitalization on the adoption of iCL systems and its impacts on the technical efficiency of farms in the state of São Paulo

• Grant number: 24/13708-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date until: October 01, 2024
• End date until: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Economics - Agrarian and Natural Resource Economics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo José Carrer
• Grantee: Larissa Aparecida Lopes de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02967-5 - Digital farming technology adoption and technical efficiency in agricultural production of farms in the State of São Paulo, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

This thesis has two main aims: (i) evaluate the impact of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) adoption on the technical efficiency of farms in the state of São Paulo; (ii) identify the role of digital technologies for the adoption of ICLS in the state of São Paulo - digital and sustainable transition. To achieve the main objectives, we have the following specific objectives: (i) estimate econometric models with binary dependent variable (logit and probit, e.g.) to identify the role of digital technologies on the adoption of ICLS; (ii) estimate stochastic production frontiers with sample selectivity correction for ICLS adopters and non-adopters; (iii) estimate a meta-frontier representative of the best production technology in use; (iv) analyze technical efficiency and technology gap scores of farms, so that it is possible to quantify the impacts of ICLS adoption on those scores. The methodology consists of collecting primary microdata from a sample of 163 soybean farmers with and without integration with livestock in the state of São Paulo. The data will be analyzed applying the sample selectivity model for stochastic production frontiers developed by Greene (2010) and the production meta-frontier model by Huang et al. (2014). The expected results of the thesis are: (i) Analysis of the role of digitalization on the adoption of ICLS in the state of São Paulo, (ii) quantification of the impact of the adoption of ICLS on technical efficiency and technological gap scores of farms; (iii) proposition of strategies to increase efficiency in the use of resources and environmental sustainability in the production of soybeans and beef cattle in the state of São Paulo.