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Understanding barriers to agricultural technology adoption: Evidence from U.S. agribusiness firms

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  • Ulucak, Zubeyde Senturk
  • Sivashankar, Pathmanathan
  • Huseynov, Samir
  • Ulucak, Recep

Abstract

This study investigates how economic, environmental, technical, political, and socio-cultural barriers shape innovation outcomes of openness, effort and success among US agribusiness firms. Drawing from perception-based survey data from agribusiness employees, the analysis employs a sequential modeling strategy combining ordered probit and triple hurdle probit estimation, complemented by tests of heterogeneity based on firm size and industry. The results reveal that environmental barriers are the most significant obstacle to innovation across all innovation stages, indicating regulatory and sustainability pressures can stimulate adaptive innovation. Economic barriers exhibit dual effect, reducing openness and effort but positively influencing innovation success once firms commit to adoption. Technical barriers hinder progress in specific contexts, especially for smaller firms and food related enterprises. Findings reveal heterogeneity across subsectors and firm sizes, highlighting that innovation in agribusiness often emerges as a strategic adaptation to constraints. From a policy perspective, interventions such as innovation subsidies, tax incentives for green technology, and inclusive financing mechanisms are essential to enable equitable and sustainable innovation adoption among firms with characteristics similar to those represented in this sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulucak, Zubeyde Senturk & Sivashankar, Pathmanathan & Huseynov, Samir & Ulucak, Recep, 2026. "Understanding barriers to agricultural technology adoption: Evidence from U.S. agribusiness firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:224:y:2026:i:c:s0040162525004792
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124448
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