Working Paper Cnr-Ceris, N° 05/2013

Technological Innovations in Agricultural Tractors: Adopters’ behaviour towards

new technological trajectories
 and future directions

Ester Ferrari

PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines (IMAMOTER),
Italian National Research Council (CNR), Torino, Italy.

Luigi Bollani

Researcher, University of Turin, Department of Economics and Statistics, Torino, Italy

Mario Coccia

Economist at the Institute for economic research on firm and growth (CERIS-CNR),
 Italian National Research Council (CNR), Torino, Italy.

Eugenio Cavallo^*

M.Sc. Agr. Eng., Researcher, Institute for Agricultural and Earthmoving Machines (IMAMOTER),
 Italian National Research Council (CNR), Torino, Italy.

*Corresponding author

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Abstract: Latest advancements in tractors engineering have allowed farmers to increase productivity, and simultaneously to reduce operator’s hazards. However, little attention has been given to farmers’ behaviour and attitude toward the adoption of technological innovations concerning agricultural tractors. The study explores farmers’ behaviours on agricultural tractors current and future technological trajectories. A main case study concerning Italy is analyzed. Results show three different behaviours of farmers concerning tractors’ technological innovations. These adopters’ profiles would help developing new technologies that satisfy, more and more, farmers’ needs and expectations, speeding up the adoption process, enhancing agricultural tractors’ efficacy and efficiency.

 Keywords: agricultural tractor, technological innovation, technological trajectories, adopters, farmers.

 JEL Codes: Q16; Q55; O33

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