Mit autonomen Landmaschinen zu neuen Pflanzenbausystemen

Minßen, Till-Fabian; Urso, Lisa-Marie; Gaus, C.; Frerichs, Ludger

doi:10.1007/s35746-015-0028-y

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The author described high investment costs as a possible barrier to acceptance of AFR in a similarly qualitative survey. Therefore, the experts interviewed in this study see AFR first in crops with particularly high labor costs, such as special crops but also row crops, such as sugar beet, before they become economically attractive on a broader scale, which is also confirmed in other studies [2,8,39]. According to the experts, the ecological advantages of AFR, with the exception of organic farms, have a rather indirect effect on acceptance, as farmers are more or less forced to deal with such technologies due to the progressive reduction of legally permitted pesticide use, which is in line with [40].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Another opportunity can be seen in the ongoing development of agricultural engineering through a disaggregated approach in the form of several small robot units where large machines hit the legal size and weight limits [8]. Since digital technologies such as AFR collect and analyze large amounts of data in order to fully unfold their potential, not only AgTech startups but also large IT companies such as IBM and Google are competing with established agricultural machinery manufacturers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The AgTech Startup Perspective to Farmers Ex Ante Acceptance Process of Autonomous Field Robots

Veltheim

Heise

2020

Sustainability

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Autonomous vehicles not only provide a new impetus in the development of car models in the automotive industry—even in agriculture there has recently been talk of autonomous field robots (AFR). Great expectations are placed on these digital assistants from a wide variety of perspectives. However, it is still unclear whether they will make the transition from market niches to broad-based distribution. Apart from various factors, this depends on user acceptance of this new technology expected by the innovators, since this is likely to be essential for the further development of AFR. For this purpose, the ex ante user acceptance of farmers from the perspective of various AgTech startups with AFR involvement in Europe was investigated in this exploratory and qualitative study. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) served as the basis for the developed interview guideline. In summary, the results confirm that a variety of factors potentially influence farmer acceptance and AFR diffusion from the perspective of AgTech startups, with perceived usefulness being considered the main motivation for using AFR. The interviewed experts believe that AFR will initially be used in crops that have relatively high costs for crop protection treatments before becoming economically attractive for other crops. The basic prerequisite for a successful market launch is an adjustment of the legal framework, which sets standards in relation to AFR and thus, provides security in the production process. The results could support political decision-makers in dealing with this new technology and AFR manufacturers in the promotion of AFR.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The AgTech Startup Perspective to Farmers Ex Ante Acceptance Process of Autonomous Field Robots

Veltheim

Heise

2020

Sustainability

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“…AFR are considered to be a promising technology for addressing many agricultural production challenges as well as a growing conflict in Western Europe between societal expectations regarding ecological sustainability and modern farming practices (Minßen et al, 2015). However, this promising technology will only be established on a broad basis if it is accepted by its potential future users (Redhead et al, 2015;Venkatesh et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, given the increasing shortage of skilled workers, driverless systems are an advantage for farmers, especially in labor-intensive areas such as the cultivation of specialty crops. Due to the relatively low weight of AFR, soil compaction would substantially be reduced (Minßen et al, 2015). At the same time, small AFR are more scalable than large farm equipment, which could make smallholder farms economically attractive again (King, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

German farmers’ intention to use autonomous field robots: a PLS-analysis

2021

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Autonomous field robots are a promising technology for solving several problems in agriculture, as they are electrical driven, can control weeds single-plant based mechanically or with microdoses of pesticides and exert less ground pressure on the field. Whether such robots will be applied on a large scale in German agriculture depends on various parameters. Therefore, the factors influencing the behavioural intention of farmers with respect to their future adoption of autonomous field robots were investigated. The analysis applies a structural equation model based on an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The dataset, collected in 2019, consists of 500 German farmers. The results reveal significantly positive effects of farmers’ expected performance, social influence and trust as well as significantly negative effects of farmers’ effort expectancy and anxiety on the behavioural intention to use autonomous field robots. Additionally, moderating effects of age on the relationship of individual constructs to the behavioural intent to use robots could be confirmed. The results provide important information for various stakeholders. Robot suppliers should better inform farmers about the performance of their products, for instance by involving farmers in the development process of the robots. The ecological benefits attributed to field robots could meet public expectations and should be better communicated to address farmers’ social influence on the behavioural intention to use the robots. Policymakers could try to create better framework conditions, for example by establishing a stable legal situation for autonomous systems or promote its use.

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“…This would enable pesticide use and on-demand fertilization at an individual plant level in a more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly manner than current practices, while providing economic benefits in certain crops [10]. Due to their relatively light weight, AFR would allow for more soil-conserving management of arable land [11]. Besides, omitting a driver from certain farm operations would address the increasing shortage of skilled labor in agriculture and generate new jobs for maintenance, etc., of AFR in parallel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

German Farmers’ Attitudes on Adopting Autonomous Field Robots: An Empirical Survey

Veltheim

Heise

2021

Agriculture

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Agricultural production methods in Europe are increasingly subject to public criticism from which many farmers suffer. This applies, among other areas, to the widespread use of pesticides. Autonomous field robots (AFR), as the next stage of agricultural automation, have the potential to farm more intensively and, at the same time, in a more environmentally friendly way. However, a certain skepticism towards autonomous systems is suspected among farmers. Whether farmers adopt a technology depends largely on their uncertainty about the consequences of its use and the resulting attitude on the adoption. In order to quantify the attitude on adopting AFR in Germany and to identify possible group differences within the population, 490 German farmers were surveyed using an online questionnaire, which is based on an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). In the subsequent cluster analysis, the statements inquiring the intention to use AFR served as cluster-forming variables. As a result, three groups (“openminded AFR supporters”, “convinced AFR adopters”, “reserved AFR interested”) could be identified according to their response behavior. Despite existing group differences, an overall attitude in favor of autonomous field robots was observed. The results complement the existing research with a further empirical study and provide interesting starting points for further analysis, field robot manufacturers, and political decision makers.

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Mit autonomen Landmaschinen zu neuen Pflanzenbausystemen

Abstract: Mit autonomen Landmaschinen zu neuen Pflanzenbausystemen

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

The AgTech Startup Perspective to Farmers Ex Ante Acceptance Process of Autonomous Field Robots

The AgTech Startup Perspective to Farmers Ex Ante Acceptance Process of Autonomous Field Robots

German farmers’ intention to use autonomous field robots: a PLS-analysis

German Farmers’ Attitudes on Adopting Autonomous Field Robots: An Empirical Survey

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