Patent trends in agricultural engineering

Abstract

Inventions play an important role in all sectors of our society, including the agricultural sector. As they have played an essential role in the development of our agricultural system in the past, inventions can and should be of importance as a driver for innovations towards sustainable development of agriculture in the future. The present paper analyses the current status of agricultural and bioresource engineering patents, with the aim to define the current trends and potentials of agricultural engineering. The research takes advantage of the EspaceNet patent database, which has indexed more than 38900 patents in agricultural engineering since the beginning of the century. The analysis starts from a selection of most recurrent words in this database, and proposes a clusterization in thematic groups. Then, comparisons are carried out both on thematic groups and on single terms, in order to determine trends, recognise correlations, and eventually identifying most strategic areas. The results highlight a growing attention on machinery, on data and automation, while lower relevance is progressively covered by chemical treatments. Specifically, a clear relevance is noticed on agricultural vehicles and implements, on irrigation systems and on greenhouses.