An Empirical Investigation of the Impact of I4.0 Technologies on the Sustainability of Agri-food Companies.

Today, the agri-food industry is faced with the challenge of reconciling economic growth with sustainable development. The adoption of innovative technologies "Industry 4.0" (I4.0) can help agri-food companies to improve environmental, social and economic sustainability. Literature analysed the advantages of adopting different technological solutions. Despite this, a research gap has been identified regarding the lack of empirical studies that aim to provide a quantitative assessment of the benefits of the adoption of innovative technologies in the agri-food industry. This study aims to help bridge this gap, assessing the impact of I4.0 technologies on the achievement of key sustainability objectives. To reach this goal, a survey aimed at 300 Italian agri-food companies was carried out, and a Structural Equations Model (SEM) was defined, identified and validated to assess how the adoption of innovative technologies influences the sustainability of companies in the agri-food industry. Results show that exists a significant relationship between the adoption of I4.0 technologies and the improvement of the environmental, economic and social sustainability of companies in the agri-food industry. As for environmental sustainability, the main advantages are related to the execution of precision agriculture activities, and the efficient management of resources. The adoption of I4.0 technologies also positively impacts social sustainability, with advantages in terms of safety, product traceability, and supply chain transparency. Finally, the adoption of I4.0 technologies provides numerous economic benefits, including better planning of activities, increased productivity, and better information management.