Institutional And Innovation Dynamics Of “Twin” Technologies in Agriculture: A Patent-Based Study

Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on New Trends in Management, Business and Economics

Year: 2026

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Institutional And Innovation Dynamics Of “Twin” Technologies in Agriculture: A Patent-Based Study

Rocco Pavesi, Luis Martinez-Chafer, Ivan De Noni, Luigi Orsi

ABSTRACT:

The “Twin Transition”, the convergence of digital and environmental technologies, is reshaping the global agricultural sector. This study provides a comprehensive empirical analysis of this paradigm shift, utilizing a dataset of over 12,000 patent families from 1994 to 2024. Moving beyond policy-centric literature, we adopt a patent landscape approach to deconstruct the organizational and competitive dynamics of this emerging ecosystem. Our findings reveal two major structural shifts. First, we document a profound process of “de-sectorization”, where the
locus of innovation is migrating from traditional agricultural incumbents to high-tech and automotive giants, signaling a radical architectural shift in the industry. Second, we uncover the existence of “dueling innovation models”: a market-driven corporate model led by Western
multinationals, characterized by proprietary strategies aimed at global value capture, contrasted against a state-led academic model dominated by Chinese institutions, driven by high-volume domestic patenting. This dichotomy presents a fragmented global landscape: a corporate “walled garden” approach that raises barriers to entry, versus a state-directed push for technological sovereignty. These findings offer critical implications for policymakers and managers navigating the disruption of the agri-food value chain.

Keywords: Competitive strategies; Innovation ecosystems; Institutional diversity; Patent landscape analysis; Value capture