Technology : Technology Overview

© Jayson Punwani

Technology Overview

Commercial decisions about the development and use of new agricultural technologies requires informed judgments about the costs and benefits flowing from these technologies. This economic arithmetic is as relevant for smallholder farmers deciding whether or not to adopt a new crop variety as it is for seed dealers deciding where to locate their sales outlets or the range of farm inputs to stock in their stores.

Part of this cost-benefit calculus involves estimates about the intrinsic productivity potential of prospective technologies; an aspect addressed extensively by HarvestChoice elsewhere on this site. An array of intellectual property and technology regulation matters also affect the incentives to invent, market and use new agricultural technologies. In addition, the size, structure and orientation of the private and public research and development (R&D) sectors who service these technology markets have a direct bearing on technology commercialization strategies.

This section provides a range of information and assessments to inform decisions about the investments in, uptake of and commercial prospects for new agricultural technologies.

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