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Purpose <p> This study investigates how and to what extent PATs adoption is associated with the technical efficiency (TE) of soybean farms in São Paulo State, Brazil. </p> Methods <p> Microdata from a representative random sample of 152 farms during the 2023/24 crop season were used to construct a variable capturing the adoption of a complementary PAT bundle, comprising soil mapping, variable rate fertilizer application, yield monitoring, and ag-tech management software. Stochastic production frontier (SPF) models with inefficiency effects were estimated. </p> Results <p> Results revealed positive and statistically significant output elasticities for land and capital, with increasing returns to scale at the sample mean. Both irrigation and accumulated precipitation were positively associated with productivity, particularly under the season’s dry and hot conditions. The average TE score was 67.5%, suggesting considerable potential to increase output without raising input levels and production technology. Adoption of the PAT bundle was significantly associated with higher TE. On average, farms adopting the full PAT bundle achieved a 34.2% increase in TE, <i>ceteris paribus</i>. This marginal effect was more pronounced among small farmers compared to their medium and large counterparts. Notably, efficiency gains were observed only when all four technologies were adopted jointly, underscoring a strong synergistic effect. </p> Conclusion <p> These findings provide robust empirical evidence that integrated PAT adoption enhances input use efficiency and supports sustainable intensification. The results also highlight the managerial benefits of bundled technology adoption, offering insights for promoting PAT diffusion.</p> Highlights <p>The relationship between complementary bundle of PAT and TE in soybean production was assessed.</p> <p>The PAT bundle comprised soil mapping, variable rate application technology, yield monitoring, and farm management software.</p> <p>On average, PAT adoption increased farm TE scores by 34.2%.</p> <p>PAT adoption improved TE scores across all farm sizes, with small farms exhibiting the largest potential for efficiency gains.</p> Impact <p>This study provides robust empirical evidence on how and to what extent Precision Agriculture Technologies (PATs) contribute to improving input use efficiency, the core of the Precision Agriculture philosophy. Drawing on observed farm-level data rather than experimental or simulated settings, the analysis captures real-world production conditions and enables direct comparison of technical efficiency (TE) between PAT adopters and non-adopters among soybean farmers in São Paulo State, Brazil. Moreover, by evaluating PATs as bundles, the study advances the literature by highlighting the complementarities among these technologies, which may strengthen their overall effect on farm performance. This approach provides a system-level understanding of adoption patterns and impacts, which represents a novel contribution compared to prior studies focused on single PATs. The results demonstrate significant potential to boost output without increasing input use through PAT adoption, firmly establishing their role in promoting sustainable intensification.</p>

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Precision agriculture technologies adoption and technical efficiency of soybean farms in São Paulo, Brazil

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月27日

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  • Larissa Gui Pagliuca,
  • Marcelo José Carrer,
  • Rodrigo Damasceno,
  • Marcela de Mello Brandão Vinholis,
  • Hildo Meirelles de Souza Filho

摘要

Purpose

This study investigates how and to what extent PATs adoption is associated with the technical efficiency (TE) of soybean farms in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Methods

Microdata from a representative random sample of 152 farms during the 2023/24 crop season were used to construct a variable capturing the adoption of a complementary PAT bundle, comprising soil mapping, variable rate fertilizer application, yield monitoring, and ag-tech management software. Stochastic production frontier (SPF) models with inefficiency effects were estimated.

Results

Results revealed positive and statistically significant output elasticities for land and capital, with increasing returns to scale at the sample mean. Both irrigation and accumulated precipitation were positively associated with productivity, particularly under the season’s dry and hot conditions. The average TE score was 67.5%, suggesting considerable potential to increase output without raising input levels and production technology. Adoption of the PAT bundle was significantly associated with higher TE. On average, farms adopting the full PAT bundle achieved a 34.2% increase in TE, ceteris paribus. This marginal effect was more pronounced among small farmers compared to their medium and large counterparts. Notably, efficiency gains were observed only when all four technologies were adopted jointly, underscoring a strong synergistic effect.

Conclusion

These findings provide robust empirical evidence that integrated PAT adoption enhances input use efficiency and supports sustainable intensification. The results also highlight the managerial benefits of bundled technology adoption, offering insights for promoting PAT diffusion.

Highlights

The relationship between complementary bundle of PAT and TE in soybean production was assessed.

The PAT bundle comprised soil mapping, variable rate application technology, yield monitoring, and farm management software.

On average, PAT adoption increased farm TE scores by 34.2%.

PAT adoption improved TE scores across all farm sizes, with small farms exhibiting the largest potential for efficiency gains.

Impact

This study provides robust empirical evidence on how and to what extent Precision Agriculture Technologies (PATs) contribute to improving input use efficiency, the core of the Precision Agriculture philosophy. Drawing on observed farm-level data rather than experimental or simulated settings, the analysis captures real-world production conditions and enables direct comparison of technical efficiency (TE) between PAT adopters and non-adopters among soybean farmers in São Paulo State, Brazil. Moreover, by evaluating PATs as bundles, the study advances the literature by highlighting the complementarities among these technologies, which may strengthen their overall effect on farm performance. This approach provides a system-level understanding of adoption patterns and impacts, which represents a novel contribution compared to prior studies focused on single PATs. The results demonstrate significant potential to boost output without increasing input use through PAT adoption, firmly establishing their role in promoting sustainable intensification.