Abstract

The agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to increase food production sustainably in the face of climate change and population growth. To achieve “Zero Hunger” of  Sustainable Development Goal 2,  the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into agriculture, known as Smart Agriculture, holds immense potential to enhance productivity, optimize resource utilization, and address the growing global food demand.  AI offers significant potential to revolutionize farming practices by optimizing resource use, improving crop yield, and enhancing decision-making. However, the widespread adoption of AI in smart agriculture remains limited compared to other industries. Through the lens of the Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) framework, this qualitative study aims to identify and analyse the key factors that influence the adoption of AI in Smart Agriculture. Through in-depth interviews with farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, and technology providers, the study examines the factors that facilitate or hinder the adoption of AI-based solutions. The results identify both encouraging and discouraging factors categorized into economic, socio-psychological, contextual, technological, organisational factors and environmental aspects. The research findings provide insights into the complex interplay of these factors and offer recommendations to support the widespread adoption of AI in the agricultural sector. By addressing the identified barriers and leveraging the driving forces, this study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics surrounding the integration of AI in Smart Agriculture, ultimately paving the way for more efficient and sustainable food production systems.