A Regional Indicator to Describe Potential Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture

Artificial intelligence (hereafter AI) is synonymous with innovation and ICT. Politecnico di Milano provides this definition of AI: “Artificial Intelligence is the branch of computer science that studies the development of hardware and software systems endowed with capabilities typical of human beings and capable of autonomously pursuing a defined purpose by taking decisions that, until then, were usually entrusted to humans”. Banking, finance and insurance, automotive, energy and logistics are the sectors most adopting artificial intelligence projects. What about agricultural companies? For the purpose of a better understanding of the phenomenon to date, this study analyzes the potential use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Italian agricultural companies through a composite index (using the Equitable and Sustainable Welfare methodology) that measures the territorial gaps and their predisposition or not to the use of artificial intelligence which is an essential prerequisite for achieving intelligent growth. For this purpose, the present contribution unfolds with the following structure: description of the theoretical reference framework and of the indicators used concerning innovations and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) of agriculture companies”;description of the methodology for the construction of the composite indicator;description of the results, also through a geo-referenced map of regions potentially prone to the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture;conclusions. description of the theoretical reference framework and of the indicators used concerning innovations and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) of agriculture companies”; description of the methodology for the construction of the composite indicator; description of the results, also through a geo-referenced map of regions potentially prone to the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture; conclusions.