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We study the role of social learning in the diffusion of cash crops in a resettled village economy in Brazil. We combine detailed geo-coded data on farming plots with dyadic data on social ties among settlers, and we leverage the variation in network formation induced by the landless workers' movement land occupation. By using longitudinal data on farming decisions over 15 years, we find evidence of significant peer effects in the decision to farm new cash fruits (pineapple and passion fruit). Our results suggest that social diffusion is heterogeneous along observed plot and crop characteristics, i.e. farmers growing water-sensitive crop are more likely to respond to the actions of peers with similar water access conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to measure the effects of moderation by age and income in mobile payment systems' intended use as predictors of performance expectation, effort expectation, social influence, risk and perceived costs. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on a survey that generated a sample of 1,742 Brazilian users that responded to the measurement scale. The research data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation model. Findings: All proposed latent variables were significant, with income positively moderating the performance expectation and negatively moderating the perceived cost and perceived risk. In addition, age positively moderates performance expectation and negatively moderates cost perception. Originality/value: The findings evolved previous literature by understanding moderating effects that make it possible for companies operating in mobile payments to generate segmented communication and engagement plans for users of different income and age brackets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Today, over 80% of the US and Brazil row crop acreage has plants expressing insecticidal proteins to prevent the damage caused by caterpillars. These plants (crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt, toxins) have brought several benefits to farmers, the environment, and society. However, these can be eroded when insects develop resistance to these toxins. Researchers and regulatory agencies have developed tactics that should be followed by farmers to avoid resistance but with limited efficacy. Our research provides recommendations for researchers and policymakers that are based on farmers' perspectives, thereby offering changes for current guidelines to successfully manage insect resistance and protect Bt crops' efficacy. Summary: Genetically engineered crops expressing insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have brought numerous benefits; however, pest resistance evolution poses a threat to the sustainability of this technology. Insect resistance management (IRM) for Bt crops has been defined as a wicked problem as it involves sociobiological complexities. A main challenge in IRM is the adoption of non‐Bt refuge, which is one out of the few strategies amenable to human intervention.This study investigated farmers' perspectives on information sources and IRM practices in Brazil using quantitative and qualitative data collection. A total of 145 farmers responded to online Qualtrics surveys, and 13 farmers participated in person to open‐ended interviews.This study demonstrates that farmers rely on strong social networks for information exchange and that sources with expertise based on local field experience are the most reliable channels of communication. We identified new challenges for refuge adoption such as the need to spray insecticides for pests not targeted by Bt and the intangible aspect of resistance evolution. Based on results of sources of information and perspectives on IRM practices, we discuss strategies that may be successful in delaying insecticide resistance evolution based on local contexts.This is the first study to investigate Brazilian farmers' perceptions on information sources and IRM strategies using qualitative data. Our results provide important elements to orient research development and decision‐making in biotechnology policies for the agricultural sector in Brazil and other similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the factors affecting the postadoption of RFID technology as part of omnichannel strategies in the retail industry. In addition, it evaluates how this innovation contributed to the improvement of the quality of corporate financial information. We employed an exploratory multiple-case study design based on qualitative research, by using semi-structured interviews, and public financial and sustainability reports as sources of evidence. The data collection and analysis were performed in 2022 for the pilot case of a manufacturer and the formal cases of three retailers. The results reveal that RFID postadoption is influenced by technological factors (relative advantage, observability, trialability, and perceived costs), organizational factors (top management support and firm size), and environmental factors (competitive pressure and external support). Surprisingly, loss recognition and loss provision are the most affected accounting practices, differently from what has been suggested by the accounting literature. We also found that item-level RFID enables increased frequencies of full inventory counts, providing inventory accuracy of records and real-time inventory visibility. This results in the improvement of accounting information quality in terms of relevance, faithful representation, timeliness, comparability, understandability, verifiability, and value-added. Our findings may contribute to both research and practice, as well as IS and accounting fields. We identified and investigated the phenomenon of the recent movement of RFID adoption by large retail companies listed in B3 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Finally, we provide a theoretical model based on the TOE framework integrated to a construct of accounting information quality specifically developed for the RFID postadoption context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many m-gov adoption models have been proposed, which can confound researchers and policymakers. In this article, we reviewed 17 studies on m-gov adoption, identifying 25 different factors. We conducted two focus groups to discuss the adequacy of these factors, generating the first version of a unified model. We tested this model using data from 806 survey respondents from Brazil. The proposed unified model is parsimonious and outperforms other theoretical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have analyzed the impact of one technology on the productive performance of dairy systems. However, analyses that consider the impact of joint technologies are scarce. This study was aimed to analyze the inseparability of a set of technologies and their impacts on dairy farm performance. Questionnaires were applied on-site with 155 dairy farmers in Paraná State, Brazil. We collected 17 technological variables related to milk production and variables related to dairy farms' production. Data analysis was performed in three steps: descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and multiple regression. Descriptive analysis was applied to characterize the sample, EFA was applied to generate factors related to the technological variables, and multiple regression was used to compare technological factors with productivity variables - farm performance. Four factors were defined: (i) Forage and farm structure, (ii) management, (iii) genetics, breeding strategies, and concentrate feeding, and (iv) animal health. The four factors significantly explained the differences in milk productivity between dairy farms. Technologies grouped under the factor of genetics were the most important in explaining milk yield per lactating cow, land productivity, and dairy herd reproductive efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology adoption has contributed to developing efficient food production throughout the history of modern agriculture. In the last decades, several technologies have positively affected yields globally, and, more recently, digital solutions are leading the way. This article presents the results of a survey carried out with 461 Brazilian soybean farmers about the use of technologies and the level of influence of mass media, social media, and interpersonal meetings on the decision to adopt new technologies. We surveyed farmers in Brazil's top five soybean-producing states, which represent 75% of production in the world's largest soybean producer. Spearman's rank correlations showed an association between communication and the use of precision and digital technologies. LinkedIn had the highest positive correlation between precision and digital tools. Conferences, forums, and seminars had the highest positive correlation with the perceived benefits of using technologies on-farm. The results suggest that in-person activities still have relevance, but social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, have grown increasingly important to farmers. In addition, the correlations indicate that adopters of established technologies tend to prioritize in-person connections as a reference for their decision making. The results reinforce that superior knowledge and information are decisive in the process of adopting technologies in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation and improved practices in the livestock sector represent key opportunities to meet global climate goals. This paper provides evidence that extension services can promote pasture restoration in cattle ranching in Brazil. We use a randomized controlled trial implemented in the context of the ABC Cerrado (a large-scale program launched in 2014 aimed at fostering technology adoption through a combination of training and technical assistance) to examine the effects of different types of extension on agricultural practices, input use, and productivity. Providing technical assistance to previously trained producers promoted pasture restoration, induced farmers to use inputs more intensively, helped them to improve their management and soil conservation practices, and substantially increased revenues. A cost–benefit calculation indicates that US$1 invested in the ABC Cerrado program increased profits by US$1.08 to $1.45. Incorporating carbon savings amplifies this return considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses possible reasons for the gap between teachers' actions and intentions, reported by research on practices with the use of ICT. The theoretical approach is informed by teachers' beliefs, which are discriminated in two categories: pedagogical and epistemic. A qualitative fieldwork research undertaken in eight public primary schools in Rio de Janeiro between 2014 and 2019 presents empirical evidence of the relationship between ICT use in the classroom and teachers' beliefs. Data collection took place in two phases, and the data set consists of: (1) sixty four semi-structured interviews with teachers of the eight schools; (2) two focus groups with teachers in two schools, selected among the eight initial schools. Main findings show the importance of ICT self-efficacy at the core of teacher's pedagogical beliefs, as skills and knowledge are built upon direct experience and observation of others. Furthermore, epistemic beliefs are strongly related to pedagogical beliefs and teachers' attitudes. Findings show that the most innovative teachers are those who conceive ICT as a cultural artefact, have an ecological view of the classroom, and translate their intentions into actions, facing uncertainty and possible failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Paradigma is the property of Universidad Pedagogica Experimental Libertador and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Factors such as herd composition, productivity, milk quality and technology level influence the costs and profitability of milk production. Objective: To evaluate indicators that could predict production performance and financial efficiency in three dairy production systems in southern Brazil. Methods: Monthly records of milk quality, production performance and costs from fifty dairy farms were collected. The farms were classified into grazing, semi-feedlot, or feedlot systems. Total revenues, effective operational cost, total operational cost, total cost, gross margin, net income, total cost leveling point, profitability and final milk price were calculated. Results: The feedlot system resulted in greater herd size and milk production per lactating cow (p<0.05), but greater variable costs compared to semi-feedlot and grazing systems. On the other hand, the grazing system achieved greater profitability per year. Factor II (fat and protein rates), and Factor III (herd size and productivity per area) were associated with milk price per liter paid to the farmer (p<0.05), together accounting for approximately 13% of this price. Conclusion: Dairy production systems are influenced by area, lactating cows, productive performance, productivity per area, milk quality, and use of artificial insemination as well as supplementation (concentrate and minerals). Nearly 13% of milk price can be attributed to its fat and protein content as well as herd size and productivity per area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gestão e Regionalidade is the property of Universidade Municipal de Sao Caetano do Sul and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Complementarity is an interesting approach to explain technology adoption. Taking account the other activities the farm performs in its production strategy can help understanding the decision on the adoption of new agricultural technology. This paper aims to evidence the existence of synergic effect resulting from the joint adoption of feedlot and traceability certification of beef cattle in Brazil. A sample of 84 beef cattle farms provided data to test hypotheses by using an OLS regression model. A measure of performance – revenue – is regressed on variables representing both isolated and joint adoption of capital-intensive production system and traceability. The results suggest the existence of synergic effect when joint adoption takes place. Joint adoption is influenced by a set of management practices, such as forward contracts, training of employees and zootechnical performance control, which are shared by both capital-intensive production systems and traceability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust is essential for Mobile Banking (MB) adoption and usage. MB technology has the potential to improve people's quality of life and to bring efficiency to banks. In this paper, MB trust was addressed in Brazil, a developing country that has an enormous potential for expansion of banking services. We used Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the database, which was composed of 1077 questionnaires. In this study sample, determinants of trust had similar behavior when compared to determinants of trust previously pointed out in the literature. Our discussion indicated a kind of information asymmetry that could be mitigated in order to build trust in MB and promote its adoption. However, we observed a negative relationship between trust in MB and undergraduate course area (dummy variable for undergraduate courses in technology). The inclusion and analysis of this new variable, especially in developing countries, may contribute with the literature on MB adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Administração e Inovação (RAI) is the property of Revista de Administracao e Inovacao- RAI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) are at the core of Agriculture 4.0. • We analyzed the impacts of PATs adoption on sugarcane farms performance. • Selectivity correction SPFs and metafrontier production function were applied. • Adoption of PATs reduces managerial and technological gaps in sugarcane farming. • Farmer schooling, farm size and technical assistance affect the adoption of PATs. Precision Agriculture Technologies (PATs) are at the core of the fourth revolution in farming technology, also called Agriculture 4.0. This study evaluates the determinants of PATs adoption and its impacts on technical efficiency (TE) and technology gap ratio (TGR) of sugarcane farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A selectivity correction model for stochastic frontiers is combined with a metafrontier production function approach to estimate the role of a set of determinants of PATs adoption and its impacts on TE and TGR. In person interviews with 131 sugarcane farmers provided cross-sectional farm level data from the 2018/19 crop year. The estimates of a sample selection equation showed that farming size, farmer's schooling and technical assistance positively affect PATs adoption by sugarcane farmers. Estimates of stochastic production frontiers (SPFs) and metafrontier revealed that the average of the TE and TGR scores of adopters are higher than those of non-adopters. The managerial gaps (TE) between adopters and non-adopters are considerably wider than their technology gaps (TGR). The adoption of PATs subsidizes farmers decision-making process which increased the efficiency in inputs use, an important issue for economic and environmental sustainability in sugarcane farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses is considered an essential ingredient of an effective strategy to mitigate global warming. Required changes in land use and forestry, however, often imply foregoing returns from locally more attractive resource use strategies. We assess and compare the prospects of mitigating climate change through emission reductions from forestry and agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon. We use official statistics, literature, and case study material from both old and new colonization frontiers to identify the scope for emission reductions, in terms of potential additionality, opportunity costs, technological complexity, transaction costs, and risks of economic and environmental spillover effects. Our findings point to a comparative advantage in the Brazilian Amazon of forest conservation-based over land-use modifying mitigation options, especially in terms of higher potential additionality in emission reductions. Low-cost mitigation options do exist also in use-modifying agriculture and forestry, but tend to be technologically complex thus requiring more costly intervention schemes. Our review points to a series of regional development deficits that may come to hamper attempts to tap into the large-scale climate change mitigation potential often associated with the Amazon. Low-hanging fruits for mitigation do exist, but must be carefully identified based on the performance indicators we discuss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to typify competitiveness on beef cattle farms from the western border region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sixty-three farmers, each with an individual farm area exceeding 900ha, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire, divided in four sections: technology (TEC), management (MAN), market relationships (MR) and institutional environment (IE). Data were analysed using Cluster and Discriminant analyses. Beef cattle producers were divided into three levels of competitiveness: low (LCL), medium (MCL) and high (HCL). Comparing LCL×MCL, the former group of farmers showed lower levels of pasture and reproduction management than the latter (subfactors within TEC). When LCL×HCL were compared, the main differences were the lower access to technological innovation and low investment with herd genetics of LCL compared with HCL. The lower level of management activities (performance recording, animal handling and calculation of financial parameters) of MCL compared with HCL were the main variables that differ between these farms. Cattle producers interviewed here were, in general, competitive, mainly due to the use of technologies on farm. However, there were limitations in the variables related to management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Relationship between rural credit policy and diffusion of ICLS was investigated. • A Simultaneous Equation System was adopted to deal with reverse causality. • Access to rural credit policy increases the adoption of ICLS. • The adoption of ICLS increases the demand of rural credit. • Public policy is encouraging the diffusion of sustainable systems in Brazil. This study analyzes the effectiveness of rural credit policy to increase the adoption of ICLS. Analyzes are based on a survey with 175 farmers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Our estimates suggest that rural credit has positive and relevant impacts on the adoption of ICLS. In turn, the adoption of these systems may also involve investments in fixed capital and increases in operational costs, which create additional demand for rural credit. Other factors, such as access to extension policy, production scale, ex-ante perceptions, and market infrastructure also explain ICLS adoption. The access to rural credit policy is also determined by dependence on farm income, farmer's perception of transaction costs, and supply of credit in the municipality. The study finally discusses important implications for the devising of rural credit policies and the diffusion of sustainable production systems in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital era, technology innovation and adoption trigger economic growth and enhance CO 2 emissions through productivity, which places it in the mainstream policy debate. For BRICS economies, this paper uses the first method proposed in the literature to quantify their information and communication technology (ICT) and innovatively links each country to their information technology adoption rate, as a surrogate indicator for measuring information and communication technology. Environmental Kuznets curve evidence is also examined, using technology innovation, technology adoption, and trade openness as the control variables for sustainable development. The results show that two out of three technology innovation instruments, fixed telephone, and broadband subscriptions increase CO 2 emissions. Simultaneously, mobile cellular subscriptions have a lowering effect on CO 2 emission in BRICS. The technology adoption indicators, high-technology exports, and electric power consumption also cause an upsurge in CO 2 emission. Moreover, trade openness also enriches the level of CO 2 emission in the BRICS regions. There is a need to devise technology innovation and adoption policies to better use technology and to ensure a green environment.