Studying Innovation in Agriculture: Toward a Political Economy of Innovation Grounded in a Multi-Scalar Approach

Research in economics often analyzes the individual adoption of digital technologies in agriculture, without considering the actual conditions of their implementation or their interactions. An approach integrating this heterogeneity reveals the diversity of representations, constraints and technological needs. By integrating different scales of analysis, a political economy of innovation could shed light on the conflicts and controversies surrounding innovation, essential to the agro-ecological transition. For this purpose, I developed a multi-faceted analysis framework (including actors, uses, transformations and systems) in a Phd thesis. Recruited at INRAE, I am developing this research by studying the joint transformations of technologies and institutions, notably via information systems and digital traceability. I also analyze interactions between individual and organizational levels, as well as the heterogeneity of innovation processes, to better understand their political dimensions.