Californian innovation ecosystem: emergence of agtechs and the new wave of agriculture

Purpose – In a context where the process of creation of technology and innovation for agriculture is beingdisrupted at a fast pace, the authors proposed to study one of the most prominent agtech innovationecosystems. Therefore, this paper aims to identify key characteristics that make California’s agtechinnovation ecosystem remarkable.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an exploratory and descriptive research carried out in atwofold. First, data were collected through documental research focusing on actors such as universities, R&Dcenters and programs, business accelerators and venture capital platforms, agtechs, as well as multinationalcompanies. Second, structured interviews were carried out to complement the secondary data collected and toobtain experts’ perception on the relationships between actors of the ecosystem and on the characteristics thatmake this ecosystem remarkable.Findings – The paper provides empirical insights about the relevance of California’s agtech innovationecosystem to creation of radical innovations in agriculture. It has a differentiated environment, whereeducational and research institutions play a key role in developing new knowledge. It also shows howimportant funding is to allow new business to succeed. Additionally, it shows that actors interact in a complexnetwork, with multiple roles. All these key characteristics allow this agtech innovation ecosystem to be soremarkable.Research limitations/implications – Because of the chosen research approach, the research resultsmay lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to survey a larger number of actors of thisand other agtech innovation ecosystems to test the identified key characteristics further.Practical implications – The paper includes indication of characteristics necessary to develop aprominent agtech innovation ecosystem, which may contribute to decision makers to develop policies aimingto promote this type of ecosystem. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to open the “black-box” of agtech innovationecosystems, which may then allow radical innovations within the sector to be developed and taken to themarket