Technological Capabilities Index for Agrifood Organizations In Colombia

Abstract

Purpose: to propose an instrument for measuring technological capabilities (TC) in organizations of the agri-food sector and to apply it in two associations in Cundinamarca, Colombia.   Theoretical framework: TC, understood as the organization's abilities to implement and take advantage of technologies, allows agricultural organizations to achieve competitive advantages, but they must be strengthened in this sector.   Methods: Based on the Agricultural Innovation Survey and the Manual of Bogota, a technological capabilities index (TCI) was designed with four factors: R&D, production process, environmental management, and digitalization. It was applied to two producer organizations at two points in time: 2019 and 2020, after the intervention of the ANDI Foundation (linked to the National Association of Industrialists of Colombia) through the HUB methodology of alliances for inclusive competitiveness.   Results and conclusion: the ICT has a comprehensive approach that allows evaluating the evolution of TC in organizations of the agri-food sector. The intervention carried out through the HUB methodology contributed moderately to the strengthening of TC.   Research implications: ICT can contribute to decision-making in organizations of the Colombian agricultural sector. Opportunities for improvement of the HUB methodology were identified, as well as the key role of guilds such as ANDI.   Originality/value: the ICT proposed in this research is useful for Colombian agrifood organizations and has options for extrapolation to other types of companies and sectors in the country. The role of the HUB methodology in TC was evaluated, which has no precedent in the available literature.