Digital Technologies as a Driver for the Green Transformation of the Agro-Industrial Complex: A Systemic-Institutional Approach

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of digital technologies as a driver for the green transformation of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) from a systemic-institutional perspective. The authors argue that technological solutions – such as precision farming systems, big data platforms, and blockchain – serve not only as tools for enhancing efficiency but also as a key factor in overcoming the institutional barriers to this transition. Drawing on theories of path dependence, institutional logics, and transaction costs, the study analyzes how digitalization can reduce the costs of adopting sustainable practices and harmonize the interplay of state, market, and community logics.

Based on empirical data and comparative case studies, the paper presents a multi-level model of the impact of digital technologies on the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels of the AIC. It reveals the dual nature of digitalization in Russia, where the active adoption of basic ICTs coexists with a "lock-in" in mastering integrated, "cross-cutting" technologies. The conclusion emphasizes the need for targeted institutional design that shifts the focus of state support from subsidizing assets to developing digital ecosystems and services tailored for small and medium-sized farms.