SGER: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: The Internet and the U.S. Agricultural System

美国农业系统正在迅速开发和采用互联网应用程序。然而，迄今为止，关于互联网技术对农业价值链结构的影响的研究或理论发展很少。本项目的主要目标是归纳构建农业价值链的理论模型，并展示互联网发展对农业价值链的影响。这一目标将通过两项相辅相成的活动来实现。首先，将进行文献综述，以了解电气化和电话这两种其他主要网络技术在农村地区的采用情况和随后的影响。本次审查将深入了解农业价值链，以前的技术如何影响它们，以及采用互联网可能产生的影响类型。第二项活动将是：1）了解生产农业投入品、销售农产品或加工食品的公司如何利用互联网向农民和牧场主提供信息、商品和服务; 2）分析互联网对美国农业系统价值链的影响。

Internet applications are being rapidly developed and adopted for use in the US agricultural system. Yet, to date, there has been little research or theoretical development concerning the impacts of Internet technology on the structure of value chains in agriculture. The primary goal of this SGER project is to inductively construct theoretical models of agricultural value chains and to show the impacts of Internet development on them. This goal will be accomplished through two complementary activities. First, a literature review will be done to understand the adoption and subsequent impacts of two other major network technologies - electrification and telephony -- in rural areas. This review will provide insight into agricultural value chains, how previous technologies have impacted them and the types of impacts that could be expected from the adoption of the Internet. The second activity will be to: 1) understand how firms producing agricultural inputs, marketing agricultural commodities, or processing food products use the Internet to provide information, goods, and services to farmers and ranchers; and 2) analyze the impacts of the Internet on value chains within the US agricultural system.