Essays on innovation and sustainability in the food industry

Abstract

Technological innovation has the potential to address sustainability challenges in the food industry. This thesis focused on nutrient recycling, digital technologies, and advanced automation technology, such as artificial intelligence, automated machines, and robotics. We used data from a literature review, commodity price data, and firm-level microdata on technology and production. We find that commodity price risk in natural gas and phosphorus markets lead to a decrease of the investment profitability of phosphorus recycling. Moreover, artificial intelligence in the food industry increases productivity, but has no effect on output, employment, and energy intensity. As most of the impacts of technology are on economic variables, policy makers have a responsibility to guide technology in a