An Analysis of the Implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Production/Supply Chain Management for Agricultural Producers in Developing Economies

Abstract

This paper provides a conceptual overview of various developments of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and presents these developments in agricultural production/distribution in the context of supply chain management (SCM) in developing countries context. This paper defines 4IR as the merging of technologies and interactions at the physical, digital, and biological levels. Specifically, it examines developments related to the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain technology, robotics, Big Data analytics,
biotechnology, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence that aim to ensure sustainable production and SCM in agricultural production/distribution. The paper concludes with a hypothesis on what farmers in developing countries should do to meaningfully benefit from 4IR.

Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution, Supply Chain Management, Agriculture, Developing countries