Abstract
The agrifood sector faces well-documented barriers to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption, reflecting systematic difficulty identifying where digital tools address specific stakeholder needs rather than a technology shortage. This paper presents a prescriptive framework for mapping digital innovation opportunities in complex, multi-stakeholder agrifood systems. Grounded in Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) theory and structured as a two-dimensional matrix of meta-jobs and value chain segments, the framework was developed through a design science research (DSR) paradigm evaluated on utility, coherence, and actionability. Construction involved a purposive synthesis of three literature streams and iterative refinement through 136 stakeholder engagements within a six-month university-affiliated startup studio cycle. Applied to climate-smart agriculture, the framework produces 54 strategic opportunity areas across nine meta-jobs and six value chain segments. A cross-cutting pattern analysis identifies three structural constraints: agricultural data fragmentation and absence of interoperability standards; inadequate measurement, reporting, and verification infrastructure; and misalignment between financing mechanisms and climate-smart time horizons. The framework equips entrepreneurs and investors with a segment-differentiated opportunity map, supports agribusiness portfolio analysis, and directs policymakers toward three priority areas where coordinated systemic action generates value across the opportunity landscape.
Keywords
climate-smart agriculture; digital innovation opportunities; jobs-to-be-done theory; design science research; sustainability transitions
Date of this Version
5-2-2026
Recommended Citation
Monaco Neto, Lourival Carmo and Gray, Allan, "A Jobs-to-Be-Done Framework for Mapping Digital Innovation Opportunities in Climate-Smart Agrifood Systems" (2026). Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications. Paper 67.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/agedocs/67
Comments
This is the publisher PDF of Monaco Neto, L.C.; Gray, A.W. A Jobs-to-Be-Done Framework for Mapping Digital Innovation Opportunities in Climate-Smart Agrifood Systems. Sustainability 2026, 18, 4487. Published CC-BY by MDPI, the version of record and ADA Title II compliant version is available in HTML at DOI: 10.3390/su18094487.