Technology, Innovation and Sustainability in the Field: The Role of Public Policies in Agriculture

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between technology, innovation, and sustainability in the Brazilian agricultural sector, with emphasis on the role of public policies in mediating between productive progress and socio-environmental responsibility. It is a qualitative research with bibliographic and documentary approach, which privileges secondary sources, legislation, official documents, and specialized literature on Agriculture 4.0. The central objective is to understand how the Brazilian State, in recent decades, has transitioned from direct inducer to facilitator and regulator of technological innovations in the field, in addition to identifying the challenges for building an agricultural model that reconciles productivity, socioeconomic inclusion, and environmental preservation. The results show that the trajectory of Brazilian agriculture, from the first mechanization processes to Agriculture 4.0, demonstrates the interdependence between technological innovation and sustainability, which depends on the proactive action of the State. Policies such as PRONARA, PLANAPO, and Plano Safra, combined with the constitutional recognition of the social function of property and the right to a balanced environment, comprise the available normative framework. However, structural challenges persist: the gap between technological advancement and regulatory capacity, the concentration of Agriculture 4.0 benefits in large properties due to the lack of rural connectivity, and the insufficiency of effective oversight, exemplified by the uncontrolled growth of drones for pesticide application. It is concluded that the success of the sustainable agricultural model depends on the integration between accessible innovation, effective oversight, and technical training, making State action indispensable as a link between technological advancement and the guarantee of fundamental rights.