Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets
Labor shortages in agriculture are a global problem that cause revenue losses and resource waste. In the US, immigration is the main source of such laborers, but labor immigration has decreased by 75% in recent years and costs due to unharvested crops due to labor shortage in agriculture were estim...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156032 https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0642-2603 |
| _version_ | 1826188889759416320 |
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| author | Haywood, Eric Robert |
| author2 | Cusumano, Micheal A. |
| author_facet | Cusumano, Micheal A. Haywood, Eric Robert |
| author_sort | Haywood, Eric Robert |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Labor shortages in agriculture are a global problem that cause revenue losses and resource waste. In the US, immigration is the main source of such laborers, but labor immigration has decreased by 75% in recent years and costs due to unharvested crops due to labor shortage in agriculture were estimated at USD 3.1 Billion per year in 2014.
This thesis investigates the persistent labor shortages in the agricultural sectors of the southern United States and Mexico, exploring the feasibility of alleviating these shortages through a labor matching platform enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). With a focus on the economic implications and structural deficiencies in agricultural labor markets, the study examines how a digital platform can bridge the gap between supply and demand for agricultural labor.
The research employs a multi-dimensional approach that includes extensive literature review, in-depth interviews with stakeholders, system dynamics modeling, and action research involving the launch of a company and release of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The MVP, a foundational component of the proposed digital platform, has been tested in the market to gather quantitative data and insights using web advertising.
The findings highlight the platform’s potential to streamline labor matching processes, improve transparency, and increase efficiency in the agricultural labor market. Additionally, the integration of AI provides intelligent matchmaking capabilities, predicting and aligning labor needs with available workers more effectively.
Not only does this thesis provide a potential business model to tackle a critical economic problem, but it also contributes to the broader discourse on the role of technology in transforming traditional industries in advanced and emerging economies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:06:18Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/156032 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T08:06:18Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1560322024-08-13T04:01:24Z Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets Haywood, Eric Robert Cusumano, Micheal A. Sloan School of Management Labor shortages in agriculture are a global problem that cause revenue losses and resource waste. In the US, immigration is the main source of such laborers, but labor immigration has decreased by 75% in recent years and costs due to unharvested crops due to labor shortage in agriculture were estimated at USD 3.1 Billion per year in 2014. This thesis investigates the persistent labor shortages in the agricultural sectors of the southern United States and Mexico, exploring the feasibility of alleviating these shortages through a labor matching platform enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI). With a focus on the economic implications and structural deficiencies in agricultural labor markets, the study examines how a digital platform can bridge the gap between supply and demand for agricultural labor. The research employs a multi-dimensional approach that includes extensive literature review, in-depth interviews with stakeholders, system dynamics modeling, and action research involving the launch of a company and release of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The MVP, a foundational component of the proposed digital platform, has been tested in the market to gather quantitative data and insights using web advertising. The findings highlight the platform’s potential to streamline labor matching processes, improve transparency, and increase efficiency in the agricultural labor market. Additionally, the integration of AI provides intelligent matchmaking capabilities, predicting and aligning labor needs with available workers more effectively. Not only does this thesis provide a potential business model to tackle a critical economic problem, but it also contributes to the broader discourse on the role of technology in transforming traditional industries in advanced and emerging economies. S.M. 2024-08-12T14:16:40Z 2024-08-12T14:16:40Z 2024-05 2024-06-25T18:20:28.746Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156032 https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0642-2603 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Haywood, Eric Robert Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title | Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title_full | Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title_fullStr | Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title_short | Harvesting Innovation: Exploring the Potential of an AI-Enabled Platform to Revolutionize Agricultural Labor Markets |
| title_sort | harvesting innovation exploring the potential of an ai enabled platform to revolutionize agricultural labor markets |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156032 https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0642-2603 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haywoodericrobert harvestinginnovationexploringthepotentialofanaienabledplatformtorevolutionizeagriculturallabormarkets |