Agriculture 4.0 is worth €2.3 billion

11/02/2025 In Italy, agriculture 4.0 solutions, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor technology, have come to be worth 2.3 billion euros; in 2017 it was only 100 million.

According to Istat estimates, Italian agriculture ranks first in the European Union, ahead of Spain, France and Germany having generated an added value of 42.4 billion euros in 2024 ^[1]. Also growing considerably is the number of software solutions and providers in the agritech sector in the country: agriculture 4.0 solutions, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor technology have increased in value from 100 million in 2017 to the current 2.3 billion euros ^[2].

Nevertheless, according to data presented today by the Smart Agrifood Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano and Università degli Studi di Brescia, in 2024, in Italy, only 8% of farms are digitally mature and the agricultural area affected by 4.0 solutions stands at 9.5%.

To meet global challenges, Italian agriculture and the entire agribusiness supply chain have an extraordinary opportunity offered by technology innovation.

One in three agriculture 4.0 solutions integrates advanced artificial intelligence technologies and predictive analytics, startups offering AI and machine learning solutions are growing (+24%) and those providig digital solutions for the agricultural sector (+7%), while new areas of application are emerging, such as agri-fintech and carbon farming.

These issues were discussed today in Rome at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy during the annual FBK research presentation event, dedicated for 2025 to “Human-centered agritech. Research and development for people and the environment”and which brought together businesses, trade organizations and experts with institutions. The event is part of Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s strategic plan for human-centered AI, which is committed to this field with major national and international research projects, building on its decades of experience in artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary approach and ability to translate scientific results into application solutions.