Territory, agribusiness and startups: Agtechs in the innovation ecosystem of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Territorio, agronegocio y startups: las agtechs en ecosistema de innovación de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (Brasil)

Abstract:

Contemporary capitalism is characterized by the processes of financialization and globalization, which have an impact on the dynamics of accumulation and territorial configurations. Ideas such as innovation and entrepreneurship have become increasingly central, enabling new business models that integrate technological innovation and finance - a role currently performed by startups. Drawing on a literature review combined with the analysis of empirical data, we examine how these processes are manifested in the municipality of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (Brazil), specifically aiming to understand the presence and strategies of agtechs (startups focused on agribusiness), the services provided by these companies, and the ways in which these actors align with the imperatives of innovation and their mechanisms of market valorization. We conclude that these dynamics shape a new geographical situation for the municipality, revealing both new urban functions and a new nature of productive consumption in rural areas, which connects new economic agents to the sphere of technological innovation.

Keywords:
Agtechs; Innovation; Entrepreneurship; Uberlândia; Minas Gerais; Brazil