IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i14p6563-d1704506.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of Knowledge and Innovation in Organic Farming Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Roberta Milardo

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Giuseppe Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Organic agriculture is a complex, knowledge-intensive system, deeply aligned with sustainability goals. While the field has seen promising growth and innovation, it still grapples with significant challenges, particularly in how knowledge is shared, applied, and supported structurally within sustainability-oriented frameworks. To fill this gap, a systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, screening publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. A total of 39 scientific studies were analysed using content analysis and a bibliometric methodological approach. Findings reveal a balanced geographical distribution of studies and a dominance of qualitative methodologies. While farmers, advisors, and researchers are frequently involved in data collection, broader stakeholder engagement is limited. Key actors—research institutions, advisory services, and sectoral organisations—emerge as central to driving innovation and enhancing farmers’ access to actionable knowledge. However, the analysis identifies three core challenges: tailoring knowledge and innovation to diverse farming contexts; strengthening the intermediary role of advisors to bridge science and practice; and integrating organic agriculture more explicitly within the frameworks of sustainability and agroecology. Future research should focus on improving participatory dissemination strategies and strengthening intermediary roles to advance sustainability-driven innovation in organic agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberta Milardo, 2025. "The Role of Knowledge and Innovation in Organic Farming Systems: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6563-:d:1704506
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6563/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/14/6563/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khalid Butti Al Shamsi & Paolo Guarnaccia & Salvatore Luciano Cosentino & Cherubino Leonardi & Paolo Caruso & Giuseppe Stella & Giuseppe Timpanaro, 2019. "Analysis of Relationships and Sustainability Performance in Organic Agriculture in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily (Italy)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-25, February.
    2. Nicola Dal Ferro & Carlo Camarotto & Ilaria Piccoli & Antonio Berti & Jane Mills & Francesco Morari, 2020. "Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Caroline Brock & Douglas Jackson-Smith & Steven Culman & Douglas Doohan & Catherine Herms, 2021. "Soil balancing within organic farming: negotiating meanings and boundaries in an alternative agricultural community of practice," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 449-465, June.
    4. Yuying Liu & Kaiyao Shi & Ziqi Liu & Ling Qiu & Yan Wang & Hao Liu & Xinhong Fu, 2022. "The Effect of Technical Training Provided by Agricultural Cooperatives on Farmers’ Adoption of Organic Fertilizers in China: Based on the Mediation Role of Ability and Perception," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Eligio Malusà & Ewa M. Furmanczyk & Małgorzata Tartanus & Gerjan Brouwer & Claude-Eric Parveaud & François Warlop & Markus Kelderer & Jutta Kienzle & Evelyne Alcazar Marin & Teun Dekker & Radek Vávra , 2022. "Knowledge Networks in Organic Fruit Production across Europe: A Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Aurélie Cardona & Cristiana Carusi & Michael Mayerfeld Bell, 2021. "Engaged Intermediaries to Bridge the Gap between Scientists, Educational Practitioners and Farmers to Develop Sustainable Agri-Food Innovation Systems: A US Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Giovanna Sacchi & Leonardo Cei & Gianluca Stefani & Ginevra Virginia Lombardi & Benedetto Rocchi & Giovanni Belletti & Susanne Padel & Anna Sellars & Edneia Gagliardi & Giuseppe Nocella & Sarah Cardey, 2018. "A Multi-Actor Literature Review on Alternative and Sustainable Food Systems for the Promotion of Cereal Biodiversity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-29, November.
    8. Corrado Ciaccia & Marta Di Pierro & Elena Testani & Giancarlo Roccuzzo & Marcello Cutuli & Danilo Ceccarelli, 2019. "Participatory Research towards Food System Redesign: Italian Case Study and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Heidrun Moschitz & Adrian Muller & Ursula Kretzschmar & Lisa Haller & Miguel de Porras & Catherine Pfeifer & Bernadette Oehen & Helga Willer & Hanna Stolz, 2021. "How can the EU Farm to Fork strategy deliver on its organic promises? Some critical reflections," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 20(1), pages 30-36, April.
    10. Orlando, Francesca & Alali, Sumer & Vaglia, Valentina & Pagliarino, Elena & Bacenetti, Jacopo & Bocchi, Stefano & Bocchi, Stefano, 2020. "Participatory approach for developing knowledge on organic rice farming: Management strategies and productive performance," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elena Pagliarino & Secondo Rolfo, 2021. "Examining Researchers’ Attitudes, Barriers, and Opportunities for Participatory Research: The Case of the Riso-Biosystems Project on Organic Rice," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Jayson Beckman & Maros Ivanic & Jeremy Jelliffe, 2022. "Market impacts of Farm to Fork: Reducing agricultural input usage," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 1995-2013, December.
    3. Tina D. Beuchelt & Rafaël Schneider & Liliana Gamba, 2022. "Integrating the right to food in sustainability standards: A theory of change to move global supply chains from responsibilities to impacts," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 1864-1889, December.
    4. Rombeallo, Intan Parumbuan & Jamil, Muhammad Hatta & Rukmana, Didi, . "Factors affecting farmers’ decision to join coffee producer cooperatives to improve their welfare," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 10(4).
    5. Yaprak Kurtsal & Giacomo Maria Rinaldi & Federica Savini & Rubina Sirri & Martin Melin & Elena Pacetti & Alessandra De Cesare & Marialetizia Fioravanti & Elena Luppi & Gerardo Manfreda & Davide Viaggi, 2024. "Improving the Education and Training Policies of the Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors: Identifying New Strategies to Meet the Needs of the Sector and Farm-to-Fork Priorities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, February.
    6. Adamashvili Nino & Fiore Mariantonietta & Contò Francesco & La Sala Piermichele, 2020. "Ecosystem for Successful Agriculture. Collaborative Approach as a Driver for Agricultural Development," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 12(2), pages 242-256, June.
    7. Shipeng Yang & Wanxiang Xu & Yuxuan Xie & Muhammad Tayyab Sohail & Yefang Gong, 2023. "Impact of Natural Hazards on Agricultural Production Decision Making of Peasant Households: On the Basis of the Micro Survey Data of Hunan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Fertő, Imre & Bakucs, Zoltán & Viira, Ants-Hannes & Aleksandrova, Olha & Luik-Lindsaar, Helis & Omel, Raul, 2024. "Are Organic Farms Less Efficient? The Case of Estonian Dairy Farms," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 16(4), March.
    9. Tara Maireid Conway, 2025. "The role of intermediaries in transitions to agroecology in the Upper Midwest," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(3), pages 2151-2169, September.
    10. Qiao Liang & Kangwei Ma & Wenhao Liu, 2023. "The role of farmer cooperatives in promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural development in China: A review," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 741-759, September.
    11. Ambrogio Costanzo & Dominic C. Amos & Giovanni Dinelli & Rocco E. Sferrazza & Giacomo Accorsi & Lorenzo Negri & Sara Bosi, 2019. "Performance and Nutritional Properties of Einkorn, Emmer and Rivet Wheat in Response to Different Rotational Position and Soil Tillage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Rees, Charles & Grovermann, Christian & Finger, Robert, 2023. "National organic action plans and organic farmland area growth in Europe," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    13. Ana Clara Borrego & Rute Abreu & Francisco Alegria Carreira & Filipe Caetano & Ana Lúcia Vasconcelos, 2023. "Environmental Taxation on the Agri-Food Sector and the Farm to Fork Strategy: The Portuguese Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    14. Hao Dong & Yang Zhang & Tianqing Chen, 2023. "A Study on Farmers’ Participation in Environmental Protection in the Context of Rural Revitalization: The Moderating Role of Policy Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    15. Aare, Ane Kirstine & Lund, Søren & Hauggaard-Nielsen, Henrik, 2021. "Exploring transitions towards sustainable farming practices through participatory research – The case of Danish farmers' use of species mixtures," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    16. Magenge Deborah & Kyaruzi Athman & Nsenga, Justus, 2025. "Factors Influencing Tomato Farmers to Adopt Agricultural Technologies in Mlali Mvomero District, Tanzania," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 4325-4340, March.
    17. Alison Blay-Palmer & Elodie Valette & Olivier Lepiller & Amanda Di Battista, 2023. "Urbal: A research project," Post-Print hal-04702676, HAL.
    18. Czyżewski, Bazyli & Poczta-Wajda, Agnieszka & Matuszczak, Anna & Smędzik-Ambroży, Katarzyna & Guth, Marta, 2025. "Exploring intentions to convert into organic farming in small-scale agriculture: Social embeddedness in extended theory of planned behaviour framework," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    19. Alessia D’Andrea & Arianna D’Ulizia, 2023. "Preserving Local Food Traditions: A Hybrid Participatory Approach for Stimulating Transgenerational Dialogue," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, April.
    20. Claudio Cordoba Correoso & Feni Agostinho & James Rodrigo Smaniotto & Mari Carissimi Boff & Pedro Boff, 2022. "Sustainability Assessment of Family Agricultural Properties: The Importance of Homeopathy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-22, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6563-:d:1704506. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.