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Adoption of Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Scoping Review of the System Domain

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  • Rocco Addorisio

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

  • Roberta Spadoni

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

  • Giulia Maesano

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

Abstract

The agricultural sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the integration of innovative technologies and practices, but the adoption of these technologies remains uneven. Holistic approaches to the diffusion of innovative technologies in agriculture are seen as crucial for effective adoption and sustainable development. In this context, the systemic dimension of technology adoption is characterized by the interactions between actors that create knowledge and promote the process of technology adoption. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the art in relation to the systemic dimension of the process of technology adoption in developed countries. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension protocol for scoping reviews, we examined the literature to capture the role of the systems dimension in the process of technology adoption. We conducted a two-analysis, bibliometric and content network analysis to identify the concepts and thematic clusters that define the systemic dimension and represent the main drivers of technology adoption for sustainable development in agriculture. The results show that the factors influencing the adoption of agricultural technologies are treated inconsistently in the literature, with a focus on technological and economic aspects rather than systemic elements such as governance and stakeholder interactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rocco Addorisio & Roberta Spadoni & Giulia Maesano, 2025. "Adoption of Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Scoping Review of the System Domain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-28, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4224-:d:1650728
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    References listed on IDEAS

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