Mapping the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture and its implications for SDG 2: A bibliometric review

Agriculture and food systems are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet progress remains insufficient. Digital technologies are often presented as part of the solution; however, research in Information Systems and digital agriculture largely prioritises productivity and efficiency outcomes. Adoption is frequently treated as a discrete decision rather than as a multi-stage process, with limited attention to how sustainability dimensions are addressed across contexts. This fragmentation constrains understanding of how digital adoption relates to SDG objectives. This study addresses this gap through a bibliometric and structured coding review of the scientific literature on digital technology adoption in agriculture. It examines how adoption is framed across stages, influencing factors, and heterogeneous technology clusters, including data-driven production, digital market connectivity, digital knowledge services, and digital government platforms, alongside sustainability dimensions. Findings show that adoption is mainly conceptualised as a readiness-based decision moment, with limited differentiation between pre-adoption, adoption, and post-adoption stages. Individual determinants dominate, while organisational and institutional dynamics remain under- theorised. Sustainability is mainly framed through productivity and resource-efficiency, with less attention to governance and social dimensions. By clarifying these patterns, the study reframes adoption as a multi-stage, multi-level process and supports more sustainability-oriented research on digital transformation in agriculture.