Rural Innovations

Category

agtech

624 entries tagged agtech.

Articles — 561

  • Designing and Orchestrating Embedded Innovation Networks: An Inquiry into Microfranchising in Bangladesh

    Laté Lawson-Lartego, Lars Mathiassen · 2016 · SSRN Working Paper (Georgia State University)

    Longitudinal case study of an emerging microfranchise network in Bangladesh facilitated by CARE, used to examine how innovation networks are designed and orchestrated in resource-scarce settings to deliver agricultural inputs to small-scale poor farmers.

  • Role of Networks of Rural Innovation in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: A Quadruple Helix Case Study

    Ruth Wanjiru Irungu, Zhimin Liu, Xiaoguang Liu, Ann Wambui Wanjiru · 2023 · Sustainability, 15, 13221

    Quadruple helix (academia, government, industry, community) case study of a Chinese rural revitalisation program, finding that multi-actor collaboration around agricultural science, entrepreneurship, and tourism advanced 11 of the 17 SDGs.

  • Rural innovation system: Revitalize the countryside for a sustainable development

    Ximing Yin, Jin Chen, Jizhen Li · 2022 · Journal of Rural Studies, 93, 471-478

    Proposes a 'rural innovation system' framework drawing on new growth theory, institutional theory, and innovation systems theory, with three pillars: technology innovation, institutional/management innovation, and community-based network/intermediary platforms. Compares rural and urban innovation systems.

  • The role of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions in the uptake of agricultural and agroforestry innovations among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

    Seline S. Meijer, Delia Catacutan, Oluyede C. Ajayi, Gudeta W. Sileshi, Maarten Nieuwenhuis · 2014 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Agricultural innovation adoption by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is slow because existing frameworks overlook intrinsic factors. This paper argues that farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions significantly influence adoption decisions alongside external factors like adopter characteristics and environment. Using agroforestry as a case study, the authors present a framework combining both intrinsic and extrinsic variables. They conclude that understanding how these factors interact is essential for designing sustainable, appropriately targeted agricultural technologies.

  • How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations? The case of improved maize technology in Ghana

    Cheryl R. Doss · 2001 · Agricultural Economics

    Men and women in Ghana adopt improved maize varieties and chemical fertilizer at different rates. The difference stems from unequal access to complementary inputs like land, labor, and extension services, not from inherent gender preferences. Policymakers can increase equitable technology adoption by improving women's access to these inputs rather than overhauling agricultural research systems.

  • The Path to Smart Farming: Innovations and Opportunities in Precision Agriculture

    E. M. B. M. Karunathilake, Anh Tuan Le, Seong Heo, Yong Suk Chung, Sheikh Mansoor · 2023 · Agriculture

    Precision agriculture uses advanced technologies like IoT, drones, sensors, and machine learning to boost crop yields while reducing environmental damage. This review examines recent innovations in smart farming and identifies key challenges: managing large datasets, getting farmers to adopt new technologies, and controlling costs. The approach addresses critical agricultural problems including feeding growing populations sustainably.

  • Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Which Innovation Potential Does It Have?

    Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto, Renato Grillo, Gerson Araújo de Medeiros, Viviana Scognamiglio, Giuseppina Rea, Cecilia Bartolucci · 2016 · Frontiers in Environmental Science

    Nanotechnology offers significant potential to improve agriculture by enhancing productivity and food security while reducing environmental harm. Nanomaterial-based systems—including controlled-release nutrient delivery, pesticide application, and nanosensors for monitoring soil and food quality—can support sustainable intensification and waste management. These innovations address agricultural challenges while promoting economic and social equity.

  • Agriculture 4.0: Broadening Responsible Innovation in an Era of Smart Farming

    David Christian Rose, Jason Chilvers · 2018 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Smart farming technologies like AI and robotics promise productivity gains, but their social implications are often overlooked. Farmers and the public express concerns about how these technologies might reshape agricultural communities. The authors argue that responsible innovation—emphasizing anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, and responsiveness—must guide Agriculture 4.0. They call for systemic approaches that map innovation ecosystems, broaden participation beyond traditional stakeholders, and test frameworks in practice to ensure technologies develop responsibly.

  • Enhancing agricultural innovation : how to go beyond the strengthening of research systems

    Andy Hall, Wilhelmus Gerardus Janssen, Eija Pehu, Riikka Rajalahti · 2006

    Strong research systems alone don't guarantee agricultural innovation. This paper argues that innovation depends on interactions among all actors in the agricultural sector—not just scientists. The authors develop a framework for diagnosing innovation capacity and planning interventions based on eight case studies. They identify what drives innovation and propose generic interventions that build capacity to innovate across entire agricultural systems.

  • Automated pastures and the digital divide: How agricultural technologies are shaping labour and rural communities

    Sarah Rotz, Evan Gravely, Ian Mosby, Emily Duncan, Elizabeth Finnis, Mervyn Horgan, Joseph LeBlanc, Ralph C. Martin, Hannah Tait Neufeld, Andrew Nixon, Laxmi Prasad Pant, Vivian Shalla, Evan Fraser · 2019 · Journal of Rural Studies

    Agricultural digitalization in North America, particularly Canada, is reshaping farm labour and rural communities through automation, sensors, and artificial intelligence. The paper identifies three critical tensions: rising land costs paired with automation reducing labour demand, creation of a bifurcated labour market with few high-skill and many low-skill jobs, and corporate control of farm data. Using a social justice lens, the authors argue that digital technologies intensify exploitation of marginalized agricultural workers and deepen rural inequality, calling for policy and research to redirect digitalization toward supporting both food production and vulnerable farm labourers.

  • Towards a Better Conceptual Framework for Innovation Processes in Agriculture and Rural Development: From Linear Models to Systemic Approaches

    Karlheinz Knickel, Gianluca Brunori, Sigrid Rand, Jet Proost · 2009 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This paper argues that agricultural innovation requires moving beyond linear, technical models to systemic approaches that recognize farming's multifunctional role. The authors identify gaps between societal demands for change and farmers' capacity to innovate, showing that technical and economic factors alone cannot explain innovation processes. They propose that successful innovation emerges from collaborative networks where social and institutional factors, farmer knowledge, motivations, and values drive change. Extension services and institutions often become barriers when they fail to recognize shifted farmer and societal needs.

  • Technological Innovations, Downside Risk, and the Modernization of Agriculture

    Kyle Emerick, Alain de Janvry, Élisabeth Sadoulet, Manzoor H. Dar · 2016 · American Economic Review

    A randomized experiment in India demonstrates that a flood-tolerant rice variety increases agricultural productivity by encouraging farmers to adopt complementary modern practices. The technology reduces downside risk, prompting greater use of labor-intensive planting methods, expanded cultivation area, increased fertilizer application, and higher credit utilization. Most productivity gains stem from these crowding-in effects, showing that risk-reducing technologies unlock broader agricultural modernization.

  • Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: are innovation brokers the answer?

    Laurens Klerkx, Andy Hall, Cees Leeuwis · 2009 · International Journal of Agricultural Resources Governance and Ecology

    Innovation brokers—intermediaries who connect actors in agricultural systems—emerge as key players in strengthening innovation capacity. Using Dutch agriculture as a case study, the paper argues that brokers facilitate interaction between farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders. The authors conclude that innovation brokerage works in developing countries too, but requires public investment and supportive policies that enable local embedding and institutional learning.

  • Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural Smallholders

    Neil Dawson, Adrian Martin, Thomas Sikor · 2015 · World Development

    Rwanda's Green Revolution policies increased agricultural yields and reduced conventional poverty measures, but harmed most rural smallholders. The policies forced farmers to abandon subsistence polyculture for specialized market crops using modern seeds and inputs. Only wealthier farmers could comply; poorer households experienced disrupted livelihoods, increased landlessness, lost knowledge systems, and reduced autonomy. The authors recommend pro-poor tenure reforms and cooperative arrangements alongside agricultural improvements, and call for rigorous impact assessments that examine effects on different social groups.

  • Capacity development for agricultural biotechnology in developing countries: an innovation systems view of what it is and how to develop it

    Andy Hall · 2005 · Journal of International Development

    Agricultural biotechnology capacity in developing countries requires more than building research infrastructure and human capital. Using an innovation systems framework, this paper argues that countries must develop broader innovation capacity—the ability to use knowledge productively. The author examines six capacity development approaches and concludes that effective policy must take a multidimensional approach that integrates diverse innovation systems strategically.

  • The role of education in facilitating risk-taking and innovation in agriculture

    John Knight, Sharada Weir, Tassew Woldehanna · 2003 · The Journal of Development Studies

    Education reduces risk-aversion among farmers in rural Ethiopia, making them more likely to adopt agricultural innovations. The study shows schooling encourages technology adoption both directly and indirectly by shifting attitudes toward risk. Educated farmers who adopt innovations early may create positive spillovers when less-educated farmers copy their practices, generating benefits beyond individual adopters.

  • INNOVATION PLATFORMS: EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR INSTITUTIONAL EMBEDDING IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

    Marc Schut, Laurens Klerkx, Murat Sartas, Dieuwke Lamers, M.M. Campbell, IFEYINWA OGBONNA, Pawandeep Kaushik, K. Atta-Krah, Cees Leeuwis · 2015 · Experimental Agriculture

    Innovation Platforms bring farmers, researchers, and stakeholders together to drive systemic agricultural innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. The paper finds that successful platforms require fundamental institutional changes within agricultural research organizations—including new mandates, incentives, procedures, and funding structures. Without these changes, platforms risk becoming superficial rebranding of traditional technology-focused approaches rather than enabling genuine paradigm shifts toward system-oriented development.

  • Pathways for impact: scientists' different perspectives on agricultural innovation

    N.G. Röling · 2009 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Agricultural scientists often misunderstand how their research reaches farmers and creates real-world impact. This paper examines five pathways for agricultural innovation—technology transfer, farmer-driven innovation, market-induced innovation, participatory development, and innovation systems—and argues that scientists must better understand these mechanisms to improve smallholder productivity and reduce rural poverty. The author calls for changes in scientific training, promotion criteria, and funding to embed impact thinking into agricultural research professionalism.

  • Digital innovations for sustainable and resilient agricultural systems

    Robert Finger · 2023 · European Review of Agricultural Economics

    Digital innovations are transforming agriculture by enabling farms to increase productivity, reduce environmental impact, and build resilience. However, realizing these benefits requires addressing economic, social, and ethical challenges. The paper recommends specific policies to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks, and identifies priorities for future agricultural economics research.

  • Exploring market orientation, innovation, and financial performance in agricultural value chains in emerging economies

    Khanh Le Phi Ho, Chau Ngoc Nguyen, Rajendra Adhikari, Morgan P. Miles, Laurie Bonney · 2017 · Journal of Innovation & Knowledge

    This study examined 190 actors in Vietnam's beef cattle value chain to understand how market orientation drives innovation and financial performance. Market orientation itself did not directly improve performance, but customer orientation and inter-functional coordination within the chain significantly boosted innovation. Innovation then directly improved financial performance. The findings reveal how agricultural value chains in emerging economies can leverage internal coordination and customer focus to drive profitability.

  • Advances in Knowledge Brokering in the Agricultural Sector: Towards Innovation System Facilitation

    Laurens Klerkx, Marc Schut, Cees Leeuwis, Catherine Kilelu · 2012 · IDS Bulletin

    Agricultural extension has evolved from pushing research findings to farmers toward collaborative models that recognize innovation emerges from interactions among multiple actors. Knowledge brokers now facilitate systemic change by building linkages and creating enabling contexts for technical, social, and institutional innovation. This innovation systems approach applies beyond agriculture to other sectors, requiring knowledge brokers to move beyond research uptake to broader innovation facilitation activities.

  • RAAIS: Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part I). A diagnostic tool for integrated analysis of complex problems and innovation capacity

    Marc Schut, Laurens Klerkx, Jonne Rodenburg, Juma Kayeke, Léonard Cossi Hinnou, Cara Raboanarielina, Patrice Ygué Adegbola, A. van Ast, L. Bastiaans · 2014 · Agricultural Systems

    RAAIS is a diagnostic tool that analyzes complex agricultural problems by examining institutional, technological, and socio-cultural dimensions across multiple levels. It assesses innovation capacity within agricultural systems and identifies constraints affecting farmers, government, and researchers. The tool combines qualitative and quantitative methods to find entry points for innovation. Testing in Tanzania and Benin on parasitic weed problems in rice production demonstrated its effectiveness.

  • Beyond knowledge brokering: an exploratory study on innovation intermediaries in an evolving smallholder agricultural system in Kenya

    Catherine Kilelu, Laurens Klerkx, Cees Leeuwis, Andy Hall · 2011 · Knowledge Management for Development Journal

    In Kenya's agricultural sector, 22 intermediary organizations support smallholder innovation through roles beyond knowledge distribution. These organizations foster interaction among diverse actors and drive technological, organizational, and institutional change. The study identifies four intermediation arrangements: technology broker, systemic broker, enterprise development support, and input access support. Innovation brokering requires policy support but should avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.

  • Systemic problems affecting co-innovation in the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation System: Identification of blocking mechanisms and underlying institutional logics

    James Turner, Laurens Klerkx, Kelly Rijswijk, Tracy Ann Williams, Tim Barnard · 2015 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    This study identifies systemic barriers preventing co-innovation in New Zealand's agricultural sector, where farmers, researchers, and other actors should jointly drive technological and social change. The analysis reveals three main blocking mechanisms: competitive science operating in isolation, hands-off government innovation policy, and science-dominated approaches. These institutional barriers persist across many countries and prevent co-innovation principles from being adopted in agricultural policy. The paper argues that transformative policy instruments are needed to overcome these entrenched structures.

  • Edible Mushroom Cultivation for Food Security and Rural Development in China: Bio-Innovation, Technological Dissemination and Marketing

    Yaoqi Zhang, Wei Geng, Yueqin Shen, Yanling Wang, Yu‐Cheng Dai · 2014 · Sustainability

    China's mushroom cultivation sector has grown rapidly over 30 years, now employing over 25 million farmers and generating 24 billion USD annually. The industry has shifted from forest collection to farming using diverse materials including agricultural waste. The paper examines how bio-innovation, technology dissemination, and marketing drive this growth, demonstrating mushroom cultivation's contribution to food security and rural development while supporting sustainable agriculture and forestry.

  • Agriculture in the developing world: Connecting innovations in plant research to downstream applications

    Deborah P. Delmer · 2005 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

    Plant genomics and molecular breeding offer powerful tools to improve crops for poor farmers in developing regions. The paper argues that translating these innovations into real benefits requires better collaboration between public and private plant scientists, new funding mechanisms, and targeted research on abiotic and biotic stresses. While private companies have successfully developed improved maize and cotton varieties, the public sector must build capacity to apply these same techniques to crops serving the poorest farmers.

  • Smart Farming: Including Rights Holders for Responsible Agricultural Innovation

    Kelly Bronson · 2018 · Technology Innovation Management Review

    Agricultural innovation embeds values and shapes social relationships, not just technical problems. The paper argues that innovation design and governance must include diverse rights holders and stakeholders to ensure responsible development. Treating innovation as purely technical work ignores how farming technologies reorder social and environmental systems, requiring broader participation in decision-making.

  • SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION IN UGANDA TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE RISK: LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY WITH FARMER PERCEPTIONS

    Henny Osbahr, Peter Dorward, R. D. Stern, Sarah Cooper · 2011 · Experimental Agriculture

    Farmers in southwest Uganda perceived significant climate change over 20 years, reporting increased temperatures and greater rainfall variability, particularly in the March-May season. Climate data confirmed rising temperatures but showed less dramatic rainfall changes than farmers reported. The study reveals gaps between farmer perceptions and meteorological measurements stem from different definitions of risk—farmers focus on rainfall distribution for crop production while scientists measure long-term statistical means. Understanding these differences improves communication about climate risk to support agricultural innovation.

  • Social network analysis of multi-stakeholder platforms in agricultural research for development: Opportunities and constraints for innovation and scaling

    Frans Hermans, Murat Sartas, Boudy van Schagen, Piet van Asten, Marc Schut · 2017 · PLoS ONE

    Multi-stakeholder platforms in Burundi, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo show structural weaknesses that limit their innovation and scaling capacity. Social network analysis reveals that NGOs dominate while the private sector is underrepresented, connections between local and higher government levels are weak, and influential actors often remain disconnected. Organizations central to knowledge exchange attract collaboration, but innovation scaling occurs mainly within single organization types rather than across different sectors.

  • Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture: Processes of Co-evolution, Joint Reflection and Facilitation

    Heidrun Moschitz, D. Roep, Gianluca Brunori, Tālis Tīsenkopfs · 2015 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Agricultural innovation requires moving beyond top-down knowledge transfer from researchers to farmers. This editorial introduces research on Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture (LINSA), where farmers actively participate as innovators rather than passive technology adopters. The papers examine how joint learning and reflection among diverse actors—researchers, advisors, and producers—can support sustainable agricultural transitions and strengthen institutional support for collaborative innovation in rural Europe.

  • Sustainable intensification of agricultural systems in the Central African Highlands: The need for institutional innovation

    Marc Schut, Piet van Asten, Chris Okafor, Cyrille Hicintuka, Sylvain Mapatano, Nsharwasi Léon Nabahungu, Désiré M. Kagabo, Perez Muchunguzi, Emmanuel Njukwe, Paul M. Dontsop-Nguezet, Murat Sartas, Bernard Vanlauwe · 2016 · Agricultural Systems

    This study examines agricultural innovation in the Central African Highlands using an agricultural innovation systems approach. The research finds that constraints to sustainable intensification are primarily economic and institutional—caused by weak policies, poor market access, limited financial resources, and ineffective stakeholder collaboration. The authors conclude that 69% of constraints require institutional innovation, particularly improved credit access, services, and markets. They argue that current research and development investments focus too narrowly on farm-level productivity, neglecting the institutional and natural resource management innovations needed at national and regional levels.

  • Innovation adoption in agriculture : innovators, early adopters and laggards

    Paul Diederen, Hans van Meijl, Arjan Wolters, Katarzyna Bijak · 2003 · Cahiers d Economie et sociologie rurales

    Dutch farmers adopt agricultural innovations at different rates based on structural and behavioral factors. Farm size, market position, solvency, and farmer age distinguish innovators and early adopters from laggards. Innovators and early adopters share similar structural traits but differ behaviorally: innovators actively seek external information sources and participate in developing new technologies, while early adopters do not.

  • Innovation Systems, Institutional Change And The New Knowledge Market: Implications For Third World Agricultural Development

    Norman Clark · 2002 · Economics of Innovation and New Technology

    This paper applies information theory to analyze innovation systems in developing countries, focusing on agricultural poverty. It argues that Third World agricultural research and development requires fundamental institutional reform, not just technological fixes or policy adjustments. The author examines knowledge markets in industrialized countries as models and contends that without restructuring institutions—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa—technological innovations cannot reach their economic potential.

  • Opening design and innovation processes in agriculture: Insights from design and management sciences and future directions

    Elsa Berthet, Gordon M. Hickey, Laurens Klerkx · 2018 · Agricultural Systems

    Agricultural innovation requires more open, participatory design processes that move beyond traditional approaches. This paper synthesizes research on co-design and co-innovation in agriculture, drawing insights from management and design sciences. It identifies three priorities: expanding design tools to engage multiple senses, opening innovation networks to support sustainability transitions while addressing power dynamics, and including non-human actors like materials and ecosystems in innovation processes.

  • Organic Farmer Networks: Facilitating Learning and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture

    Margaret M. Kroma · 2006 · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

    Organic farmer networks in northeastern New York State drive agricultural innovation through social learning and participatory problem-solving. The study shows how farmers learn from each other and adopt sustainable practices within these networks. The research identifies opportunities for agricultural extension services to support organic farmer management by leveraging these existing social learning processes.

  • Adoption of agricultural innovations as a two‐stage partial observability process

    Efthalia Dimara, Dimitris Skuras · 2003 · Agricultural Economics

    This paper argues that partial observability models better explain agricultural innovation adoption than standard statistical approaches. The authors show that adoption operates as a two-stage process where farmers first decide whether to consider an innovation, then decide whether to adopt it. They apply this framework to organic farming adoption in Greece, demonstrating that the model accounts for non-adopters and incomplete information more accurately than conventional methods.

  • Tapping the full potential of the digital revolution for agricultural extension: an emerging innovation agenda

    Jonathan Steinke, Jacob van Etten, Anna Müller, Berta Ortiz-Crespo, Jeske van de Gevel, Silvia Silvestri, Jan Priebe · 2020 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Agricultural extension in the Global South can leverage digital technologies far more effectively by adopting user-centred design and problem-oriented approaches. The paper reviews why many agro-advisory initiatives failed—typically because they pushed specific technologies rather than addressing actual user communication needs. It identifies eight emerging ICT applications for agricultural extension and emphasizes that successful digital innovation requires supportive institutions alongside technological development.

  • Digitalisation in the New Zealand Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System: Initial understandings and emerging organisational responses to digital agriculture

    Kelly Rijswijk, Laurens Klerkx, James Turner · 2019 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Agricultural knowledge providers in New Zealand understand digital agriculture primarily as farm-focused, despite its broader disruptive potential. Organizations respond with ad-hoc adaptations to capabilities and services rather than strategic planning. The study reveals that uncertainty about digital agriculture's early development drives reactive rather than proactive approaches. Agricultural innovation systems should better support knowledge providers in developing deliberate digitalization strategies that anticipate future scenarios and reshape business models.

  • Agricultural innovation: invention and adoption or change and adaptation?

    Marijke van der Veen · 2010 · World Archaeology

    Agricultural innovations arise from farmers and craftspeople making practical modifications to existing tools and practices rather than from radical new inventions. Most improvements target crops, animals, growing conditions, implements, or management practices. Farmers adapt existing technologies to their needs rather than simply adopting new ones. When multiple improvements across different farming areas reach critical mass simultaneously, they can produce revolutionary societal impacts.

  • Public-private partnerships as systemic agricultural innovation policy instruments – Assessing their contribution to innovation system function dynamics

    Frans Hermans, Floor Geerling-Eiff, Jorieke Potters, Laurens Klerkx · 2018 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Public-private partnerships function as systemic policy tools within agricultural innovation systems. This study evaluates four Dutch agricultural PPPs by examining how they influence innovation system functions and feedback loops, rather than just direct organizational benefits. The research reveals that different PPP types have varying strengths and weaknesses as systemic instruments and different capacities to coordinate other policy tools, depending on whether they target sustainability or international competitiveness.

  • Agricultural Innovation Systems: An Investment Sourcebook

    M’Randa R. Sandlin, John Thomas Wynn · 2014 · Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

    This World Bank reference guide explains agricultural innovation systems and their key components. It emphasizes that successful systems require collaboration through national coordination, innovation networks, market access, and farmer organization capacity. Agricultural education and training are critical for building human resources that enable these systems to function effectively.

  • Achieving food security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through innovation: Potential role of agricultural extension

    Sajid Fiaz, Mehmood Ali Noor, Fahad Owis Aldosri · 2016 · Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences

    Saudi Arabia faces severe food security challenges due to limited arable land and water in its desert climate, forcing heavy reliance on imports. The paper argues that agricultural extension services are critical to promoting innovative technologies—including hydroponics, greenhouse farming, seawater harvesting, and rainwater collection—that can increase domestic food production and reduce import dependency by 2050.

  • The new harvest: agricultural innovation in Africa

    Raj Patel, Rachel Bezner Kerr · 2011 · The Journal of Peasant Studies

    This review examines agricultural innovation across Africa, analyzing how farmers develop and adopt new farming practices and technologies. The paper discusses the conditions enabling innovation in African agriculture, including access to resources, knowledge systems, and institutional support. It argues that understanding local innovation processes is essential for improving agricultural productivity and food security in rural African communities.

  • Foresighting Australian digital agricultural futures: Applying responsible innovation thinking to anticipate research and development impact under different scenarios

    Aysha Fleming, Emma Jakku, Simon Fielke, Bruce Taylor, Justine Lacey, Andrew Terhorst, Cara Stitzlein · 2021 · Agricultural Systems

    Australian researchers used foresighting workshops to explore how digital technologies will shape agriculture's future and identify social and ethical implications. Participants developed four scenarios based on resource security and farm business model changes. The analysis reveals that reflexivity in research and development is essential to ensure digital agriculture benefits farming communities equitably and addresses potential inequities in technology adoption across value chains.

  • Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption of Agricultural Innovations: A Panel Data Analysis of the Use of Artificial Insemination among Dairy Farmers in Ireland

    Peter Howley, Cathal O. Donoghue, Kevin Heanue · 2012 · Journal of Agricultural Science

    This study analyzes why Irish dairy farmers adopt artificial insemination (AI) technology at different rates using panel data. The researchers found that both farmer characteristics and farm structure significantly influence adoption decisions. Understanding these differences helps policymakers design targeted programs to promote AI adoption and improve reproductive management practices among dairy farmers.

  • Shaping agricultural innovation systems responsive to food insecurity and climate change

    Sally Brooks, Michael Loevinsohn · 2011 · Natural Resources Forum

    Agricultural innovation systems must adapt to climate change and food insecurity by learning from smallholder farmers' strategies in developing countries. The paper examines three regional cases and identifies four key features that strengthen food security: recognizing agriculture's multiple functions, ensuring access to diversity for resilience, building decision-maker capacity at all levels, and maintaining sustained commitment to farmer well-being. These insights guide policymakers in reshaping innovation systems.

  • Innovation intermediation in a digital age: Comparing public and private new-ICT platforms for agricultural extension in Ghana

    Nyamwaya Munthali, Cees Leeuwis, Annemarie van Paassen, Rico Lie, Richard Asare, R.J.A. van Lammeren, Marc Schut · 2018 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Two new-ICT platforms for agricultural extension in Ghana—one public, one private—were compared to assess their innovation-intermediation roles. While both platforms aimed to support demand articulation and matching, their effectiveness was limited by social, organizational, and institutional factors rather than technical capacity. Informal farmer-led initiatives using WhatsApp and Telegram proved more successful at transforming interaction patterns and achieving collective goals than formally designed platforms.

  • Organic agriculture in Africa: a source of innovation for agricultural development

    Hubert De Bon, Ludovic Temple, Éric Malézieux, Pauline Bendjebbar, Ève Fouilleux, Pierre Silvie · 2018 · SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository

    Organic agriculture in Africa generates innovations that advance agricultural development across the continent. The paper examines how organic farming practices create new solutions for farming systems, resource management, and food production. These innovations emerge from African farmers' adaptation to local conditions and constraints, offering pathways for sustainable agricultural improvement that benefit rural communities and food security.

  • Conceptualising the DAIS: Implications of the ‘Digitalisation of Agricultural Innovation Systems’ on technology and policy at multiple levels

    Simon Fielke, Robert Garrard, Emma Jakku, Aysha Fleming, Leanne Wiseman, Bruce Taylor · 2019 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Digital technologies are transforming agriculture, raising critical questions about data ownership, privacy, and governance. This paper examines Australia's Digiscape Future Science Platform and argues that agricultural industries need proactive policy frameworks and stakeholder forums to manage digital innovation systems effectively. The authors propose that deliberate attention to societal values in technology policy can help agriculture capitalize on digitalization opportunities while mitigating risks.

  • Theory and application of Agricultural Innovation Platforms for improved irrigation scheme management in Southern Africa

    André van Rooyen, Peter Ramshaw, Martin Moyo, Richard Stirzaker, Henning Bjørnlund · 2017 · International Journal of Water Resources Development

    Agricultural Innovation Platforms enable small-scale irrigation scheme actors in Southern Africa to collaborate, experiment, and learn together. By fostering interaction between previously disconnected subsystems and stakeholders, these platforms build adaptive capacity, increase market-oriented production, and help farmers escape poverty more effectively than traditional infrastructure-focused interventions.

  • Externality Effects of Education: Dynamics of the Adoption and Diffusion of an Innovation in Rural Ethiopia

    Sharada Weir, John Knight · 2004 · Economic Development and Cultural Change

    Education drives agricultural innovation adoption in rural Ethiopia through two mechanisms. Household education determines timing of fertilizer adoption, while community-level education encourages uneducated farmers to adopt sooner by providing visible examples. Educated farmers act as early innovators and effective adopters, creating positive externalities that accelerate technology diffusion across communities regardless of individual farmer education levels.

  • Strategic management implications for the adoption of technological innovations in agricultural tractor: the role of scale factors and environmental attitude

    Eugenio Cavallo, Emanuele Ferrari, Luigi Bollani, Mario Coccia · 2014 · Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

    Larger Italian farms adopt more advanced tractor technologies than smaller operations. Older farmers with longer agricultural experience show stronger commitment to environmental protection and workplace safety. The study reveals that farm size and farmer demographics significantly influence technology adoption decisions, with implications for designing innovations that meet farmer needs and promote efficient, safe modern agriculture.

  • Local institutions and indigenous knowledge in adoption and scaling of climate-smart agricultural innovations among sub-Saharan smallholder farmers

    Clifton Makate · 2019 · International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management

    Local institutions and indigenous knowledge systems significantly improve how smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa adopt and scale climate-smart agricultural innovations. Development programs succeed when they build on existing indigenous practices rather than replace them, enhance information sharing, mobilize local resources, strengthen stakeholder networks, and develop farmer capacity. Participatory approaches that treat rural communities as active partners in designing adaptation programs produce better scaling outcomes.

  • Agricultural Extension, Collective Action and Innovation Systems: Lessons on Network Brokering from Peru and Mexico

    Jon Hellin · 2012 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Extension services in Peru and Mexico show that fostering agricultural innovation requires more than collective action alone. Peru's approach, using NGO brokers and trusted local farmers called Kamayoq, successfully built innovation networks among diverse value chain actors. Mexico's linear seed-transfer model created collective action but no innovation networks. The research concludes that extension must combine collective action with active networking to shift from technology transfer toward genuine agricultural innovation systems.

  • Rural Financial Development Impacts on Agricultural Technology Innovation: Evidence from China

    Yuyu Liu, Duan Ji, Zhang Lin, Jingjing An, Wenyan Sun · 2021 · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

    Rural financial development significantly boosts agricultural technology innovation in China. The study of 31 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2015 shows that rural finance efficiency drives innovation in low-marketization regions, while rural finance scale matters more in high-marketization regions. Stronger agricultural technology innovation subsequently supports rural economic development.

  • Government Interventions to Promote Agricultural Innovation

    Duygu Akkaya, Kostas Bimpikis, Hau L. Lee · 2020 · Manufacturing & Service Operations Management

    Government interventions can effectively promote agricultural innovation by reducing farmers' adoption barriers and encouraging technology uptake. The paper analyzes how subsidies, information programs, and other policy tools influence farmers' decisions to adopt new practices. Strategic government support accelerates innovation diffusion and helps farmers improve productivity while reducing environmental impact.

  • Environmental regulation, agricultural green technology innovation, and agricultural green total factor productivity

    Yongchun Sun · 2022 · Frontiers in Environmental Science

    Environmental regulations in Chinese provinces drive agricultural green technology innovation and productivity gains, but the effect depends on regional economic development levels. In poorer regions, regulations have minimal impact. As regions develop economically, environmental regulations increasingly spur green innovation and boost agricultural productivity. Regulations affect overall productivity more than technology adoption alone.

  • Climate‐Smart Innovations and Rural Poverty in Ethiopia: Exploring Impacts and Pathways

    Wondimagegn Tesfaye, Garrick Blalock, Nyasha Tirivayi · 2020 · American Journal of Agricultural Economics

    Conservation agriculture practices reduce rural poverty in Ethiopia, particularly in rainfall-stressed areas. Minimum tillage and cereal-legume intercropping effectively lower poverty incidence and depth by mitigating climate risks. However, crop residue retention alone provides limited economic benefit. The study cautions against overstating conservation agriculture's universal benefits and recommends tailored, portfolio-based approaches rather than rigid prescriptions.

  • The fourth industrial revolution, agricultural and rural innovation, and implications for public policy and investments: a case of India

    Uma Lele, Sambuddha Goswami · 2017 · Agricultural Economics

    India's Digital India initiative deploys networked digital solutions to boost agricultural productivity and rural welfare across 156 million households. The paper identifies three major barriers: delivering location-specific, farmer-friendly agricultural content; building digital literacy so farmers can effectively use apps; and measuring actual adoption and impact. Success requires complementary investments in physical, human, and institutional capital alongside ongoing policy reforms.

  • Unpacking systemic innovation capacity as strategic ambidexterity: How projects dynamically configure capabilities for agricultural innovation

    James Turner, Laurens Klerkx, Toni White, Tracy Nelson, J. M. Everett-Hincks, A. D. Mackay, Neels Botha · 2017 · Land Use Policy

    Agricultural innovation projects succeed by strategically balancing exploitation of existing capabilities with exploration of new ones across multiple levels of innovation systems. The authors studied two New Zealand projects addressing lamb survival and sustainable land management, finding that project actors must configure resources and capabilities across individual, organizational, and network levels to overcome capability gaps and break unhelpful path dependencies. Effective projects require dedicated facilitators for reflexive monitoring and alignment with innovation policies supporting sustainable development goals.

  • Innovation, Cooperation, and the Perceived Benefits and Costs of Sustainable Agriculture Practices

    Mark Lubell, Vicken Hillis, Matthew Hoffman · 2011 · Ecology and Society

    Farmers' adoption of sustainable agriculture practices depends on their perceptions of benefits and costs, shaped by social networks and cooperation. The study shows that innovation spreads through farmer networks, and perceived advantages—environmental, economic, or social—drive adoption decisions. Cooperation among farmers strengthens commitment to sustainable methods, while perceived costs and risks create barriers to change.

  • Innovations in Climate Risk Management: Protecting and Building Rural Livelihoods in a Variable and Changing Climate

    James Hansen, Walter Baethgen, Daniel E. Osgood, Pietro Ceccato, Robinson K. Ngugi · 2007 · University of Nairobi Research Archive (University of Nairobi)

    Rural farmers face climate risks from both extreme weather and missed opportunities in favorable years. The paper argues that effective climate risk management combines three innovations: rural climate information services that help farmers make production decisions, decision support systems that translate climate data into actionable institutional guidance, and index-based insurance and credit products that protect livelihoods and enable technology adoption. These approaches together address immediate poverty while building long-term climate resilience.

  • Public-private sector partnerships in an agricultural system of innovation: Concepts and challenges

    Andy Hall · 2006 · International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development

    Public-private partnerships in agriculture face institutional barriers rooted in trust, habits, and practices rather than technical obstacles. The paper argues partnerships succeed when embedded within local agro-enterprise networks that drive rural development. Building social capital within agricultural innovation systems, tailored to local contexts, is essential for overcoming these constraints and enabling effective collaboration between public research organizations and private actors.

  • How innovative is your agriculture? Using innovation indicators and benchmarks to strengthen national agricultural innovation systems

    David J. Spielman, Regina Birner · 2008

    This paper develops a framework for measuring agricultural innovation in developing countries by adapting the innovation systems approach. It identifies potential indicators to benchmark national agricultural performance, reviews data sources and construction methods, and provides guidance for policymakers and development partners seeking to design evidence-based policies that strengthen agricultural innovation systems.

  • Multiple adoption of climate-smart agriculture innovation for agricultural sustainability: Empirical evidence from the Upper Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia

    Abyiot Teklu, Belay Simane, Mintewab Bezabih · 2023 · Climate Risk Management

    Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Upper Blue Nile Highlands adopt multiple climate-smart agriculture innovations when they have larger farms, access to credit, frequent extension contact, market access, secure land tenure, climate awareness, and formal education. Farm size, financial services, extension visits, information access, and perceived benefits of reducing climate risks drive adoption of practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and soil conservation. Policymakers should scale portfolios of location-specific innovations through strengthened extension systems.

  • The impact of entrepreneurship of farmers on agriculture and rural economic growth: Innovation-driven perspective

    Yuxi Pan, Siqian Zhang, Mengyue Zhang · 2023 · Innovation and Green Development

    Farmers' innovative entrepreneurship significantly drives agricultural and rural economic growth in China, with spatial analysis of 30 provinces from 2015–2020 revealing positive spillover effects across regions. The impact varies by urbanization level, grain production patterns, and household income. The research demonstrates that rural innovation clusters in low-income areas and recommends tailored incentive policies to support farmer entrepreneurs.

  • Predicting Adoption of Innovations by Farmers: What is Different in Smallholder Agriculture?

    Rick Llewellyn, Brendan Brown · 2020 · Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

    Adoption prediction models developed for large-scale farms in wealthy countries fail to account for key differences in smallholder farming systems. Smallholder farmers face greater resource constraints, cultural influences, and subsistence priorities. They discount future benefits more heavily, rely on multiple income sources, and experience slower information diffusion. Extension services vary widely in quality and reach. These factors substantially alter how quickly and widely new agricultural technologies spread among smallholder populations.

  • Agricultural specialists intention toward precision agriculture technologies: integrating innovation characteristics to technology acceptance model

    Kurosh Rezaei‐Moghaddam, Saeid Salehi · 2010 · African Journal of Agricultural Research

    Agricultural specialists in Iran show stronger intention to adopt precision agriculture technologies when they can observe results, try the technology first, and find it easy to use. Attitude toward using the technology is the strongest predictor of adoption intention. Perceived usefulness and ease of use influence adoption indirectly through attitude, not directly.

  • Interactions between Niche and Regime: An Analysis of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture across Europe

    Julie Ingram, Damian Maye, James Kirwan, Nigel Curry, Katarina Kubinakova · 2015 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This study examines how 17 learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture across Europe interact with mainstream agricultural systems. The researchers found five distinct interaction modes based on compatibility levels, which determine how sustainable practices spread into conventional agriculture. Effective interaction requires specific connecting processes like certification, regulatory exemptions, and networking support. The findings suggest agricultural transition happens through multiple adaptive changes rather than wholesale regime replacement.

  • Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation, Spatial Spillover and Agricultural Green Development—Taking 30 Provinces in China as the Research Object

    Fan Zhang, Fulin Wang, Ruyi Hao, Ling Wu · 2022 · Applied Sciences

    Agricultural science and technology innovation significantly promotes green agricultural development in China through spatial spillover effects. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2006–2019), the study finds that innovation improvements benefit both individual provinces and neighboring regions. Eastern provinces show declining green development while southwestern provinces improve. The research demonstrates that increased agricultural science and technology investment generates positive spillover effects across provincial boundaries, supporting evidence-based regional policy design.

  • Microbiome Innovation in Agriculture: Development of Microbial Based Tools for Insect Pest Management

    Masroor Qadri, Sierra Short, Kalani Gast, Jordan Hernandez, Adam Chun-Nin Wong · 2020 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    This review examines how microbes can improve sustainable pest management in agriculture. The authors explain how insect-microbe relationships affect pest nutrition, immunity, and pesticide resistance, then describe methods to manipulate microbiomes to alter pest traits. They identify microbiomes as sources for discovering new biopesticides and show how beneficial microbes enhance mass-reared insects used in sterile insect and incompatible insect control techniques.

  • Agricultural Innovation and the Role of Institutions: Lessons from the Game of Drones

    Per Frankelius, Charlotte Norrman, Knut Johansen · 2017 · Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics

    Unmanned aerial systems (drones) offer Swedish farmers significant benefits including reduced costs, higher yields, and environmental gains. However, camera surveillance legislation unexpectedly classified drones as surveillance devices, creating institutional barriers that inhibited their agricultural adoption. The study demonstrates how legislative institutions can obstruct responsible innovation and reveals conflicts between competing ethical frameworks governing technology use.

  • Making Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Work for Development in Tropical Countries

    Philipp Aerni, K. Nichterlein, Stephen Rudgard, A. Sonnino · 2015 · Sustainability

    Agricultural innovation systems in tropical low-income countries struggle because capacity development initiatives don't align with national efforts. A study of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America found that external programs focus on training individuals, while countries actually need institutional strengthening. The research recommends improving south-south collaboration and building institutional capacity to make national agricultural innovation systems more responsive to smallholder farmers' needs.

  • Re-designing irrigated intensive cereal systems through bundling precision agronomic innovations for transitioning towards agricultural sustainability in North-West India

    H.S. Jat, Prabodh Chander Sharma, Ashim Datta, Madhu Choudhary, Suresh K. Kakraliya, Yadvinder‐Singh, H.S. Sidhu, Bruno Gérard, M.L. Jat · 2019 · Scientific Reports

    Researchers tested bundled precision farming innovations in irrigated cereal systems across North-West India, combining subsurface drip irrigation with conservation agriculture. Systems with drip irrigation achieved 13% higher profitability in rice-wheat rotations and 5% in maize-wheat rotations compared to flood-irrigated alternatives, even without subsidies, while improving agricultural sustainability.

  • Agricultural innovation and resilience in a long-lived early farming community: the 1,500-year sequence at Neolithic to early Chalcolithic Çatalhöyük, central Anatolia

    Amy Bogaard, Dragana Filipović, Andrew Fairbairn, Laura Green, Elizabeth Stroud, Dorian Q. Fuller, Michael Charles · 2017 · Anatolian Studies

    Archaeobotanical evidence from Çatalhöyük reveals how an early farming community sustained itself for 1,500 years through continuous agricultural innovation. The community's resilience came from three factors: a diverse initial crop spectrum that provided options for later adoption, household-level experimentation enabled by modular social structure, and an agglomerated settlement that allowed successful innovations to spread community-wide. Minor crops and contaminants were recruited as major staples over time, demonstrating flexible cropping strategies that sustained long-term productivity.

  • Does Directed Innovation Mitigate Climate Damage? Evidence from U.S. Agriculture

    Jacob Moscona, Karthik Sastry · 2022 · The Quarterly Journal of Economics

    Innovation in U.S. agriculture has shifted toward crops increasingly exposed to extreme temperatures since the mid-twentieth century, driven by adaptation-focused technologies. This directed innovation significantly reduces economic damage from temperature extremes at the county level. The authors estimate that innovation has offset 20% of potential agricultural land value losses from climate trends since 1960 and could offset 13% of projected damage by 2100, demonstrating that technological adaptation provides meaningful but incomplete protection against climate change.

  • Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation

    Colleen M. Eidt, Laxmi Prasad Pant, Gordon M. Hickey · 2020 · Sustainability

    In Kenya's Yatta Sub-county, smallholder farmers participating in agricultural innovation initiatives face significant power imbalances with dominant stakeholders. Policy actors prioritize commercialization and modernization, but existing social hierarchies limit farmers' access to platform resources and control over decisions. These disparities risk marginalizing vulnerable groups further and reinforcing existing power structures, undermining inclusive and sustainable farmer-driven innovation.

  • Farmer First Revisited: Innovation for Agricultural Research and Development

    Peter McWilliam · 2011 · Development in Practice

    This paper revisits the 'Farmer First' approach to agricultural research and development, examining how farmer-led innovation shapes the design and implementation of agricultural technologies and practices. The work argues that centering farmer knowledge and participation in research processes produces more effective and sustainable agricultural innovations adapted to local conditions and needs.

  • How digitalisation interacts with ecologisation? Perspectives from actors of the French Agricultural Innovation System

    Éléonore Schnebelin, Pierre Labarthe, Jean-Marc Touzard · 2021 · Journal of Rural Studies

    French agricultural actors—conventional farmers, organic farmers, and digital technology promoters—all engage with agricultural digitalization, but they perceive different benefits and risks. Organic and conventional actors implement distinct innovation processes despite apparent convergence. Digital actors fail to recognize these differences in perception, which risks excluding organic farming and agroecology from digital development benefits.

  • Open Innovation in Agribusiness: Barriers and Challenges in the Transition to Agriculture 4.0

    Francisco Tardelli da Silva, Ismael Cristofer Baierle, Ricardo Gonçalves de Faria Corrêa, Miguel Afonso Sellitto, Fernanda Araújo Pimentel Peres, Liane Mählmann Kipper · 2023 · Sustainability

    This study examines how open innovation enables Agriculture 4.0 adoption in agribusiness. Internet of Things technology shows the strongest potential for implementation. The main barrier is insufficient operator knowledge and skills, requiring training investment. Existing technology infrastructure and system integration facilitate adoption. The authors recommend agribusiness stakeholders collaborate with engineering solution providers through open innovation frameworks to overcome barriers and accelerate the transition to digitalized farming.

  • Agricultural innovation systems and farm technology adoption: findings from a study of the Ghanaian plantain sector

    Alirah Emmanuel Weyori, Mulubrhan Amare, Hildegard Garming, Hermann Waibel · 2017 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This study examines technology adoption in Ghana's plantain sector using social network analysis and innovation systems theory. The researchers found weak innovation systems where farmers occupy central network positions but lack influence. Social network capital significantly drives adoption of improved farm technologies. The study recommends strengthening connections between focal farmers, research institutions, and extension agents through targeted policies to enhance technology dissemination.

  • Learning and Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Development: The Use of the Concepts of Boundary Work and Boundary Objects

    Tālis Tīsenkopfs, Ilona Kunda, Sandra Šūmane, Gianluca Brunori, Laurens Klerkx, Heidrun Moschitz · 2015 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Boundary work and boundary objects—tools that bridge different groups and perspectives—drive learning and innovation in multi-actor agricultural networks. Analysis of six case studies shows these mechanisms take diverse forms depending on context and goals, helping align conflicting viewpoints, secure external support, and advance sustainable agriculture. Skilled facilitation of boundary work strengthens both internal network cohesion and external communication.

  • Progress and Innovations in Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture

    Khizra Ali, Zahra Asad, Gamareldawla H.D. Agbna, Asif Saud, Areeb Khan, Syed Javaid Zaidi · 2024 · Agronomy

    Hydrogels—water-absorbing polymer networks—offer a sustainable solution to agriculture's major challenges: water scarcity, pesticide overuse, and soil degradation. These materials improve crop resilience and yields by retaining soil moisture, enabling controlled nutrient delivery, and enhancing seed germination. Hydrogels reduce irrigation needs while increasing productivity, though regulatory frameworks must address safety, biodegradability, and long-term environmental impacts.

  • Scaling Up Agricultural Innovation for Inclusive Livelihood and Productivity Outcomes in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The Case of Nigeria

    Adebayo Ogunniyi, Olagunju Kehinde Oluseyi, Adeyemi Ogundipe, Salman K. Kabir, F. Peter Philips · 2017 · African Development Review

    Agricultural innovation programs in Nigeria significantly improved rural smallholder farmers' incomes, productivity, and income diversification through better market linkages and capacity building. When programs ended, farmers lost these gains and income diversity declined. The study recommends integrating agricultural innovation system concepts into all public extension and research programs to sustain rural livelihoods.

  • Developing a Conceptual Partner Matching Framework for Digital Green Innovation of Agricultural High-End Equipment Manufacturing System Toward Agriculture 5.0: A Novel Niche Field Model Combined With Fuzzy VIKOR

    Shi Yin, Yuexia Wang, Jun­feng Xu · 2022 · Frontiers in Psychology

    This paper develops a partner matching framework for agricultural equipment manufacturers pursuing digital green innovation. Using niche theory and fuzzy VIKOR analysis, the authors identify three core elements—technology superposition, mutual benefit, and mutual trust—that enable knowledge transfer from research institutes to industry. The framework helps manufacturers select innovation partners and implement digital green strategies in high-end equipment development.

  • Impact of agricultural innovation adoption: a meta‐analysis

    Kolawole Ogundari, Olufemi Daniel Bolarinwa · 2018 · Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics

    This meta-analysis of 154 studies examines how agricultural innovation adoption affects production and economic outcomes. Results show reported impacts increase over time, though publication bias exists. Study findings depend on research design, statistical methods, and region. The literature heavily favors high-yielding variety innovations while neglecting complementary technologies.

  • Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice

    Jonathan Steinke, Berta Ortiz-Crespo, Jacob van Etten, Anna Müller · 2021 · Agricultural Systems

    Participatory design methodologies improve ICT adoption in agriculture, but implementing them in smallholder farming contexts creates real challenges. The authors document tensions between design ideals and project realities in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, including mismatched stakeholder expectations, top-down hierarchies, neglected digital ecosystems, and poor software reuse. They offer practical guidance for agricultural researchers to conduct more effective participatory design processes that produce meaningful digital innovations.

  • Revealing power dynamics and staging conflicts in agricultural system transitions: Case studies of innovation platforms in New Zealand

    James Turner, Akiko Horita, Simon Fielke, Laurens Klerkx, Paula Blackett, Denise Bewsell, Bruce Small, W.M. Boyce · 2020 · Journal of Rural Studies

    Innovation platforms in New Zealand's agricultural sector reveal how power dynamics shape agricultural transitions toward sustainability. When actors strategically stage conflicts of interest, they can shift power relations from one-sided to mutual dependency, enabling actors to acknowledge and solve disagreements. Platforms that fail to stage conflicts maintain antagonistic power relations and block progress. The research shows that power relations are dynamic, context-specific forces that fundamentally shape transition outcomes, not merely tools wielded by incumbent actors.

  • Looking at Agricultural Innovation Platforms through an Innovation Champion Lens

    Laurens Klerkx, S. Adjei‐Nsiah, Richard Adu-Acheampong, Aliou Saïdou, Elizabeth Zannou, Lassine Soumano, O. Sakyi-Dawson, Annemarie van Paassen, S. Nederlof · 2013 · Outlook on Agriculture

    Innovation platforms bring agricultural stakeholders together to drive change, but the role of 'innovation champion' within these platforms remains poorly understood. This study analyzes three West African innovation platforms and identifies different types of champions using management science frameworks. The authors find that existing champion categories don't fully capture agricultural innovation dynamics, suggesting new categories may be needed and that champion interactions deserve further investigation.

  • Business models for maximising the diffusion of technological innovations for climate-smart agriculture

    Thomas B. Long, Vincent Blok, Kim Poldner · 2016 · The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review

    Current business models for delivering climate-smart agricultural technologies fail to optimize diffusion because they misalign with farmer needs. The study identifies critical gaps in value propositions, distribution channels, customer relationships, resources, partnerships, and cost structures. Innovation providers and potential users hold conflicting views about what works. The authors recommend redesigning business models to better match farmer adoption requirements and accelerate climate-smart agriculture uptake.

  • Digital Economy, Agricultural Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity

    Yifeng Zhang, Min-xuan Ji, Xiu-zhi Zheng · 2023 · SAGE Open

    The digital economy significantly boosts agricultural green total factor productivity in China by driving agricultural technology innovation. Western China experiences stronger positive effects than Central and Eastern regions. The study uses quantitative methods to measure productivity and technology variables, finding that digital economy development directly increases agricultural efficiency while reducing environmental impact, supporting China's climate goals.

  • Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Innovations: A Systematic Literature Review

    José Rosário, Lívia Madureira, Carlos Peixeira Marques, Rui Silva · 2022 · Agronomy

    Farmers adopt sustainable agriculture innovations at low rates globally, especially in the Global South. This systematic review examines sociopsychological factors driving adoption decisions. Researchers find that existing models rely on constructs borrowed from other sectors and repeat variables like attitude and subjective norms while neglecting agriculture-specific factors like knowledge. The review concludes that better-tailored determinants and context-specific measurements are needed to explain farmer adoption behavior.

  • Why we should rethink ‘adoption’ in agricultural innovation: Empirical insights from Malawi

    Thirze Hermans, Stephen Whitfield, Andrew J. Dougill, Christian Thierfelder · 2020 · Land Degradation and Development

    This study challenges the standard adoption framework for measuring agricultural innovation in Malawi. Using participatory research, the authors show that farmer decision-making around conservation agriculture is dynamic, multidimensional, and contextual—not the linear process assumed by typical technology transfer models. They identify four key factors shaping adoption: social dynamics, contextual costs and benefits, risk aversion, and practice adaptation. Effective scaling requires building on existing farming systems and knowledge.

  • Constraints to the Adoption of Agricultural Innovations

    James Sumberg · 2005 · Outlook on Agriculture

    The paper argues that discussions about why farmers reject agricultural innovations are confused because developers fail to distinguish between problems inherent to the innovation itself and external prerequisite conditions. By clarifying this distinction through design-specification exercises, developers can identify which adoption failures stem from their own innovation process rather than blaming external factors like land tenure or market access.

  • Evaluating Brazilian Agriculturalists’ IoT Smart Agriculture Adoption Barriers: Understanding Stakeholder Salience Prior to Launching an Innovation

    Robert Strong, John Thomas Wynn, James R. Lindner, Karissa Palmer · 2022 · Sensors

    Brazilian agriculturalists who adopted IoT smart agriculture technologies were educated, tech-savvy opinion leaders. Successful innovations were simple, easy to communicate, socially accepted, and highly functional. Observability, compatibility, and low complexity drove adoption decisions. Farmers cited excessive complexity and poor compatibility as main barriers. The study recommends targeting opinion leaders, simplifying technologies, and expanding farmer education programs.

  • INNOVATION PLATFORMS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

    Marc Schut, Josey Kamanda, Andreas Gramzow, Thomas David DuBois, Dietmar Stoian, Jens Andersson, IDDO DROR, Murat Sartas, R. Mur, Shinan Kassam, HERMAN BROUWER, A. Devaux, Claudio Ríos-Velasco, Rica Joy Flor, Martin Gummert, DJUNA BUIZER, Cynthia McDougall, Kristin Davis, Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Mark Lundy · 2018 · Experimental Agriculture

    Innovation platforms bring together agricultural stakeholders to learn, negotiate, and solve development challenges collaboratively. However, this study warns they are not universally applicable. The authors provide a decision-support tool for agencies to critically assess when innovation platforms are genuinely needed versus when simpler, cheaper alternatives exist. The tool helps determine what resources and conditions are necessary for platforms to succeed in achieving agricultural development outcomes.

  • Responsible Agricultural Mechanization Innovation for the Sustainable Development of Nepal’s Hillside Farming System

    Rachana Devkota, Laxmi Prasad Pant, Hom Gartaula, Kirit Patel, Devendra Gauchan, Helen Hambly, Balaram Thapa, Manish N. Raizada · 2020 · Sustainability

    Nepal's 2014 Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Policy attempted to shift from industrial mechanization favoring flat farmland toward small-scale mechanization for hillside farming. The policy addressed smallholder production challenges, gender inequality, and farmer exclusion that prior mechanization efforts had ignored. However, the study finds it remains unclear whether the policy actually delivers sustainable agricultural development in Nepal's hills and mountains.

  • DO MATURE INNOVATION PLATFORMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT? A META-ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDIES

    Marc Schut, Jean‐Joseph Cadilhon, Michael Misiko, Iddo Dror · 2016 · Experimental Agriculture

    Innovation Platforms in agricultural research for development generate local enthusiasm and bring stakeholders together, but rarely achieve impact at scale. The study analyzed eight mature platforms across three continents and found that while they can produce locally adapted, economically feasible innovations, scaling remains limited. Platforms work best when demand-driven, participatory, and embedded in broader extension networks. The authors call for rigorous measurement of platform performance to understand what process designs actually work.

  • Transforming the Roles of a Public Extension Agency to Strengthen Innovation: Lessons from the National Agricultural Extension Project in Bangladesh

    Ataharul Chowdhury, Helen Hambly, Cees Leeuwis · 2013 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Bangladesh's public agricultural extension agency attempted to transform its role from linear technology transfer to facilitating interactive communication and stakeholder collaboration. However, the agency failed to strengthen collective action because institutional barriers persisted: staff remained wedded to technology-transfer models, undervalued intermediary roles like brokering and convening, and treated extension methods as information delivery rather than interactive learning. The study identifies obstacles preventing innovation systems thinking in low-income country extension work.

  • The long way to innovation adoption: insights from precision agriculture

    Margherita Masi, Marcello De Rosa, Yari Vecchio, Luca Bartoli, Felice Adinolfi · 2022 · Agricultural and Food Economics

    Italian farms adopt precision agriculture technologies at low rates despite their potential for sustainable soil management. This study uses the awareness-knowledge-adoption-product framework to identify barriers to adoption, including farm characteristics, socio-economic factors, and psychological complexity. The research finds that agricultural knowledge and innovation systems play a critical mediating role in promoting technology uptake, and strengthening these systems across all adoption phases could increase farmer understanding and reduce adoption barriers.

  • Understanding Smallholder Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Agricultural Apps: The Role of Mastery Approach and Innovation Hubs in Mexico

    Janet Molina-Maturano, Nele Verhulst, Juan Tur-Cardona, Davíd Güereña, Andrea Gardeazabal, Bram Govaerts, Stijn Speelman · 2021 · Agronomy

    Mexican smallholder farmers' willingness to adopt agricultural advice apps depends primarily on their assessment of technical infrastructure and ability to learn through the app. Performance expectations drive adoption across all farmers. Mastery-approach goals matter only for younger farmers and those outside innovation hubs. Innovation hubs reduce the importance of learning motivation, suggesting they provide alternative knowledge pathways for adoption decisions.

  • Effects of local institutions on the adoption of agroforestry innovations: evidence of farmer managed natural regeneration and its implications for rural livelihoods in the Sahel

    Joachim Binam, Frank Place, Arinloye A. Djalal, Antoine Kalinganiré · 2017 · Agricultural and Food Economics

    Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR)—where farmers actively control tree growth on their farms—significantly improves rural livelihoods across the Sahel by increasing cash income, cereal production, and caloric intake. Local institutions shape FMNR adoption unevenly: strong, independent formal and informal institutions encourage collaboration and resource management, while institutions perceived as government extensions discourage participation. FMNR works as both a productive practice and safety net across all dryland regions studied.

  • The Evolutionary Game Analysis of Multiple Stakeholders in the Low-Carbon Agricultural Innovation Diffusion

    Lixia Liu, Yuchao Zhu, Shubing Guo · 2020 · Complexity

    This paper uses evolutionary game theory to model interactions between agricultural enterprises, government, and farmers in adopting low-carbon farming technologies. The analysis shows that government subsidies and carbon taxes effectively incentivize enterprises and farmers to participate in low-carbon agriculture. The findings provide evidence for designing targeted policies that accelerate the diffusion of sustainable agricultural innovations.

  • The Increasing Multifunctionality of Agricultural Raw Materials: Three Dilemmas for Innovation and Adoption

    Michael Boehlje, Stefanie Bröring, Boehlje, Michael, Broring, Stefanie · 2011 · The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review

    Agricultural raw materials now serve multiple industries beyond food and fiber, including energy, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This expansion creates three critical challenges: competing goals among different sectors, competition between established and new companies, and blurred industry boundaries. The paper reviews innovation and adoption research in the bioeconomy and proposes conceptual frameworks to address these dilemmas.

  • Strengthening Agricultural Education and Training in sub-Saharan Africa from an Innovation Systems Perspective: A Case Study of Mozambique

    Kristin Davis, Javier M. Ekboir, David J. Spielman · 2008 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Agricultural education and training in Mozambique must strengthen farmers' capacity to innovate by improving how organizations transmit and adapt knowledge. The paper argues that AET systems need cultural reform, better incentives, and stronger networks linking educators with other stakeholders. Key reforms include aligning AET mandates with national development goals and building connections between training institutions and the broader agricultural innovation ecosystem.

  • Farmers’ Demand and the Traits and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries

    Karen Macours · 2019 · Annual Review of Resource Economics

    Agricultural innovations developed by international research often fail adoption among smallholder farmers in developing countries despite yield potential. This review examines why, analyzing technology traits and farmer constraints. Farmers frequently prioritize reducing variance, water use, or labor over maximizing yields. When external constraints ease, farmers reallocate resources in ways that don't increase yield intensity. Agronomical trial results poorly predict actual farmer demand in real conditions, requiring research and policy adjustments.

  • Big Data and Climate Smart Agriculture-Status and Implications for Agricultural Research and Innovation in India

    N.H. Rao · 2018 · Revista de Fomento Social

    Big data analytics can accelerate agricultural research and innovation for climate-smart agriculture in India. Climate-smart agriculture integrates technologies and practices that boost farm productivity and incomes while building resilience to climate change and reducing emissions. The paper argues that combining big data analytics with climate science enables farmers and scientists to make data-driven decisions at the farm level, transforming agriculture toward sustainability and climate resilience.

  • Cash crops and food security : contributions to income, livelihood risk and agricultural innovation

    T.J. Achterbosch, S. van Berkum, G.W. Meijerink, H. Asbreuk, D.A. Oudendag · 2014 · Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling

    Cash crops drive food security and rural development in developing countries by generating income, employment, and agricultural investment. They stimulate innovation and institutional growth that enable commercialization. However, farmers must manage significant risks including price volatility, pests, and drought. Successful cash crop strategies require balancing production with food crops and implementing risk management approaches. Cash crops remain central to sustainable agricultural intensification that increases productivity while preserving soil and ecosystems.

  • Technological innovations in agriculture: the application of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence for grain traceability and protection

    Rafael Elias Venturini · 2025 · Brazilian Journal of Development

    Blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies are transforming grain agriculture by creating transparent, immutable supply chain records and enabling AI-driven risk prediction and dynamic insurance contracts. Smart contracts automate financing based on preset conditions, improving grain quality, preventing fraud, and optimizing logistics. Together, these technologies build more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems that address climate change, price volatility, and supply chain transparency demands.

  • Big Data: Fueling the Next Evolution of Agricultural Innovation

    Steve Sonka · 2016 · Journal of Innovation Management

    Big Data technologies and sensing systems are transforming agriculture by making farm-level measurement and decision-making economically viable. Advanced analytics applied to diverse data sources create value for farmers and society through improved economic returns and reduced environmental impact. However, how value gets distributed across the agricultural sector depends on organizational collaboration and intellectual property rules, which remain uncertain.

  • Barriers to Business Model Innovation in Swedish Agriculture

    Olof Sivertsson, Joakim Tell · 2015 · Sustainability

    Swedish small farms face multiple barriers when attempting to innovate their business models to improve competitiveness and profitability. The study identifies three types of obstacles: human factors like attitudes and traditions, contextual barriers related to industry and company settings, and abstract barriers including government regulations, value chain position, and weather. Agricultural consultants and farmers confirmed these barriers significantly impede business model innovation efforts.

  • Lessons on Transdisciplinary Research in a Co-Innovation Programme in the New Zealand Agricultural Sector

    Neels Botha, Laurens Klerkx, Bruce Small, James Turner · 2014 · Outlook on Agriculture

    New Zealand's agricultural R&D programme implements co-innovation through six innovation platforms using an agricultural innovation systems approach. The programme faces three main challenges: managing complex multi-stakeholder networks, aligning rigid research funding procedures with flexible co-innovation needs, and shifting participants from linear to interactive innovation thinking. The authors conclude that learning-by-doing is essential, and institutional changes to national R&D structures are needed to support co-innovation through updated policies, instruments, and incentives.

  • Agricultural innovation platform as a tool for development oriented research: Lessons and challenges in the formation and operationalization

    M.M. Tenywa, K.P.C. Rao, J.B. Tukahirwa, Robin Buruchara, A. Adekunle, John Mugabe, Catherine Wanjiku, S. Mutabazi, Bernard Fungo, N.I.M. Kashaija, Pamela N. Pali, Sylvain Mapatano, C. Ngaboyisonga, Andrew Farrow, Jemimah Njuki, Annet Abenakyo · 2011 · CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research)

    Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIPs) bring together multiple stakeholders to address agricultural development challenges through integrated research. This study documents the formation and operation of AIPs across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, identifying six key stages from problem identification through implementation. Success depends on recognizing indigenous knowledge, involving local leadership, ensuring strong facilitation, and building stakeholder capacity. Market-led approaches accelerated results, while major obstacles included limited stakeholder skills and dependency mentality.

  • The Power of Experience: Farmers' Knowledge and Sustainable Innovations in Agriculture

    M. Stuiver, Cees Leeuwis, J.D. van der Ploeg · 2004 · Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling

    Farmers' knowledge plays a crucial role in developing sustainable agricultural innovations. The paper outlines why farmer expertise matters, explains how it differs from scientific knowledge, and proposes practical methods for scientists and farmers to collaborate effectively. It concludes by identifying institutional changes needed in agricultural knowledge systems to support this integration.

  • Innovations for a Shrinking Agricultural Workforce

    Diane Charlton, J. Edward Taylor, Stavros Vougioukas, Zachariah Rutledge, Charlton, Diane, Taylor, J. Edward, Vougioukas, Stavros, Rutledge, Zachariah · 2019 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    The paper examines how agricultural businesses adopt labor-saving technologies in response to a shrinking workforce. It argues that investment in new farm technologies must account for long-term labor supply decline in the U.S. and rising education levels in traditional agricultural worker regions, requiring strategic planning for a smaller but more educated workforce.

  • Reconnecting Farmers with Nature through Agroecological Transitions: Interacting Niches and Experimentation and the Role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

    Cynthia Giagnocavo, Miguel de Cara García, M. González, Melchor Juan, José Ignacio Marín-Guirao, Sepide Mehrabi, Estefanía Rodríguez, Jan van der Blom, Eduardo Crisol‐Martínez · 2022 · Agriculture

    Farmers in Almeria's greenhouse sector reconnect with nature through agroecological practices like biological control, soil health management, and ecological restoration. The study shows that experimental niches within conventional agricultural systems help farmers develop deeper ecosystem understanding and transition toward sustainability. By engaging with nature-based practices, farmers gain ecosystem services and move away from industrial agriculture's disconnection from natural systems.

  • Assessing Sustainability Perspectives in Rural Innovation Projects Using Q‐Methodology

    Frans Hermans, Kasper Kok, Pieter J. Beers, A. Veldkamp · 2011 · Sociologia Ruralis

    This study uses Q-methodology to identify distinct perspectives on sustainable agriculture among participants in a Dutch innovation program called TransForum. The research reveals two main competing viewpoints: radical perspectives reject technology and favor multifunctional rural landscapes, while prosaic perspectives embrace technology and prioritize agricultural production. Notably, no ecological modernization perspective emerged, prompting the authors to propose a new concept of 'metropolitan agriculture' to address this gap.

  • Innovation Systems: Implications for agricultural policy and practice

    Hall, Andrew, Lynn Krieger Mytelka, Banji Oyeyinka, Mytelka, Lynn, Oyeyinka, Banji · 2005 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    Agricultural innovation requires rethinking research as part of a dynamic system involving multiple organizations, not just policy and research bodies. The paper argues that farmers and businesses adapt through interactions across a broader ecosystem of actors. Success depends on developing institutional practices, incentives, and policy environments that encourage continuous learning and innovation to improve livelihoods and competitiveness.

  • Sustainability in Vietnam: Examining economic growth, energy, innovation, agriculture, and forests' impact on CO2 emissions

    Asif Raihan, Md. Atik Hasan, Liton Chandra Voumik, Dulal Chandra Pattak, Salma Akter, Mohammad Ridwan · 2024 · World Development Sustainability

    Vietnam's rising energy consumption and economic growth directly increase CO2 emissions, but technological innovation, improved agricultural practices, and forest expansion can reduce them. The study analyzed 30 years of data and found that renewable energy adoption, technology innovation, sustainable agriculture, and forest management policies can help Vietnam achieve environmental sustainability while balancing economic development.

  • The role of soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms in improving food security and income of farmers in smallholder irrigation schemes in Tanzania

    Makarius Mdemu, Luitfred Kissoly, Henning Bjørnlund, Emmanuel Kimaro, Evan Christen, André van Rooyen, Richard Stirzaker, Peter Ramshaw · 2020 · International Journal of Water Resources Development

    Soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms significantly improve food security and household income for smallholder farmers in Tanzania's irrigation schemes. The study combined quantitative data from farmer field books and household surveys with qualitative focus group data across two schemes. Both interventions together, and the innovation platform alone, demonstrably enhanced farmers' food security and income outcomes.

  • How to Strengthen Innovation Support Services in Agriculture with Regard to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches

    Guy Faure, Andrea Knierim, Alex Koutsouris, Hycenth Tim Ndah, Sarah Audouin, Elena Zarokosta, Eelke Wielinga, Bernard Triomphe, Syndhia Mathé, Ludovic Temple, Kevin Heanue · 2019 · Journal of Innovation Economics & Management

    The EU AgriSpin project analyzed 57 agricultural innovation case studies to identify effective innovation support services. The research shows that support needs vary by innovation phase: early stages require network building and innovator support, while later phases need training and credit services. Brokering functions and knowledge co-production services prove essential for helping farmers and value chains innovate across farm, supply chain, and territorial levels.

  • Compositional dynamics of multilevel innovation platforms in agricultural research for development

    Dieuwke Lamers, Marc Schut, Laurens Klerkx, Piet van Asten · 2017 · Science and Public Policy

    Innovation platforms in agricultural research for development require multilevel stakeholder engagement across community and national levels to fulfill key innovation system functions. The study of platforms in Central Africa reveals that different functions demand strategic involvement of specific stakeholders at particular levels, rather than equal participation across all groups. Research and dissemination activities dominated the functional sequence in these platforms, distinguishing them from business-oriented innovation platforms.

  • Agriculture, seed, and innovation in Nepal: industry and policy issues for the future

    K.D. Joshi, Czech Conroy, J. R. Witcombe · 2019

    Nepal's agricultural sector spans three distinct geographic regions—the Terai, Hills, and Mountains—each with different productive capacities. The Terai and inner Terai, at the lowest altitudes, generate the highest agricultural output. The paper examines seed industry development and agricultural innovation policy issues critical to Nepal's future farming productivity across these varied landscapes.

  • Digital agriculture platforms: Driving data‐enabled agricultural innovation in a world fraught with privacy and security concerns

    Bryan C. Runck, Alison B. Joglekar, Kevin A.T. Silverstein, Connie Chan‐Kang, Philip G. Pardey, James C. Wilgenbusch · 2021 · Agronomy Journal

    Digital agriculture platforms enable data sharing and collaboration across agricultural value chains, but face significant challenges around data quality, privacy, and intellectual property. This paper develops a taxonomy of the digital agriculture landscape and analyzes platforms against technical and use requirements, establishing a common vocabulary for understanding how these systems support data-enabled agricultural innovation.

  • Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture: Case Study of Lis Valley Irrigation District, Portugal

    Maria de Fátima Oliveira, Francisco Gomes da Silva, Susana Ferreira, Margarida Ribau Teixeira, Henrique Damásio, António Ferreira, José Manuel Gonçalves · 2019 · Sustainability

    Portuguese agricultural innovation in the Lis Valley Irrigation District reveals a gap between policy frameworks and practical outcomes. The Rural Development Program's narrow definition of innovation fails to capture social innovation and process improvements essential to agriculture. The study shows that implementing water management innovations for sustainability requires policy reform to align agricultural priorities with environmental protection and rural development goals.

  • Lessons for co-innovation in agricultural innovation systems: a multiple case study analysis and a conceptual model

    Simon Fielke, Neels Botha, Janet Reid, David Gray, Paula Blackett, Nicola Park, Tracy Ann Williams · 2017 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This study examines three agricultural innovation projects in New Zealand to identify what makes co-innovation successful. The researchers found that effective co-innovation requires network-level capability and legitimacy, clear understanding of actor priorities, and sufficient resources. Project leaders must include the right mix of stakeholders and foster open dialogue to build shared vision. The paper presents a conceptual model to guide future co-innovation efforts in agricultural systems.

  • A paradigm shift in African agricultural research for development: the role of innovation platforms

    Sidi Sanyang, Sibiri Jean-Baptiste Taonda, Julienne Kuiseu, N'tji Coulibaly, Laban Konaté · 2015 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Agricultural research organizations in Africa shifted from focusing solely on technology efficiency to using multi-stakeholder innovation platforms that address institutional barriers. Case studies of maize and cassava value chains in West and Central Africa show that yields and incomes increased significantly when platforms combined three capacity-building interventions: learning workshops for policymakers, skills training for facilitators, and coaching support. Success required facilitators to master observation, testing, and refinement of platform processes using practical, visualizable tools.

  • Promoting innovations in agriculture: Living labs in the development of rural areas

    Giulio Cascone, Alessandro Scuderi, Paolo Guarnaccia, Giuseppe Timpanaro · 2024 · Journal of Cleaner Production

    Living Labs represent an effective approach for developing agricultural innovations in rural areas. This systematic review of 18 studies shows that agricultural Living Labs vary significantly by geography, theme, and organization. The research identifies two core dimensions: the innovation process and the actors involved. The findings emphasize that successful agricultural Living Labs require examining how different actors interact and adapting flexible approaches to fit specific local agricultural contexts for sustainable development.

  • Understanding inclusive innovation processes in agricultural systems: A middle-range conceptual model

    Elizabeth Hoffecker · 2021 · World Development

    This paper develops a middle-range theory explaining how inclusive innovation works in smallholder agricultural systems across the Global South. By analyzing three cases from South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, the author identifies a consistent pattern: initial activities alter local context, triggering social learning, social capital strengthening, and consensus formation. These mechanisms drive technical, organizational, and institutional innovation. The model provides practitioners and researchers with a framework for understanding, facilitating, and evaluating inclusive agricultural innovation processes.

  • Understanding Adoption of Innovations and Behavior Change to Improve Agricultural Policy

    David J. Pannell, David Zilberman · 2020 · Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

    Agricultural adoption research shows that farmers make adoption decisions as ongoing processes shaped by learning and diverse motivations, not just profit. The paper identifies gaps in predicting adoption and understanding how innovation characteristics influence farmer decisions. Policy opportunities include supporting women farmers in developing countries and applying marketing techniques to extension programs.

  • Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems

    Kristiaan P.W. Kok, Laurens Klerkx · 2023 · Agricultural Systems

    Mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems are increasingly used to transform agri-food systems, but their political dimensions demand greater attention. This paper argues that MAIS must address four critical areas: directionality (how power shapes innovation direction), diversity (multiple pathways, actors, and knowledge types), distribution (just resource allocation across communities), and democracy (deliberative knowledge production). The authors contend that researchers must recognize how their work influences and is shaped by these political dynamics to ensure transformations are sustainable, equitable, and socially desirable.

  • Modeling the Effects of Agricultural Innovation and Biocapacity on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in an Agrarian-Based Economy: Evidence From the Dynamic ARDL Simulations

    Aminu Ali, Monday Usman, Ojonugwa Usman, Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie · 2021 · Frontiers in Energy Research

    This study examines how agricultural innovation, energy use, income, and biocapacity affect carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria from 1981 to 2014. Agricultural innovation and energy use increase emissions, while higher income and biocapacity reduce them long-term. The research confirms the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and shows agricultural innovation accounts for nearly half of CO2 emission changes. The authors recommend prioritizing energy efficiency, clean energy adoption, and ecosystem management to address climate change.

  • Women Farmers and Agricultural Innovation: Marital Status and Normative Expectations in Rural Ethiopia

    L.B. Badstue, Patti Petesch, Cathy Rozel Farnworth, Lara Roeven, Mahlet Hailemariam · 2020 · Sustainability

    Marital status significantly shapes women farmers' capacity to innovate in rural Ethiopia. Single women own more land and control production decisions, yet face legal and customary barriers to resource access. Married women innovate successfully only within collaborative spousal relationships. Gender-based violence undermines women's achievements across both groups. Customary norms consistently constrain women's effective land use and agricultural innovation regardless of household headship.

  • Gendered Intra‐Household Decision‐Making Dynamics in Agricultural Innovation Processes: Assets, Norms and Bargaining Power

    Rieko Shibata, Sarah Cardey, Peter Dorward · 2020 · Journal of International Development

    This study examines how household members make decisions about adopting agricultural innovations among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Men dominate decision-making about which innovations to adopt and how to use outputs, particularly for income-generating crops. These patterns reflect and reinforce existing gender inequalities in asset ownership and are shaped by social norms and control over production resources.

  • Inter-regional innovation in Brazilian agriculture and deforestation in the Amazon: income and environment in the balance

    Andrea Cattaneo · 2005 · Environment and Development Economics

    Agricultural innovation in Brazil between 1985 and 1995 had mixed effects on deforestation and farm income. Innovation outside the Amazon reduced deforestation while innovation inside the Amazon increased it, resulting in no net change to overall deforestation rates. Livestock productivity improvements proved most influential for deforestation outcomes. Technological advances outside the Amazon, particularly for small farms in the Northeast, boosted agricultural income, improved income distribution, and limited forest loss.

  • Induced Innovation in United States Agriculture, 1880–1990: Time Series Tests and an Error Correction Model

    Colin Thirtle, David Schimmelpfennig, Robert E Townsend · 2002 · American Journal of Agricultural Economics

    This paper tests the induced innovation hypothesis in U.S. agriculture from 1880 to 1990 using an error correction model. The analysis confirms that changes in factor prices and research spending drive technological change that saves expensive inputs. The study separates factor substitution from technological bias, establishing that price signals and R&D investment causally precede the development of labor-saving and land-saving innovations in American agriculture.

  • Social Media for Enhancing Innovation in Agri-food and Rural Development: Current Dynamics in Ontario, Canada

    Ataharul Chowdhury, Helen Hambly · 2014 · Journal of rural and community development

    Social media adoption in Ontario's agri-food and rural sectors remains in early stages with significant barriers. Analysis of 50 online communities reveals that farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and rural workers struggle to collaborate effectively on Web 2.0 platforms. Key obstacles include feedback gaps, conflicting stakeholder views on credibility and risk, and insufficient capacity to develop appropriate applications. The paper concludes that user-oriented, autonomous social media tools are essential for enabling genuine innovation in rural systems.

  • LEARNING FROM THE POSITIVE TO REDUCE RURAL POVERTY AND INCREASE SOCIAL JUSTICE: INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

    Stephen Biggs · 2007 · Experimental Agriculture

    This paper argues that development organizations miss opportunities to reduce rural poverty and advance social justice by failing to learn from existing success stories. Examining cases of bamboo irrigation in Bihar and agricultural policy changes in Nepal, the author identifies three key lessons: institutional innovations are context-specific, social entrepreneurs drive positive change, and observation choices shape outcomes. The paper recommends strengthening social science research, hiring staff committed to social justice, and deepening reflection within development programs rather than pursuing formulaic best practices.

  • Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development

    Michael Blakeney · 2022 · Sustainability

    Global agriculture faces existential challenges that require innovation to achieve sustainable development. The paper examines how agricultural innovation can address these challenges and contribute to sustainability goals. It analyzes the relationship between technological advancement in farming and broader sustainable development objectives.

  • A research agenda for evaluating living labs as an open innovation model for environmental and agricultural sustainability

    Christine Beaudoin, Steve Joncoux, Jean-François Jasmin, Albana Berberi, Chris McPhee, R. Sandra Schillo, Vivian M. Nguyen · 2022 · Environmental Challenges

    Living labs—collaborative spaces where stakeholders co-create and test innovations in real-world settings—show promise for addressing environmental and agricultural challenges. This paper presents a research agenda developed through expert consultation to identify gaps in how living labs are evaluated and made effective. The authors find that living labs remain underutilized in environmental and agricultural sectors and call for better understanding of stakeholder diversity, evaluation methods, and conditions that enable their success.

  • Exploring farmer perceptions of agricultural innovations for maize-legume intensification in the mid-hills region of Nepal

    Victoria Alomia‐Hinojosa, Erika N. Speelman, Arun Thapa, Hsiang-En Wei, Andrew J. McDonald, Pablo Tittonell, J.C.J. Groot · 2018 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Maize-legume intercropping in Nepal's mid-hills faces low adoption of proven innovations despite their productivity benefits. Researchers conducted two-year on-farm trials with farmer participation, finding that tested innovations increased yields significantly. Active farmer involvement improved their perceptions and adoption interest. However, final adoption remained limited by labor scarcity, input availability, and cultural preferences, especially for resource-poor farmers. The study demonstrates that context-specific, participatory research design is essential for rural innovation impact.

  • Innovation systems and technical efficiency in developing‐country agriculture

    Dawit Mekonnen, David J. Spielman, Esendugue Greg Fonsah, Jeffrey H. Dorfman · 2015 · Agricultural Economics

    This study analyzes how agricultural innovation systems affect technical efficiency across 85 developing countries from 2004 to 2011. Mobile phone subscriptions and scientific research output both improve agricultural production efficiency. Countries in the lower technological class achieve 44% efficiency compared to 62% in the higher class, revealing substantial room for productivity gains through efficiency-focused investments in innovation infrastructure.

  • The system of rice intensification as a sustainable agricultural innovation: introducing, adapting and scaling up a system of rice intensification practices in the Timbuktu region of Mali

    Erika Styger, Goumar Aboubacrine, Malick Ag Attaher, Norman Uphoff · 2011 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was successfully introduced and scaled in Mali's Timbuktu region over three years, growing from 1 to 450 farmers. SRI increases rice yields while reducing seeds, water, and chemical inputs through single young transplants, wide spacing, compost, mechanical weeding, and intermittent irrigation. Success depended on technical adaptation, farmer training, government collaboration, and funding. Farmers achieved significantly higher yields and income, and the approach inspired further local innovations in sustainable rice production.

  • Innovations in Modern Nanotechnology for the Sustainable Production of Agriculture

    Rajiv Periakaruppan, Valentin Romanovski, Selva Kumar Thirumalaisamy, Vanathi Palanimuthu, Manju Praveena Sampath, Abhirami Anilkumar, D. Sivaraj, Nihaal Ahamed Nasheer Ahamed, Shalini Murugesan, Divya Chandrasekar, Karungan Selvaraj Vijai Selvaraj · 2023 · ChemEngineering

    Nanotechnology offers sustainable solutions for agriculture by enabling targeted delivery of nutrients, pesticides, and fungicides through nanomaterials. These innovations address crop losses from pests, disease, and poor soil quality while reducing environmental damage from conventional farming. Nanoparticles improve plant growth, crop quality and yield, and disease management to meet growing global food demand.

  • Introducing ‘microAKIS’: a farmer-centric approach to understanding the contribution of advice to agricultural innovation

    Lee‐Ann Sutherland, Pierre Labarthe · 2022 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This paper introduces microAKIS, a farmer-centered framework for analyzing how agricultural advice systems contribute to innovation on farms. The approach shifts focus from institutional structures to individual farmer experiences and decision-making, examining how advisory services actually influence farmers' adoption of new practices and technologies. The framework helps identify which advice mechanisms most effectively support agricultural innovation at the farm level.

  • Scaling practices within agricultural innovation platforms: Between pushing and pulling

    Edmond Totin, Barbara van Mierlo, Laurens Klerkx · 2019 · Agricultural Systems

    Innovation platforms in Rwanda combine two scaling approaches: push strategies that solve immediate problems and pull strategies that build networks across multiple levels. The study finds that platforms most effectively increase farmer revenues when their activities align with government policies and existing conditions. Successful scaling requires protected spaces, flexibility to handle complexity, and strategic balance between both approaches to transform agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Applicability of diffusion of innovation theory in organic agriculture

    Mirela Tomaš Simin, Dejan Janković · 2014 · Ekonomika poljoprivrede

    The authors argue that diffusion of innovation theory can effectively explain how organic farming spreads and is adopted by agricultural communities. Organic farming emerged as an innovation addressing environmental problems and rural development challenges. The theory helps analyze organic farming systems by accounting for their unique characteristics and how knowledge about these practices transfers among farmers. The authors conclude the framework is applicable to studying organic farming adoption.

  • The Impact of Technological Innovations on Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Sustainability in China

    Weilun Huang, Xucheng Wang · 2024 · Sustainability

    Technological innovations significantly boost agricultural productivity in China, especially in more developed provinces. The study analyzed data from 2012 to 2022 and found that rural education, technological capability, and environmental conservation initiatives all matter. Sustainable farming practices and targeted policies are essential for balancing productivity gains with environmental protection and reducing regional disparities.

  • Does investment in innovation impact firm performance in emerging economies? An empirical investigation of the Indian food and agricultural manufacturing industry

    R. L. Manogna, Aswini Kumar Mishra · 2021 · International Journal of Innovation Science

    R&D investment significantly boosts firm growth in India's food and agricultural manufacturing sector. Younger firms benefit most from innovation spending. The study finds that exporting firms gain competitive advantages through R&D, while those importing raw materials face headwinds. Government fiscal incentives and R&D subsidies can accelerate private innovation investment and firm expansion in this emerging economy.

  • Eco-efficiency and agricultural innovation systems in developing countries: Evidence from macro-level analysis

    Christian Grovermann, Tesfamicheal Wossen, Adrian Müller, K. Nichterlein · 2019 · PLoS ONE

    This study examines how agricultural innovation systems contribute to eco-efficiency across 79 developing countries. The researchers found that public research spending significantly boosts eco-efficiency in emerging economies, while foreign aid for extension services matters most in less developed countries. Foreign aid for research showed no significant effect. The findings demonstrate that effective agricultural innovation requires context-specific policy interventions tailored to each country's development level, rather than uniform global approaches.

  • Innovation system approach to agricultural development: Policy implications for agricultural extension delivery in Nigeria

    Agwu, Ei Shu, Dimelu, Usha Nandhini M, M C Madukwe, О. М. Чабанюк · 2008 · AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

    Nigeria's agricultural sector requires a shift from traditional research-extension models to an innovation systems approach. The paper argues that sustainable agricultural development demands holistic consideration of policy frameworks, human capital, infrastructure, and knowledge flows—not just R&D investment. Government should enact favorable policies, strengthen farmer and private sector innovation, and ensure extension workers integrate institutional context into technology packages delivered to farmers.

  • In pursuit of responsible innovation for precision agriculture technologies

    Maaz Gardezi, Damilola Tobiloba Adereti, Ryan Stock, Ayorinde Ogunyiola · 2022 · Journal of Responsible Innovation

    Agricultural decision support systems using satellite data, drones, and machine learning reshape how farms operate, but create uneven benefits and risks. Research with farmers in Vermont and South Dakota reveals these technologies transform knowledge production, change labor arrangements, and distribute advantages unevenly. Developers must adopt inclusive deliberative processes when designing these systems to ensure ethical, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.

  • Exploring the readiness of publicly funded researchers to practice responsible research and innovation in digital agriculture

    Áine Regan · 2021 · Journal of Responsible Innovation

    Irish publicly funded researchers show alignment with responsible research and innovation principles in digital agriculture, but face challenges implementing integrated RRI approaches. Interviews with 15 scientists and funders revealed three key concerns: unintended cultural consequences of technology, ensuring farm-level usability, and clarifying scientist responsibilities. The study identifies gaps in how RRI frameworks are framed and supported within academic institutions.

  • Making room for manoeuvre: addressing gender norms to strengthen the enabling environment for agricultural innovation

    L.B. Badstue, Marlène Elias, Víctor Kommerell, Patti Petesch, Gordon Prain, Rhiannon Pyburn, Anya Umantseva · 2020 · Development in Practice

    Gender norms significantly shape whether agricultural innovation succeeds or fails at the local level, yet development research has largely overlooked them. Drawing on the GENNOVATE research initiative, the authors show that gender norms interact with individual agency to determine agricultural outcomes. Effective agricultural development requires explicitly addressing these norms and challenging underlying inequality structures, not just focusing on policies, markets, and institutions.

  • Preinoculation of Soybean Seeds Treated with Agrichemicals up to 30 Days before Sowing: Technological Innovation for Large-Scale Agriculture

    Ricardo Silva Araújo, Sonia Purin da Cruz, Edson Luiz Souchie, Thomas Newton Martin, André Shigueyoshi Nakatani, Marco Antônio Nogueira, Mariangela Hungría · 2017 · International Journal of Microbiology

    Researchers developed a method for preinoculating soybean seeds with beneficial microorganisms up to 30 days before planting, even when seeds have been treated with agrichemicals. This innovation allows large-scale farmers to prepare seeds in advance without losing the benefits of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, improving crop performance and yield.

  • Agricultural Innovation Platforms in West Africa

    Annemarie van Paassen, Laurens Klerkx, Richard Adu-Acheampong, S. Adjei‐Nsiah, Elisabeth Zannoue · 2014 · Outlook on Agriculture

    Innovation platforms in West Africa can create institutional change benefiting smallholders when researchers initiate them with clear principles and deep value chain analysis. Effective platforms combine technical and entrepreneurial support for smallholders with strategic mobilization of high-level actors for regulatory and market backing. Success depends on the platform's maturity and the operating environment; contentious settings limit mobilization efforts.

  • The Contribution of Private Industry to Agricultural Innovation

    Keith O. Fuglie, Paul W. Heisey, John L. King, Carl E. Pray, David Schimmelpfennig · 2012 · Science

    Private-sector agricultural research and development spending increased 43 percent between 1994 and 2010, driven primarily by advances in seed biotechnology. This growth demonstrates the significant role that private industry plays in funding and developing agricultural innovations.

  • THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) AS A SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION

    Norman Upboff · 2008 · Jurnal Ilmu Tanah dan Lingkungan

    The System of Rice Intensification, developed in Madagascar, now reaches 500,000 farmers across 20+ countries who increase rice production while reducing external inputs and costs. Rather than examining the innovation itself, this paper analyzes the transnational system of innovation that emerged around SRI. Farmers voluntarily extended the methodology to peers, adapted it to reduce labor demands, and applied it to rainfed rice and other crops. Diverse organizations formed innovative alliances to disseminate and adjust the methodology, driving global adoption despite institutional resistance.

  • Climate, insurance and innovation: the case of drought and innovations in drought-tolerant traits in US agriculture

    Ruiqing Miao · 2020 · European Review of Agricultural Economics

    Crop insurance in US agriculture reduces innovation in drought-tolerant traits by approximately 23 percent, despite farmers increasing innovation activities in response to climate variation. Subsidized insurance weakens this adaptive response, potentially undermining long-term agricultural resilience to climate change by discouraging the development of climate-adapted crops.

  • Innovation for inclusive rural transformation: the role of the state

    Alexis Habiyaremye, Glenda Kruss, Irma Booyens · 2019 · Innovation and Development

    Governments in developing countries must actively support rural innovation to achieve inclusive development. Analysis of programs across Algeria, Vietnam, South Africa, Peru, India, and Argentina shows state involvement succeeds most when coupled with local community participation. The state's critical roles include promoting agricultural innovation, building rural capacity, and delivering pro-poor social innovations. Success requires governments to support local capability building and bridge knowledge gaps between innovation producers and rural communities.

  • Agricultural innovation from above and from below: Confrontation and integration on Rwanda's Hills

    J. Van Damme, An Ansoms, Philippe V. Baret · 2013 · African Affairs

    Rwanda's smallholder banana farmers develop their own innovations alongside top-down agricultural modernization efforts promoted by the World Bank's Green Revolution agenda. The paper shows how farmers receive and adapt macro-level innovations while simultaneously creating grassroots solutions driven by their own risk-management needs. The authors argue that policymakers must prioritize farmers' capacity for bottom-up innovation when designing Rwanda's agricultural strategies.

  • Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production Intensification

    Michele Pisante, Fabio Stagnari, Cynthia A. Grant · 2012 · Italian Journal of Agronomy

    Sustainable crop production intensification requires linking farmers' local knowledge with science-based innovations through institutional arrangements. The paper reviews agronomic practices supporting sustainable systems, including crop selection, ecosystem-based farming, pest management, nutrient management, and irrigation technologies. It proposes seven contextual changes that demand examination of how agricultural innovation occurs and spreads to farm level.

  • Path mechanism and spatial spillover effect of green technology innovation on agricultural CO2 emission intensity: A case study in Jiangsu Province, China

    Jing Rong, Jun Hong, Quan Guo, Fang Zhou, Shikun Chen · 2023 · Ecological Indicators

    Green technology innovation directly reduces agricultural carbon emissions and creates positive spillover effects in neighboring regions. Energy structure optimization and agricultural industry agglomeration both strengthen this effect, though using both mechanisms simultaneously may reduce agglomeration's benefits. The study uses Jiangsu Province data to demonstrate that managing technology transfer between regions while accounting for spatial spillover effects can effectively reduce agricultural emissions.

  • Stimulating small-scale farmer innovation and adaptation with Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA): Lessons from successful implementation in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and South Asia

    Graham Clarkson, Peter Dorward, Sam Poskitt, R. D. Stern, Dominic Nyirongo, Katiuscia Fara, John Mwangi Gathenya, Caroline G. Staub, Adrian Trotman, Gloriose Nsengiyumva, Francis Feehi Torgbor, Diana Giraldo · 2022 · Climate Services

    PICSA is a participatory approach that trains smallholder farmers to use climate and weather information for agricultural decision-making. Evaluations across seven countries show 87% of trained farmers made beneficial changes to crops, livestock, or livelihoods. The approach succeeds by treating farmers as decision-makers, tailoring information to local contexts, and strengthening extension and meteorological services. Over 200,000 farmers in 23 countries have been trained, and the method is now integrated into policy and training programs.

  • Is There Any Difference in the Impact of Digital Transformation on the Quantity and Efficiency of Enterprise Technological Innovation? Taking China’s Agricultural Listed Companies as an Example

    Haihua Liu, Peng Wang, Zejun Li · 2021 · Sustainability

    Digital transformation in China's agricultural companies increases the quantity of technological innovations but does not improve innovation efficiency. The effect varies by company ownership type and depends on operating expense ratios. When operating expenses fall below a critical threshold, digital transformation significantly boosts innovation efficiency. These findings reveal that digitalization alone does not guarantee better-quality innovations in agricultural enterprises.

  • Innovation and learning in agriculture

    Loek Nieuwenhuis · 2002 · Journal of European Industrial Training

    Farmers innovate through interactive learning networks and trial-and-error processes, relying on external knowledge infrastructures. The entrepreneur acts as the central learner driving innovation. The paper examines how farmers learn and innovate in modern agriculture and identifies effective government policies to support innovation without protectionism. Innovation requires balancing uncertainty with experience—a core competence of entrepreneurial success.

  • A Systematic Literature Review of the IoT in Agriculture—Global Adoption, Innovations, Security, and Privacy Challenges

    Asma Naseer, Muhammad Shmoon, Tanzeela Shakeel, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Awais Ahmad, Volker Gruhn · 2024 · IEEE Access

    This systematic review examines Internet of Things applications in agriculture from 2018 to 2023, analyzing 96 papers. IoT technology connects agricultural equipment, sensors, and specialists to improve production, reduce costs, and increase efficiency in remote regions. The review covers enabling technologies, machine learning applications, security challenges, and implementation barriers. It synthesizes current developments and future directions for IoT-based agricultural systems.

  • Impact of agricultural technological innovation on total-factor agricultural water usage efficiency: Evidence from 31 Chinese Provinces

    Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Gang Hao, Rizwana Yasmeen, Hong Yan, Qi Ye · 2024 · Agricultural Water Management

    Agricultural technological innovation significantly improves water usage efficiency across Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2020. The study finds that Chinese provinces achieved 13.56% growth in total-factor agricultural water usage efficiency, driven primarily by technological change rather than efficiency improvements. Sprinkler technology and water conservation practices boost efficiency, while larger farm scales reduce it. These findings guide policymakers toward sustainable water management through agricultural technology adoption.

  • The Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity

    Yunsi Chen, Sumin Hu, Haoqiang Wu · 2023 · Agriculture

    The digital economy significantly increases agricultural productivity in China, with green technology innovation strengthening this effect. Using provincial data from 2011 to 2020, the study finds that digital economy development boosts overall agricultural total factor productivity and that green technology adoption amplifies this benefit. The impact varies by region, with eastern China experiencing greater gains than western areas.

  • Intellectual Property Rights and the Ascent of Proprietary Innovation in Agriculture

    Matthew Clancy, GianCarlo Moschini · 2017 · Annual Review of Resource Economics

    Agricultural biological innovations historically lacked formal intellectual property protection, but recent decades have seen substantial strengthening of these rights. This paper documents how plant IPRs have evolved, examines economic theory on their effects, and reviews empirical evidence on innovation outcomes. The authors show how agricultural IPR experience aligns with or diverges from broader IPR literature, and discuss implications for market structure and input pricing.

  • Organic agriculture: A fountain of alternative innovations for social, economic, and environmental challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context

    Vincent Canwat, Stephen Onakuse · 2022 · Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy

    Organic farming in Kenya generates multiple innovations addressing conventional agriculture's failures. Farmers adopted financial innovations, peer learning systems, and agro-tourism. They converted waste into pest control and soil fertility products, created new marketing channels like farmers' markets and delivery schemes, and established participatory certification systems. These innovations reduce information gaps, market risk, and financial service barriers. However, government policy support remains insufficient.

  • Global investment gap in agricultural research and innovation to meet Sustainable Development Goals for hunger and Paris Agreement climate change mitigation

    Mark W. Rosegrant, Timothy B. Sulser, Keith Wiebe · 2022 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Agricultural research and development investments must increase by $4 billion annually, plus $6.5 billion yearly for climate-smart farming technologies, to end global hunger by 2030 and meet Paris Agreement climate targets. The analysis models how conservation tillage, improved nitrogen use, better livestock management, and other sustainable practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions while cutting hunger to 5% worldwide.

  • Farms and Learning Partnerships in Farming Systems Projects: A Response to the Challenges of Complexity in Agricultural Innovation

    Anne Crawford, Ruth Nettle, Mark Paine, Carolyn Kaboré · 2007 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Learning partnerships between farmers, researchers, and extension advisors effectively address complexity in agricultural innovation. The paper examines two Australian dairy industry case studies and finds that successful partnerships require active negotiation of learning roles and specialized facilitation. Commercial farms serving as learning partners help innovation projects tackle competing demands of productivity, environmental sustainability, and societal expectations.

  • Using diffusion of innovations theory to understand agricultural producer perspectives on cover cropping in the inland Pacific Northwest, USA

    A. Lavoie, Katherine Dentzman, Chloe B. Wardropper · 2021 · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems

    Farmers in the inland Pacific Northwest resist adopting cover crops despite research showing benefits. Using diffusion of innovations theory, interviews with 28 producers revealed that low perceived profitability, incompatibility with existing systems, and complexity of experimentation deter adoption. Focus groups with 48 stakeholders identified opportunities to improve adoption by providing region-specific agronomic and economic data, aligning policies with producer goals, and tailoring outreach to local conditions.

  • Gendered mobilities and immobilities: Women’s and men’s capacities for agricultural innovation in Kenya and Nigeria

    Johanna Bergman Lodin, Amare Tegbaru, Renee Bullock, Ann Degrande, Lilian Nkengla-Asi, H. I. M. Gaya · 2019 · Gender Place & Culture

    Gender norms restrict women's mobility in Kenya and Nigeria, limiting their access to agricultural services and farmer groups compared to men. Women face constraints on where they can travel, when, and for how long. The study reveals that access to agricultural innovation networks often reflects gender role expectations rather than individual choice, creating time pressures that affect capacity to innovate. Interventions must address how norms and agency intersect to support equitable participation in agricultural innovation.

  • How Programme Teams Progress Agricultural Innovation in the Australian Dairy Industry

    Ruth Nettle, P. Brightling, Anne Hope · 2013 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Programme teams in the Australian dairy sector bring together researchers, extension workers, farmers, and policymakers to drive agricultural innovation. These teams identify stakeholder needs, design change strategies, and pilot solutions—integrating research-led and demand-pull approaches. This semi-formal governance mechanism overcomes institutional weaknesses that favor simple technology adoption, though investment in such innovation capacity remains low and inconsistent across dairy domains.

  • Innovation policies in Uzbekistan: Path taken by ZEFa project on innovations in the sphere of agriculture

    Rano Turaeva · 2012 · Econstor (Econstor)

    This paper examines how agricultural innovations developed by the ZEF/UNESCO project in Uzbekistan move from research into government practice. The author analyzes the bureaucratic, legal, and political barriers to adopting both technological and institutional innovations. The study finds that Uzbekistan is developing an innovation system, though currently operates more as a knowledge ecology that could support future innovation infrastructure.

  • Enabling rural innovation in Africa: An approach for integrating farmer participatory research and market orientation for building the assets of rural poor

    Pascal C. Sanginga, Rupert Best, Colletah Chitsike, Robert J. Delve, Susan Kaaria, Roger Kirkby · 2004 · CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research)

    The Enabling Rural Innovation approach integrates farmer participatory research with market orientation to help small-scale farmers in Africa develop profitable agroenterprises. Testing in Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania shows farmers select crops based on mixed economic and non-economic criteria. Success requires building human and social capital, strengthening partnerships between research organizations and communities, and connecting local innovations to national and regional market institutions.

  • Transforming Agricultural Productivity with AI-Driven Forecasting: Innovations in Food Security and Supply Chain Optimization

    Sambandh Bhusan Dhal, Debashish Kar · 2024 · Forecasting

    AI-driven forecasting models, including machine learning and deep learning, transform agricultural productivity and food supply chains by enabling real-time crop monitoring and resource optimization. Integration of IoT, remote sensing, and blockchain technologies improves decision-making across European hydroponic systems and Southeast Asian aquaponics. AI also enhances food preservation through advanced processing techniques. However, data quality, model scalability, and prediction accuracy remain significant barriers, especially in data-poor regions. Success requires context-specific implementations and public-private collaboration.

  • Barriers to the Adoption of Innovations for Sustainable Development in the Agricultural Sector—Systematic Literature Review (SLR)

    Laura Restrepo Campuzano, Gustavo Adolfo Hincapié Llanos, Jhon Wilder Zartha Sossa, Gina Lía Orozco Mendoza, Juan Carlos Palacio, Mariana Herrera · 2023 · Sustainability

    This systematic review of 48 scientific articles identifies 51 barriers preventing agricultural innovation for sustainability. The most common obstacles are lack of supportive policies, epistemic closure, unfavorable regulations, and unskilled labor. External barriers (28) outnumber internal ones (23), with organic agriculture, genetic engineering, and precision agriculture emerging as leading innovations. The authors argue that policymakers can address 17 of the 28 external barriers through targeted regulations, incentives, and guidelines.

  • Disruption disrupted? Reflecting on the relationship between responsible innovation and digital agriculture research and development at multiple levels in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

    Emma Jakku, Aysha Fleming, Martin Espig, Simon Fielke, Susanna Finlay‐Smits, James Turner · 2022 · Agricultural Systems

    Digital agriculture technologies promise productivity gains but create socio-ethical challenges. This paper examines responsible innovation practices in Australian and New Zealand public agricultural research organizations. The authors find that responsible innovation remains only partially implemented, with gaps between stated goals and actual practice. They argue that systemic organizational changes—including new performance measures and reward structures—are necessary to embed responsibility across research teams and enhance socially beneficial outcomes in digital agriculture development.

  • What really matters? A qualitative analysis on the adoption of innovations in agriculture

    Erika Pignatti, Giacomo Carli, Maurizio Canavari · 2015 · Journal of Agricultural Informatics

    Agricultural innovation adoption depends on multiple interconnected factors beyond technology alone. Research across Italy, Greece, and Turkey identified that farmers prioritize ease of use, effectiveness, usefulness, resource savings, and compatibility. Adoption accelerates through trials, demonstrations, knowledge sharing, and expert support. Public funding, agricultural policies, and market conditions significantly influence whether farmers ultimately adopt new technologies.

  • Agricultural Innovation and the Protection of Traditional Rice Varieties: Kerala a Case Study

    Michael Blakeney, Jayasree Krishnankutty, Rajesh K. Raju, Kadambot H. M. Siddique · 2020 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    India's plant variety protection and geographical indication laws aim to promote agricultural innovation and benefit farmers growing traditional crops. A survey of 401 rice farmers in Kerala found most were unaware of these laws or misunderstood them. Farmers rarely registered their varieties or claimed benefits when their crops were used commercially. The study concludes that awareness campaigns are essential before these policies can effectively support agricultural innovation.

  • Innovation and firm growth in agricultural inputs industry: empirical evidence from India

    R. L. Manogna · 2020 · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

    R&D investments in India's agricultural input firms—seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and machinery—drive firm growth, with stronger effects for younger companies. Export-oriented firms and those importing raw materials show different growth patterns. The study of 1,320 firm-year observations from 2001–2019 demonstrates that innovation benefits compound over time and help firms capture industry externalities, suggesting governments should subsidize R&D to boost agricultural input sector competitiveness.

  • Effectiveness of Climate-Smart Agriculture Innovations in Smallholder Agriculture System in Ethiopia

    Abyiot Teklu, Belay Simane, Mintewab Bezabih · 2022 · Sustainability

    This study evaluated how climate-smart agriculture innovations affect smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's highlands. Using data from 424 farmers, researchers found that improved crop varieties, compost, row planting, and agroforestry simultaneously boost food security, climate adaptation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Crop rotation and soil conservation each delivered two of these three benefits. Crop residue management failed to meet the targets. The authors recommend farmers adopt a portfolio combining improved varieties, crop rotation, compost, row planting, soil conservation, and agroforestry.

  • The influence of multi-stakeholder platforms on farmers' innovation and rural development in emerging economies: a systematic literature review

    Carlos Luis Barzola Iza, Domenico Dentoni, Onno Omta · 2020 · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

    Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) in emerging economies create interfaces connecting diverse actors to support farmer innovation. This systematic review of 44 studies finds that MSPs achieve different innovation outcomes depending on their organizational goals and activities. The research identifies key gaps: disciplinary fragmentation, linear thinking, insufficient attention to informal institutions, and overlooked power dynamics that affect how MSPs influence farmer innovation.

  • The role of agricultural innovation on Pacific Islands: a case study from Hawai'i Island

    Mark D. McCoy, Michael W. Graves · 2010 · World Archaeology

    Between 1400 and 1650, Hawaiian farmers developed terraced fields, irrigation systems, and windbreaks that opened 60 percent of available farmland. These innovations enabled agriculture in marginal areas, increased food surplus, and supported population growth and elite competition. The expanded agricultural base allowed societies to support non-producers across larger territories, driving the transition to surplus-driven economies.

  • Agricultural innovation and socio-economic change in early medieval Europe: evidence from Britain and France

    Pam Crabtree · 2010 · World Archaeology

    During the Middle Saxon period (650–850 CE) in eastern England and early medieval France, animal husbandry shifted from subsistence-focused to specialized production targeting wool and pork surpluses. Zooarchaeological evidence shows this innovation coincided with state formation, urban development, and monasticism. Both monastic and secular estate centers drove these agricultural changes, suggesting innovation emerged from rural centers rather than top-down imposition.

  • Developing capacity for agricultural market chain innovation: Experience with the ‘PMCA’ in Uganda

    Douglas Horton, Beatrice Akello, Lucy Aliguma, Thomas Bernet, A. Devaux, B. Lemaga, Damalie Babirye Magala, Sarah Mayanja, I. Sekitto, Graham Thiele, Claudio Ríos-Velasco · 2010 · Journal of International Development

    The Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA), originally developed in the Andes to drive pro-poor agricultural innovation, was successfully adapted and applied in Uganda to stimulate technological and institutional innovation in local commodity chains. The approach requires intensive capacity development that builds social networks, shifts attitudes, and develops both technical and social skills among researchers, farmers, market agents, and policymakers working together across the value chain.

  • Making technological innovations accessible to agricultural water management: Design of a low-cost wireless sensor network for drip irrigation monitoring in Tunisia

    Paul Vandôme, Crystèle Léauthaud, Simon Moinard, Oliver Sainlez, Insaf Mekki, Abdelaziz Zaïri, Gilles Belaud · 2023 · Smart Agricultural Technology

    Researchers developed an affordable, open-source wireless soil moisture sensor for drip irrigation monitoring in Tunisia. The device addresses barriers to water management technology adoption by eliminating high costs and technical complexity that prevent farmers from using commercial sensors. Field testing over a growing season showed the low-cost sensor performs comparably to commercial alternatives and enables real-time irrigation monitoring and water management decisions.

  • Addressing the paradox – the divergence between smallholders’ preference and actual adoption of agricultural innovations

    Miyuki Iiyama, Athanase Mukuralinda, Jean Damascene Ndayambaje, Bernard Musana, Alain Ndoli, Jeremias Mowo, Dennis P. Garrity, Stephen Ling, Vicky Ruganzu · 2018 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Smallholder farmers in Rwanda prefer certain tree species for agroforestry but don't adopt them without enabling conditions. The study identifies five critical requirements for adoption: available quality inputs, compatibility with existing farming systems, climate resilience, simple management, and market access. National one-size-fits-all strategies fail; instead, tailored approaches addressing specific constraints for priority species in different agroecological zones drive sustainable adoption.

  • New challenges for public research organisations in agricultural innovation in developing economies: Evidence from Embrapa in Brazil's soybean industry

    Paulo N. Figueiredo · 2016 · The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance

    Brazil's agricultural research organization Embrapa possesses diverse technological capabilities for soybean innovation, varying in novelty and complexity across different technologies and distributed across multiple units. The paper argues that as global food demand rises and innovation becomes increasingly interdependent, indigenous public research organizations like Embrapa must fundamentally reorganize how they manage these capabilities to better support agricultural innovation and productivity growth in developing economies.

  • An agent-based model of agricultural innovation, land-cover change and household inequality: the transition from swidden cultivation to rubber plantations in Laos PDR

    Tom Evans, Khamla Phanvilay, Jefferson Fox, John Vogler · 2011 · Journal of Land Use Science

    This paper models how smallholder farmers in northern Laos transitioned from shifting cultivation to rubber plantations. Using agent-based modeling fitted to historical land-cover data and household interviews, the researchers found that rubber adoption increased household inequality over time. The model explains both the timing of adoption decisions and the widening wealth gaps that resulted from unequal uptake of the new crop.

  • Addressing soil salinity for sustainable agriculture and food security: Innovations and challenges in coastal regions of Bangladesh

    Md. Tipu Sultan, Upoma Mahmud, Md. Zulfikar Khan · 2023 · Future Foods

    Soil salinity threatens Bangladesh's coastal agriculture and food security, affecting 30% of arable land. Traditional mitigation methods fail to address the problem effectively. The paper proposes climate-smart agriculture and microbial-assisted phytoremediation using endophytic bacteria as innovative solutions that enhance plant growth and nutrient absorption under salinity stress, supporting sustainable food production and poverty alleviation.

  • The evolution of the MasAgro hubs: responsiveness and serendipity as drivers of agricultural innovation in a dynamic and heterogeneous context

    Tania Carolina Camacho-Villa, Conny Almekinders, Jon Hellin, Tania Eulalia Martínez-Cruz, Roberto Rendón Medel, Francisco Guevara–Hernández, Tina Beuchelt, Bram Govaerts · 2016 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    The MasAgro program in Mexico evolved from a narrow technology focus to a broader innovation system approach by adapting to local contexts and opportunities. Hub managers drove this shift through responsive management, creating diverse partnerships and technology portfolios suited to different regions. The research shows that effective large-scale agricultural programs require stable macro-level vision combined with flexibility at implementation levels to accommodate farmer diversity and institutional change.

  • Public private partnerships for agricultural innovation: concepts and experiences from 124 cases in Latin America

    Frank Hartwich, Jaime Tola · 2007 · International Journal of Agricultural Resources Governance and Ecology

    Public-private partnerships for agricultural innovation in Latin America often lack clear cost-benefit planning despite forming frequently. The paper identifies four conditions for successful partnerships: no single partner can achieve goals alone, partners gain more than they invest, synergy exists, and gains distribute proportionally. Evidence shows private companies participate readily because investments are low or tax-deductible, but both parties need coherent planning to improve partnership viability.

  • The role of living labs in cultivating inclusive and responsible innovation in precision agriculture

    Maaz Gardezi, Halimeh Abuayyash, Paul R. Adler, Juan P. Alvez, Rubaina Anjum, Appala Raju Badireddy, Skye Brugler, Pablo Carcamo, David E. Clay, Ali Reza Dadkhah, Mary Emery, Joshua W. Faulkner, Bhavna Joshi, Deepak R. Joshi, Awais Hameed Khan, Christopher Koliba, Sheetal Kumari, John McMaine, Scott C. Merrill, Shreya Mitra, Sardorbek Musayev, Panagiotis D. Oikonomou, George F. Pinder, Edward Prutzer, Jitender Rathore, Taylor H. Ricketts, Donna M. Rizzo, Benjamin E.K. Ryan, Maryam Sahraei, Andrew W. Schroth, Scott Turnbull, Asim Zia · 2024 · Agricultural Systems

    Living labs serve as effective platforms for developing precision agriculture technologies that meet farmer and community needs. Researchers used an interdisciplinary approach combining farmer interviews, field data collection, experiments with payment incentives, design workshops, and extension activities. The methodology produced sustainable solutions that balance social, economic, and environmental concerns. Including diverse experts and engaging farmers throughout the innovation process proved essential for creating trustworthy, responsible agricultural technologies.

  • Automation and AI in Precision Agriculture: Innovations for Enhanced Crop Management and Sustainability

    Azmirul Hoque, Mrutyunjay Padhiary · 2024 · Asian Journal of Research in Computer Science

    AI and automation technologies in precision agriculture significantly improve crop monitoring, resource efficiency, and yields. Drones, autonomous tractors, AI-driven irrigation, and predictive analytics increase crop health assessment accuracy by 30–50 percent, boost yields by 5–15 percent while reducing water and fertilizer use by 25–40 percent, and cut labor costs by 20–40 percent. However, scalability, affordability for small farms, and data privacy remain barriers. Future integration of 5G, blockchain, and edge computing could enhance decision-making and transparency.

  • Using nature-based water storage for smallholder irrigated agriculture in African drylands: Lessons from frugal innovation pilots in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

    Annelieke Duker, Cesário Manuel Cambaza, Paulo Sérgio Lourenço Saveca, Sérgio Jordão Augusto Ponguane, T.A. Mawoyo, M. Hulshof, Lucia Nkomo, Stephen Hussey, B. Van den Pol, R. Vuik, Tibor Stigter, Pieter van der Zaag · 2020 · Environmental Science & Policy

    Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and Mozambique can access water for irrigation from shallow sand river aquifers using low-cost well-points and solar pumps, costing under $1,000 per 0.2 hectares. Pilots show water availability is not the constraint; instead, success depends on farmers' prior experience, market access, and willingness to adopt individual commercial farming rather than traditional communal irrigation schemes. The approach scales gradually as farmers expand operations.

  • Exploring the impact of innovation adoption in agriculture: how and where Precision Agriculture Technologies can be suitable for the Italian farm system?

    Giorgia Bucci, Deborah Bentivoglio, Adele Finco, Matteo Belletti · 2019 · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science

    Precision agriculture technologies using IoT and ICT can improve farm efficiency and sustainability by reducing inputs while protecting resources. This study identifies barriers to adoption in Italy, including cultural resistance to innovation, limited awareness of benefits, and small average farm sizes that make investment difficult. Analysis shows northeastern Italy is most suitable for precision agriculture technology adoption.

  • Factors affecting the adoption of agricultural innovations on underutilized cereals: The case of finger millet among smallholder farmers in Kenya

    J. Dorsey Rebecca, Peter Dannenberg, Owuor George, Patience Mshenga, Kimurto Paul, Willkomm Maximilian, Hartmann Gideon · 2018 · African Journal of Agricultural Research

    Smallholder finger millet farmers in Kenya adopt agricultural innovations—improved varieties, conservation tillage, pest management, and group marketing—based on specific factors. Plot size, off-farm income, household credit, and extension contact increase adoption likelihood and intensity. Technical training boosts adoption depth but sometimes discourages initial uptake. Understanding these drivers enables policymakers to design strategies that raise innovation adoption rates, improving food security and farmer incomes.

  • Building farmers' capacity for innovation generation: Insights from rural Ghana

    Justice A. Tambo, Tobias Wünscher · 2017 · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems

    Rural farmers in Ghana who participate in farmer field forums—a participatory extension approach—generate significantly more innovations than non-participants, with 27% higher probability of innovation and 49% more innovation practices implemented. Education and risk preference also drive farmer innovation. However, the program shows no spillover benefits to non-participants, raising cost-effectiveness concerns. Policies should build farmer innovation capacity through institutional arrangements enabling stakeholder interaction and learning.

  • Hegemony, Technological Innovation and Corporate Identities: 50 Years of Agricultural Revolutions in Argentina

    Carla Gras, Valéria Hernández · 2016 · Journal of Agrarian Change

    Argentine agriculture experienced two major technological shifts since the mid-1960s: the Green Revolution and the Agribusiness Paradigm. Each period was led by a different agrarian elite that framed technological adoption as essential for agricultural survival. The paper shows how agrarian leaders used technological innovation as ideology to gain political influence, with each era linking specific technologies, business models, and government policies to construct and maintain their power over agricultural development.

  • Exploring Opportunities for Enhancing Innovation in Agriculture: The Case of Oil Palm Production in Ghana

    S. Adjei‐Nsiah, O. Sakyi-Dawson, Thomas W. Kuyper · 2012 · Journal of Agricultural Science

    This study identifies institutional barriers limiting innovation in Ghana's oil palm sector. Researchers found that technical farm-level innovations alone cannot drive sustainable production and poverty reduction without addressing systemic constraints. The study recommends integrating small-scale processors into value chains, organizing farmers for better negotiating power, improving access to high-yielding seedlings, and reforming tenancy arrangements to incentivize tenant farmer investment.

  • Adoption of ICT in agricultural management in the United Kingdom: the intra-rural digital divide

    Martyn Warren · 2002 · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika)

    UK farming businesses adopting information and communication technology gain significant benefits, but a digital divide is emerging within the agricultural sector. Farmers who fail to adopt ICT face severe competitive disadvantages. The paper argues that Central and Eastern European countries will experience similar divides, warranting policy intervention and further research to address technology adoption gaps.

  • Effects of perceptions on adoption of climate-smart agriculture innovations: empirical evidence from the upper Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia

    Abyiot Teklu Meshesha, Belay Simane, Mintewab Bezabih Ayele · 2022 · International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management

    Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Upper Blue Nile Highlands adopt climate-smart agriculture innovations like improved crop varieties, soil conservation, and agroforestry when they perceive these practices increase productivity, enhance soil fertility, and reduce climate vulnerability. Positive perceptions about benefits for food security and climate adaptation drive adoption. The study recommends strengthening farmer awareness through extension services and local institutions to boost CSA uptake.

  • What innovations impact agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    Yannick Fosso Djoumessi · 2021 · Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

    This study analyzes which agricultural innovations boost productivity across 22 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1996 to 2014. Pesticides and irrigation increase productivity, while fertilizer shows mixed results. Crop diversification improves profits and output. Labor-saving machinery like tractors and harvesters significantly raise productivity. The findings inform policy recommendations for agricultural development in the region.

  • Gendered processes of agricultural innovation in the Northern uplands of Vietnam

    Nozomi Kawarazuka, Gordon Prain · 2019 · International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship

    Ethnic minority women in Vietnam's Northern uplands develop agricultural innovations through informal networks and family structures rather than formal institutions. Their innovations are incremental, small-scale, and linked to entrepreneurship, strengthening their household position and economy. Understanding these gendered innovation processes reveals that women's approaches differ fundamentally from men's, requiring policymakers to redesign agricultural support programs to fit women's actual practices and preferences rather than imposing standardized packages.

  • Evaluating the impact of industrial loads on the performance of solar PV/diesel hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Ghana

    Stephen Afonaa-Mensah, Flavio Odoi-Yorke, Issah Babatunde Majeed · 2024 · Energy Conversion and Management X

    Adding agro-processing productive loads to off-grid solar PV/diesel hybrid systems improves their performance for rural electrification in Ghana. The study used HOMER software to analyze a hybrid system and found that productive loads increase the load factor and solar correlation, reducing the cost of electricity generation. However, even with improvements, the cost remains higher than Ghana's national grid tariffs for residential consumers.

  • Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy Microgrid for Rural Agricultural Area in Southern Philippines

    Rovick P. Tarife, Yosuke Nakanishi, Yining Chen, Yicheng Zhou, Noel R. Estoperez, Anacita P. Tahud · 2022 · Energies

    Researchers designed and optimized a hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural agricultural communities in Southern Philippines, combining hydropower, solar panels, diesel generation, and battery storage. Using optimization algorithms, they identified component sizes that minimize power outages, energy costs, and emissions simultaneously. The optimal system includes 100 solar panels, 100 kWh battery storage, and a 13 kW diesel generator, achieving reliable power supply with low costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Optimal design and sensitivity analysis of distributed biomass‐based hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification: Case study of different photovoltaic/wind/battery‐integrated options in Babadam, northern Cameroon

    Nasser Yimen, Louis Monkam, D. Tcheukam–Toko, Bashir Musa, Roger Abang, Lawrence F. Fombe, Serkan Abbasoğlu, Mustafa Dagbasi · 2021 · IET Renewable Power Generation

    Researchers designed and optimized hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and battery storage with biomass technologies for a remote community in northern Cameroon. Systems integrating biogas or syngas generators reduced electricity costs by 29-40% compared to solar-wind-battery alone, with the gasifier option achieving the lowest cost at $0.319/kWh. Sensitivity analysis confirms this cost advantage applies across sub-Saharan Africa, making biomass integration effective for rural electrification.

  • Synergizing hybrid renewable energy systems and sustainable agriculture for rural development in Nigeria

    Michael Uzoamaka Emezirinwune, Isaiah Adediji Adejumobi, Oluwaseun Ibrahim Adebisi, Festus Gboyega Akinboro · 2024 · e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering Electronics and Energy

    Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, biogas, and wind can reliably power Nigerian farms while reducing costs and emissions. A case study shows solar dominates energy production, with a payback period of 7.22 years and negligible carbon emissions. The research demonstrates HRES is economically viable and environmentally sound for rural agriculture, though policy inconsistencies and infrastructure gaps remain barriers to widespread adoption.

  • Startup process, safety and risk assessment of biomass gasification for off-grid rural electrification

    Md. Mashiur Rahman, Ulrik Birk Henriksen, Daniel Ciolkosz · 2023 · Scientific Reports

    Biomass gasification offers promise for off-grid rural electricity generation, but startup procedures pose serious safety risks including fire, explosion, and toxic emissions. This study analyzes hazards during the heating startup phase of downdraft gasifiers and identifies heating temperature as the critical safety factor. The authors propose safety protocols that reduce risks from fire, explosion, and harmful emissions, enabling more reliable operation of gasification systems in rural areas.

  • Factors influencing technology and innovation capability in the Nigerian indigenous oil firms

    Yusuf Opeyemi Akinwale, John Felix Kayode Akinbami, Joshua Akarakiri · 2018 · International Journal of Business Innovation and Research

    Nigerian indigenous oil and gas firms develop stronger technology and innovation capabilities when they invest in in-house research and development, allocate dedicated R&D funding, hire experienced and qualified staff, and acquire advanced machinery. Firm size, age, and employee training also matter significantly. The study recommends that government and industry jointly prioritize workforce training, R&D investment, and education to build local technical capacity in oil and gas operations.

  • The Application of Homer Optimization Software to Investigate the Prospects of Hybrid Renewable Energy System in Rural Communities of Sokoto in Nigeria

    Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud · 2017 · International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE)

    A hybrid solar and wind energy system designed for rural Sokoto, Nigeria proves cost-effective for electrification. Using NASA meteorological data and HOMER optimization software, researchers sized an optimal system combining 35.21kW solar panels, three 25kW wind turbines, and battery storage. The system costs $249,910 upfront but recovers investment in five years, delivering 25 years of maintenance-free, pollution-free electricity to remote communities at lower long-term cost than grid extension.

  • An integrated ecosystem incorporating renewable energy leading to pollution reduction for sustainable development of craft villages in rural area: a case study at sedge mats village in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

    Thanh‐Hai Le, Van Thanh Tran, Quoc Vi Le, Thị Phương Thảo Nguyễn, Hans Schnitzer, Gerhart Braunegg · 2016 · Energy Sustainability and Society

    Researchers developed VICRAIZES, an integrated renewable energy system for sedge mat craft villages in Vietnam's Mekong Delta that combines biogas production from waste, wastewater treatment, and composting. The system reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 93%, BOD5 in wastewater by 97%, and generated compost worth 115 million VND annually while requiring low investment and simple operation. The approach proves viable for low-income craft villages across developing countries.

  • Solar-Battery-Integrated Hybrid AC/DC Off-Grid System for Rural Households Based on a Novel Multioutput Converter

    Amal C Sunny, Nagarjun Surulivel, Dipankar Debnath · 2022 · IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics

    This paper presents a hybrid solar-battery system designed for rural households that simultaneously powers AC and DC appliances without grid connection. The proposed two-stage converter reduces complexity and cost compared to existing off-grid systems by eliminating unnecessary converter stages, incorporating maximum power point tracking, battery protection, and voltage regulation in a single integrated design. Laboratory testing on a 400-watt prototype validates the system's performance.

  • Modeling, simulation, and optimization of biogas‐diesel hybrid microgrid renewable energy system for electrification in rural area

    Timothy Oluwaseun Araoye, Evans Chinemezu Ashigwuike, Sochima Vincent Egoigwe, Frederick Udebunu Ilo, Adeyinka Cornelius Adeyemi, Rasheed Segun Lawal · 2021 · IET Renewable Power Generation

    Researchers modeled and optimized a biogas-diesel hybrid microgrid system for rural electrification using MATLAB and HOMER software. At 4 tons of biomass production, the system runs entirely on biogas, generating 452,820 kWh annually at $0.0484 per kilowatt-hour. The hybrid biogas system reduces costs by 85% compared to diesel-only operation, making it economically viable for rural areas.

  • Understanding the present and the future electricity needs: Consequences for design of future Solar Home Systems for off-grid rural electrification

    Thomas Den Heeten, Nishant Narayan, Jan Carel Diehl, Jeroen Verschelling, S. Silvester, Jelena Popović-Gerber, Pavol Bauer, Miro Zeman · 2017

    Solar Home Systems can provide electricity to rural populations without grid access, but system sizing must match both current and future energy needs to justify costs. Research in rural Cambodia measured actual electricity consumption from 111 existing systems, finding average daily use of 310 Wh with significant night-time demand. Field studies revealed users expect to add more appliances with varying power requirements in coming years, creating higher peak loads and deeper battery discharges. The paper presents load profiles and solutions to design systems that accommodate this anticipated growth.

  • Solar PV system for off-grid electrification in rural area

    M. I. Fahmi, Dino Isa, Roselina Arelhi, M. Rajkumar · 2014

    Researchers developed a solar photovoltaic central control system to provide electricity to an off-grid rural farming village. The system was designed to be expandable for other renewable energy sources like mini hydro, tidal, and wind power. Testing with varying loads demonstrated the system can reliably supply sufficient power to rural homes, reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity.

  • MANAGING INDIGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN TANZANIA

    Edda Tandi Lwoga, Patrick Ngulube · 2008

    This paper examines how information and communication technologies can integrate indigenous knowledge with external agricultural expertise to advance farming development in Tanzania. The authors argue that combining local farming practices with modern ICT tools helps achieve broader development goals, particularly in rural agricultural communities where traditional knowledge remains valuable alongside contemporary innovations.

  • Integration of Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Mini-Grid Solar PV Systems in Off-Grid Rural Communities (SoAMIRural)

    Alexander Boakye Marful, Oliver Kornyo, Michael Asante, Richard Opoku, Daniel Yaw Addai Duah, Benjamin Tei Partey · 2023 · Sustainability

    This paper presents SoAMIRural, a system integrating solar mini-grids with advanced metering infrastructure for rural electrification in Ghana. The authors designed a 24 kVA solar system using load estimation methods and deployed smart metering to monitor consumption. Testing achieved 95% accuracy in tracking energy use, enabling better conservation and system sustainability. The framework supports reliable electricity access and progress toward Ghana's sustainable development goals.

  • Roadmapping 5.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Technological Proposal for Developing the Coffee Plant Centered on Indigenous Producers’ Requirements from Mexico, via Knowledge Management

    David Israel Contreras-Medina, Sergio Ernesto Medina–Cuéllar, Juan Manuel Rodríguez-García · 2022 · Plants

    This study develops a technology roadmap for Mexican indigenous coffee producers to adopt Industry 5.0 technologies. Researchers analyzed needs across five Mexican localities and identified key practices—monitoring, soil analysis, organic fertilizer production, and experimentation—that should be supported by mobile apps, sensors, virtual platforms, greenhouses, and spectrophotometric tools. The proposal prioritizes producer requirements and local contexts to address pest-related production losses affecting global coffee economies.

  • Development and Assessment of Renewable Energy–Integrated Multigeneration System for Rural Communities in Nigeria: Case Study

    Olusola Bamisile, Qi Huang, Mustafa Dagbasi, O.D. Alowolodu, Ndifreke Etuk Williams · 2020 · Journal of Energy Engineering

    Researchers designed a renewable energy system for a rural Nigerian community using biogas from agricultural waste to generate electricity and thermal outputs. The system combines three power cycles to produce 970 kW of electricity, meeting the 944 kW demand of Emure-Ekiti community, while also providing cooling, hot water, and greenhouse heating. The system achieved 62.72% energy efficiency and 23.49% exergy efficiency, addressing Nigeria's rural electrification gap where 40% lack electricity access.

  • Application of MOPSO to the Optimisation of an Off-Grid Photovoltaic System in a Rural Fruit Farm

    Mohamed Mahmoud Samy, Shimaa Barakat · 2022 · Journal of Engineering Science and Sustainable Industrial Technology

    Researchers optimized an off-grid solar power system for a 60-acre fruit farm in Egypt using multi-objective algorithms. The study determined the ideal number of solar panels and battery banks to minimize total costs while ensuring reliable power supply. Results show the system's net present cost, cost per kilowatt-hour, and energy surplus levels, enabling profitable renewable energy adoption for agricultural operations.

  • SPEAR (Solar Pyrolysis Energy Access Reactor): Theoretical Design and Evaluation of a Small-Scale Low-Cost Pyrolysis Unit for Implementation in Rural Communities

    Cesare Caputo, Ondřej Mašek · 2021 · Energies

    This paper presents SPEAR, a low-cost solar-powered pyrolysis reactor designed for rural Sub-Saharan Africa. The system converts agricultural waste into biochar for soil improvement and generates electricity for energy access. The design achieves 72% optical efficiency and produces at least 5 kg of biochar daily. Financial analysis shows positive returns in most scenarios, making it competitive with small-scale solar systems while delivering environmental and social benefits.

  • Modelling and Simulation of Photovoltaic-Variable Speed Diesel Generator Hybrid Power System for Off-Grid Rural Electrification

    P. Y. Lim, C.V. Nayar · 2012 · eSpace (Curtin University)

    This paper develops computer models of hybrid power systems combining solar panels and diesel generators for rural areas without grid electricity. The researchers compared two generator types and found that variable-speed diesel generators outperform conventional constant-speed generators. The models, built in MATLAB/Simulink and validated against industry software, enable researchers to test different power management strategies for off-grid rural electrification.

  • STUDY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF INNOVATION FOR THE BOP CONSUMER — THE CASE OF A RURAL WATER FILTER

    V. C. S. Prasad, Vivek Ganvir · 2005 · International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management

    This paper examines innovation principles for low-income markets using a rural water filter developed in India. The researchers used quality control methodology to establish realistic bacterial removal specifications, then introduced the filter in a village where it reduced waterborne disease cases significantly. The cost savings from fewer illnesses exceeded filter costs, creating a profitable model for both rural consumers and entrepreneurs.

  • Innovation and technology for achieving resilient and inclusive rural transformation

    Preetmoninder Lidder, Andrea Cattaneo, Mona Chaya · 2025 · Global Food Security

    This paper identifies five key levers for achieving resilient and inclusive rural transformation through innovation and technology. The authors call for increased investment in participatory agricultural research and development, amplifying marginalized voices in innovation processes, ensuring equitable technology access, limiting corporate dominance while supporting small enterprises, and prioritizing rural employment as automation reshapes value chains. These changes aim to generate rural employment, improve smallholder livelihoods, reduce malnutrition, and address climate impacts.

  • Decreasing the Digital Divide by Increasing E-Innovation and E-Readiness Abilities in Agriculture and Rural Areas

    Miklós Herdon, Szilvia Botos, László Várallyai · 2014 · International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Information Systems

    Rural farms in Hungary lag in digital adoption compared to service and commercial enterprises, viewing network services as unnecessary despite their potential benefits. The paper identifies e-skills gaps across EU member states and proposes targeted agri-informatics education programs to increase e-readiness and reduce the digital divide in agriculture and rural areas.

  • Advancing Rural Agribusiness Innovation Strategies for Building Climate-Resilient and Economically Inclusive Communities.

    Independent Researcher, USA, Olamidotun Nurudeen Michael, Omodolapo Eunice Ogunsola · 2025 · Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies

    Rural agribusinesses drive economic resilience and food security, especially in climate-vulnerable regions. The paper examines how digital agriculture, precision farming, sustainable value chains, and green financing build climate resilience and economic inclusion. It identifies barriers like poor infrastructure and limited finance access, then presents best practices for scaling sustainable models. The analysis of global case studies shows that inclusive ecosystems empowering smallholder farmers and integrating climate-smart approaches create adaptive frameworks that boost productivity and community resilience.

  • An Evolutionary Game Study of Collaborative Innovation across the Whole Industry Chain of Rural E-Commerce under Digital Empowerment

    Yanling Wang, Junqian Xu, Guangsheng Zhang · 2024 · Systems

    This paper uses evolutionary game theory to analyze collaborative innovation across rural e-commerce supply chains under digital transformation. The study finds that digital technology empowerment, absorptive capacity, and shared knowledge positively drive collaboration, while risk losses and free-rider behavior inhibit it. Government subsidies and penalties effectively encourage cooperation when market mechanisms alone prove insufficient.

  • Rural Digital Economy, Agricultural GreenTechnology Innovation, and AgriculturalCarbon Emissions– Based on Panel Data from 30 Provincesin China between 2012 and 2021

    Yanzhen Su, Meiqiong Liu, Ni Deng, Zongjin Cai, Rongrong Zheng · 2024 · Polish Journal of Environmental Studies

    Rural digital economy expansion significantly reduces agricultural carbon emissions in China, with effects strongest in western and northeastern regions and less-developed areas. Green agricultural technology innovation serves as a key mechanism through which digital economy growth lowers emissions. The study uses panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2012–2021) and confirms robust results across multiple tests, demonstrating that promoting rural digitalization and green agricultural innovation drives sustainable, low-carbon agricultural development.

  • Digital factors spur rural industrial integration: mediating roles of rural entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation in China

    Xingmei Jia, Tingting Zhu · 2025 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Digital technology adoption significantly strengthens rural industrial integration in China, with effects varying by region. Rural entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation act as key mechanisms driving this relationship. Entrepreneurship matters more in eastern and non-grain regions, while agricultural innovation dominates in central areas and major grain-producing zones. The study recommends accelerating digital integration, boosting agricultural innovation, and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems.

  • Digital Transformations in Agri-Food Systems: Innovation Drivers and New Threats to Sustainable Rural Development

    Olena Borodina, Oksana Rykovska, O. V. Mykhailenko, Oleksii Fraier · 2021 · SHS Web of Conferences

    Digital technologies transform agri-food systems globally, improving efficiency and creating new markets. However, corporate monopolization of digital processes threatens food security, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. The paper proposes ICT-based safeguards to strengthen food security and rural development while protecting small producers from corporate concentration of land, power, and resources.

  • Digital Green: A Rural Video-Based Social Network for Farmer Training (<i>Innovations Case Narrative:</i> Digital Green)

    Kerry Harwin, Rikin Gandhi · 2014 · Innovations Technology Governance Globalization

    Digital Green uses locally-produced videos to train farmers in rural South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging peer learning through visual demonstration. The approach combines video technology with community facilitation and integration into existing agricultural extension systems. Deployed in India, Ghana, and Ethiopia, it enables farmers without reliable internet or electricity to learn improved agricultural and health practices from neighbors' experiences.

  • ARA-O-RAN: End-to-End Programmable O-RAN Living Lab for Agriculture and Rural Communities

    Tianyi Zhang, Joshua Ofori Boateng, Taimoor UI Islam, Arsalan Ahmad, Hongwei Zhang, Daji Qiao · 2024

    ARA-O-RAN is a new wireless testbed built on open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture designed specifically for rural and agricultural applications. The testbed combines outdoor testing across farmland and rural communities with an indoor sandbox, enabling researchers to develop and test wireless technologies that address rural connectivity challenges. It supports end-to-end programmability and aligns with national spectrum policy goals for rural innovation.

  • Digital transformation in agricultural circulation: enhancing rural modernization and sustainability through technological innovation

    Hengli Wang, Lili Zhang, Zhongyin An · 2025 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Digital transformation of agricultural product circulation significantly enhances rural modernization in China, with stronger effects in technologically advanced regions and spillover benefits to neighboring areas. Green innovation and industrial structure optimization drive both environmental sustainability and economic growth. The study demonstrates that digitalization makes agricultural practices more resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly, supporting sustainable development and climate resilience in rural economies.

  • Correction: Digital transformation in agricultural circulation: enhancing rural modernization and sustainability through technological innovation

    Hengli Wang, Lili Zhang, Zhongyin An · 2025 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    This is a correction notice for a published article about digital transformation in agricultural distribution systems. The correction addresses an author affiliation error for Hengli Wang, whose affiliation was incorrectly listed as the Institute of Big Data at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law when it should have been the Wuhan University of Cyber Security Preparatory Office. The original article examines how technological innovation enhances rural modernization and sustainability through improved agricultural circulation.

  • Empowering Rural Communities through Social Innovations: Social Innovation as a Design Tool in the Extension Approaches for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nepal

    Amita Kandel, Rabina Pandit, Raveenthiran Vivekanantharasa, S. K. Singh Pandey, Manotar Tampubolon, Fernando Silalahi · 2025 · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science

    Social innovation empowers rural Nepali farmers by shifting agricultural extension from traditional top-down methods to participatory, community-led approaches. Mobile advisory services and farmer field schools that integrate local knowledge demonstrate effectiveness in boosting productivity while building resilience. Collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders improves agricultural outcomes, food security, and rural livelihoods while addressing climate change and infrastructure gaps.

  • Research on the Digital Intelligence Innovation Model for Emergency Management in Urban and Rural Agricultural Supply Chains

    <p>Zhu Yuanfang, Huang Huachen, Li Juntao, He Liu</p> · 2025 · The Frontiers of Society Science and Technology

    This paper develops a three-dimensional framework for managing agricultural supply chains during emergencies using digital intelligence technologies. The framework examines digital risk perception, organizational operations, and social value creation across technology, organization, and social dimensions. The study shows how digital intelligence improves emergency prevention, early warning, response, and recovery in urban-rural agricultural supply chains, and charts directions for future digitalized emergency management systems.

  • A three-pronged approach to the digitalization–innovation–sustainable rural development nexus among Italian farms

    Marcello De Rosa, Luca Bartoli, Concetta Cardillo, Chrysanthi Charatsari, Evagelos D. Lioutas · 2025 · AIMS Agriculture and Food

    Italian farms show highly uneven adoption of digital innovations and their links to sustainable development. Using census data and cluster analysis, the study identifies distinct geographic patterns across Italian regions, revealing that farms differ significantly in how they combine digitalization, innovation, and sustainability practices. These scattered adoption patterns create varied rural development outcomes across territories.

  • Digital technologies in agricultural knowledge management and innovation systems at the rural household level in Northern Ethiopia

    Fentaw Teshome Asnakew, Girma Gebresenbet, Koyachew Enkuahone Kassie · 2026 · Discover Food

    This study examines digital technology adoption among 601 smallholder farming households in rural Ethiopia. Mobile phones and radio dominate usage at over 30%, while advanced tools like internet platforms reach under 10%. Male-headed households, better education, proximity to markets and universities, cooperative membership, and electricity access significantly boost adoption. The research shows rural digitalization remains early-stage and recommends strengthening infrastructure, farmer education, extension services, and cooperatives to improve agricultural knowledge sharing and innovation.

  • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF RURAL AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF IOT AND DATA INNOVATION

    Emily Grace Thompson · 2026 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    IoT sensors and data-driven tools significantly improved agricultural outcomes for smallholder farmers in rural Nigeria. The study found that smart technologies reduced water use by 21% and fertilizer application by 18% without yield loss. Farmers using digital marketplaces increased net income by 25%, raised sale prices by 12%, and cut post-harvest losses by 15%. The research recommends solar-powered IoT hubs, localized training, and mobile interfaces to support wider adoption.

  • CONTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN DISSIMINATION OF INNOVATIONS AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN SOUTHERN TARABA, AGRICULTURAL ZONE, NIGERIA

    Pilinga Niyonga Makunga, Bulus Godiya, James Bala Dibah · 2026 · Open MIND

    Digital platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube effectively disseminate agricultural innovations to rural farmers in Nigeria, improving yields and market access. However, poor internet connectivity, high data costs, and unstable electricity severely limit adoption. Younger farmers, smallholders, and full-time farmers adopt these platforms more readily. Strengthening ICT infrastructure and reducing data costs are essential for sustainable digital extension services.

  • Social Innovation Approach in Integrated Farming: Advancing Rural Well-Being in Karawang Regency, West Java, Indonesia

    Sheila Hauna Arifa, Fikri Zul Fahmi · 2025 · Agraris Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development Research

    Integrated farming systems in Karawang, Indonesia show characteristics of social innovation and boost productivity, but don't significantly improve farmer well-being on their own. The study found that production behavior and management matter more than social innovation factors for productivity gains. Productivity accounts for only 13.5% of overall well-being, indicating that higher yields alone don't lift farmers out of poverty. Sustainable rural development requires market access, fair pricing, education, and social support systems alongside productivity improvements.

  • Frugal Innovation and Patent Analysis in Sericulture: Lessons for Sustainable Rural Bioeconomy Systems

    Mónica Fernanda Suárez-Sánchez, Humberto Merritt, Carlos Victor Muñoz-Ruiz, Mauricio Suárez-Sánchez, Ernesto Oregel-Zamúdio, Sergio Arias-Martínez · 2025 · Sustainability

    Patent analysis of silk-reeling technologies from 2000–2024 reveals that most innovations emphasize energy-intensive industrial methods unsuitable for low-resource rural contexts in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The study evaluated 212 patents against criteria including resource efficiency, accessibility, and social inclusion, finding that current designs marginalize traditional producers—mostly women and smallholders—from emerging bio-based value chains. The authors argue for resource-efficient, modular, socially inclusive innovations to support rural sericulture within circular bioeconomy systems.

  • Inclusive Innovation for the Sustainable Strengthening of Prickly Pear Cultivation in Rural Areas of Colombia: A Case Study in Sonsón, Antioquia

    Cristian Camilo Villegas-Arboleda, Yeny Paola Duque Castaño, Diego Andrés Vélez Rivera · 2025 · Sustainability

    This study develops an inclusive innovation model to strengthen prickly pear cultivation in rural Colombia by combining preservation of traditional knowledge, social context, and practical use. Using mixed methods including surveys, focus groups, and agent-based modeling, the researchers identify smallholder farmers and inclusive intermediaries as key actors. The model reduces power imbalances in the value chain, improves farmer associations and market access, and redistributes profits toward producers while protecting traditional knowledge and supporting endogenous rural development.

  • Advancing Rural Agribusiness Innovation Strategies for Building Climate-Resilient and Economically Inclusive Communities.

    Olamidotun Nurudeen Michael,, Omodolapo Eunice Ogunsola · 2025 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    Rural agribusinesses build climate resilience and economic inclusion through digital agriculture, precision farming, and green financing. The paper identifies barriers like poor infrastructure and limited finance access, then recommends scaling sustainable models that empower smallholder farmers and promote gender equity. Inclusive business ecosystems combining technology, institutional support, and climate-smart practices strengthen rural productivity and community resilience.

  • Innovation and knowledge-based inclusive transformation of rural areas in Algeria: examining the PPDRI programme

    Abdelkader Djeflat · 2025 · Science and Public Policy

    Algeria's PPDRI rural development programme successfully implemented innovation-driven knowledge-based economy policy in agriculture through training, capability building, and ICT adoption across five prefectures. The study finds that farmer participation and bottom-up governance approaches were essential to programme effectiveness, offering new insights for rural and agricultural policy implementation in developing contexts.

  • Living labs para o desenvolvimento rural: co-construção participativa no município de Altônia, Paraná

    Gabrielli Mascieri Lopes da Silva, Vinicius Rivelino Mendes, Felipe Minoru de Oliveira Inagaki, Millana Francisca Latchuk, Jean Fagner Pauly, Tiago Teixeira da Silva Siqueira · 2025 · SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository

    Researchers in Altônia, Brazil established a living lab—a participatory innovation space—to strengthen local agricultural systems through co-creation with farmers, municipal officials, and university staff. Through workshops, participatory mapping, and facilitated dialogue, the team developed practical actions for rural development. The work shows that living labs shift development from top-down technology transfer to collaborative problem-solving that values local knowledge, offering a replicable model for rural innovation in agricultural regions.

  • Enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of rural farmers through digital technology and business innovation

    Brillyanеs Sanawiri, Moh. Fahrial Amrulla · 2025 · Abdimas Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Universitas Merdeka Malang

    A 14-week training program in Indonesia enhanced entrepreneurial skills for 40 rural farmers through digital technology and business innovation. Participants received instruction in business planning, financial management, digital marketing, and product development, with practical mentorship across four program phases. Despite limited internet access, farmers successfully adopted digital platforms like Facebook for marketing, increased sales, and improved product competitiveness. The program significantly boosted participants' confidence and business management capabilities.

  • Digital Innovations for Rural Industry Create Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts

    Per J. Nesse, Gabriel Linton, Anne Jørgensen Nordli · 2025

    Digital innovations using 5G and IoT technology in rural forestry operations reduce operational time and costs while improving environmental outcomes like flora preservation and reduced contamination. The study identifies two organizational pathways to successful implementation, involving factors like process innovation experience, agility, and digital competence. Results come from field trials in the Horizon Europe COMMECT project.

  • Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Farmer Innovations in Rice Cultivation Irrigation: A Case Study of Dry-Seeded Rice in Rural Eastern Mazandaran

    Vahid Riahi · 2025 · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología

    Farmers in rural eastern Mazandaran, Iran adopted dry-seeded rice cultivation with phased irrigation instead of traditional flood irrigation. This innovation reduces water consumption by 65%, cuts pesticide use, lowers production costs, and increases per capita income per hectare up to four times compared to other regional crops. The method works for both high-yield and high-value rice varieties and spreads rapidly across villages facing water scarcity.

  • Agricultural literacy in artificial insemination and agribusiness management for social innovation in rural populations affected by armed conflict in Colombia

    Yasser Y. Lenis, Amy Jo Montgomery, Diego F. Carrillo-González, Enoc Valentín González Palacio, Dursun Barrios, Mohammed A. Elmetwally · 2024 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    A training program in artificial insemination, genetic improvement, and rural management significantly increased knowledge levels among 63 rural residents in Colombia affected by armed conflict. Students trained in these areas then taught local farmers, with measurable gains across all topics—general knowledge rose from 46% to 78%, artificial insemination from 39% to 81%, and management skills from 55% to 75%. Rural extension programs effectively close knowledge gaps in reproductive biotechnologies and livestock management.

  • Sustainable Rural Living Lab: Indian Case Studies

    Y. K. Kim, Myung Moo Lee · 2023 · Dongguk Business Research Institute

    This paper examines Living Labs as spaces for participatory innovation in rural India, analyzing three case studies: cardamom dryer, cooking stove, and farm reservoir design. The authors map European Living Lab evaluation criteria to the Extended Business Model Canvas to identify characteristics of rural Living Labs. They propose a framework for developing sustainable rural Living Labs that support community-driven innovation in agricultural and domestic technologies.

  • Managing Socio-Ethical Challenges in the Development of Smart Farming: From a Fragmented to a Comprehensive Approach for Responsible Research and Innovation

    Callum Eastwood, Laurens Klerkx, Margaret Ayre, B. Dela Rue · 2017 · Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics

    Smart farming development in New Zealand has prioritized productivity and efficiency while neglecting socio-ethical challenges and excluding citizens and consumers from decision-making. The authors apply responsible research and innovation (RRI) principles to smart dairying and find that current R&D lacks adequate consideration of broader social impacts. They recommend government leadership to embed RRI principles in project design and call for sector-specific approaches to build RRI capacity across smart farming innovation systems.

  • Combinations of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital for farm innovation: How farmers configure different support networks

    Gabriela Cofré-Bravo, Laurens Klerkx, Alejandra Engler · 2019 · Journal of Rural Studies

    Farmers adopt new agricultural technologies and practices through different support networks combining bonding, bridging, and linking social capital. This Chilean study identifies five distinct network configurations farmers use to explore new knowledge while implementing innovations. Rather than a single optimal approach, farmers customize their networks based on personal motivations, innovation goals, and available resources. All configuration types successfully achieve farm innovation, suggesting support strategies must adapt to individual farmer circumstances.

  • Orchestrating innovation networks: The case of innovation brokers in the agri-food sector

    Maarten Batterink, E.F.M. Wubben, Laurens Klerkx, S.W.F. Omta · 2010 · Entrepreneurship and Regional Development

    Innovation brokers play a critical role in connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with research institutes in agri-food innovation networks. This study of four cases across the Netherlands, Germany, and France identifies three key orchestration functions that successful brokers perform: initiating innovations, composing networks, and managing innovation processes. These brokers add particular value when working with diverse organizations.

  • How Industry 4.0 technologies and open innovation can improve green innovation performance?

    Muhammad Faraz Mubarak, Suman Tiwari Suresh Tiwari, Monika Petraitė, Mobashar Mubarik, Raja Zuraidah Raja Mohd Rasi · 2021 · Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

    Industry 4.0 technologies boost green innovation performance in Malaysian manufacturing firms by enabling open innovation practices, which in turn strengthens green innovation behavior. The study surveyed 217 firms and found that adopting Industry 4.0 and collaborative innovation approaches creates conditions for sustainable innovations. Policymakers should incentivize firms to adopt these technologies to achieve competitive advantage while meeting environmental goals.

  • Looking through a responsible innovation lens at uneven engagements with digital farming

    Kelly Bronson · 2019 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Digital farming platforms in North America are built on narrow values that favor large-scale commodity crop farmers over organic and smaller operations. Designers and engineers select agricultural data that prioritizes agronomic metrics while excluding data relevant to diverse farming practices. The paper argues that responsible innovation in agricultural technology requires engaging a wider range of food system actors and incorporating diverse values into data infrastructure decisions from the outset.

  • Cattle health monitoring system using wireless sensor network: a survey from innovation perspective

    Bhisham Sharma, Deepika Koundal · 2018 · IET Wireless Sensor Systems

    Wireless sensor networks enable farmers to monitor dairy cattle health automatically across farm locations, reducing disease losses and improving milk production. These low-cost systems collect health data in real-time, store it in databases, and help farmers make better management decisions with less manual labor. The technology addresses declining farmer interest in dairy by reducing animal mortality and breeding costs through early disease detection.

  • Ethics of smart farming: Current questions and directions for responsible innovation towards the future

    Simone van der Burg, M.J. Bogaardt, J. Wolfert · 2019 · NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences

    Smart farming technologies like sensors, drones, and robots raise three major ethical challenges: data ownership and access, power distribution, and impacts on human life and society. The paper finds that current discussions lack resolution because stakeholders hold conflicting views about digital farming's purpose. The authors recommend future research prioritize clarifying societal and commercial goals, then use those goals to determine data sharing practices, build stakeholder trust, and establish guidelines for responsible farm digitalization.

  • The Role of Public and Private Protection in Disruptive Innovation: The Automotive Industry and the Emergence of Low‐Emission Vehicles

    Jonatan Pinkse, René Bohnsack, Ans Kolk · 2013 · Journal of Product Innovation Management

    Car manufacturers pursuing low-emission vehicles face challenges making disruptive technology attractive to mainstream customers. This study examines how public protection levers—regulation, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships—and private levers—resource allocation, niche occupation, and collaboration—shape manufacturer strategies. Analysis of Daimler, General Motors, and Toyota across European, Japanese, and U.S. markets reveals two distinct trajectories: public protection initially drove commercialization but stalled due to systemic barriers, while private protection strategies subsequently gained momentum.

  • Dietary chlorogenic acid improves growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining antioxidant capacity and intestinal digestion and absorption function

    Jiali Chen, Yan Li, Bing Yu, Daiwen Chen, Xiangbing Mao, Ping Zheng, Junqiu Luo, Jun He · 2018 · Journal of Animal Science

    Chlorogenic acid (CGA) supplementation in pig feed improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea in weaned pigs. At 1,000 mg/kg, CGA increased feed efficiency, daily weight gain, and nutrient digestibility while boosting antioxidant enzymes and intestinal absorption capacity. The supplement enhanced expression of genes responsible for nutrient transport in the intestines, suggesting CGA strengthens digestive function and overall animal health.

  • IT and relationship learning in networks as drivers of green innovation and customer capital: evidence from the automobile sector

    Antonio Genaro Leal Millán, José L. Roldán, Antonio L. Leal‐Rodríguez, Jaime Ortega Gutiérrez · 2016 · Journal of Knowledge Management

    In Spanish automotive component manufacturers, relationship learning between firms and customers drives both green innovation and customer capital growth. Information technology alone doesn't create competitive advantage; it requires complementary strategies like relationship learning and green innovation performance. The study of 140 companies shows relationship learning is essential for leveraging customer knowledge and achieving sustainable competitive advantage.

  • Digital innovation ecosystems in agri-food: design principles and organizational framework

    J. Wolfert, C.N. Verdouw, Lan van Wassenaer, Wilfred Dolfsma, Laurens Klerkx · 2022 · Agricultural Systems

    Digital innovation in agri-food requires complex ecosystem approaches involving multiple stakeholders. This paper analyzes 73 million euros of European public-private projects from 2011-2021 to develop a framework for designing viable digital innovation ecosystems. The framework identifies six key concepts and 21 design principles, emphasizing multi-actor collaboration, shared technical infrastructure, value stream identification, and strategic partner engagement. Success requires substantial investment and time; isolated actor analysis fails.

  • Growth performance, metabolic and endocrine traits, and absorptive capacity in neonatal calves fed either colostrum or milk replacer at two levels.

    S Kühne, H.M. Hammon, R.M. Bruckmaier, Chloé Morel, Y. Zbinden, J.W. Blum · 2000 · Journal of Animal Science

    Newborn calves fed colostrum gained weight and showed better intestinal absorption and metabolic markers than calves fed milk replacer, regardless of feeding amount. Higher colostrum feeding density improved protein and fat metabolism. Milk replacer feeding density had minimal effects on metabolism or intestinal function. The bioactive compounds in colostrum, not just nutrient density, drive neonatal calf development.

  • Knowledge management and open innovation in agri-food crowdfunding

    Valentina Cillo, Riccardo Rialti, Bernardo Bertoldi, Francesco Ciampi · 2019 · British Food Journal

    Knowledge management capabilities drive successful open innovation in agri-food businesses using crowdfunding. IT-based knowledge exploitation enables open innovation strategies, while knowledge exploration capabilities mediate the relationship between IT capabilities and innovation outcomes. The study surveyed 80 agri-food crowdfunding businesses and found these knowledge management practices critical for innovation success.

  • Linking Resilience Theory and Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Understand the Potential for Perennials in the U.S. Corn Belt

    Ryan C. Atwell, Lisa A. Schulte, Lynne M. Westphal · 2009 · Ecology and Society

    This paper combines resilience theory with diffusion of innovations theory to analyze how perennial crops could be adopted in the U.S. Corn Belt. The authors examine the conditions and barriers that affect whether farmers will shift from annual commodity crops to perennial alternatives, using theoretical frameworks to understand both the ecological benefits of such transitions and the social factors driving agricultural innovation adoption.

  • Optimal dietary alpha-linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio improved digestive and absorptive capacities and target of rapamycin gene expression of juvenile grass carp (<i>Ctenopharyngodon idellus</i>)

    Yun‐Yun Zeng, Wei‐Dan Jiang, Yuxin Liu, Pei Wu, Juan Zhao, Junjie Jiang, Sheng‐Yao Kuang, Ling Tang, Wei Tang, Yindan Zhang, Xiao‐Qiu Zhou, Lin Feng · 2015 · Aquaculture Nutrition

    This study tested different ratios of alpha-linolenic acid to linoleic acid in feed for juvenile grass carp over 60 days. An optimal ratio of 1.03 to 1.08 improved weight gain, feed efficiency, and digestive enzyme activity in the liver and intestines. The same ratio enhanced gene expression related to nutrient absorption and protein synthesis, demonstrating that balanced fatty acid ratios significantly boost fish growth and digestive function.

  • Association between Innovative Entrepreneurial Orientation, Absorptive Capacity, and Farm Business Performance

    Xavier Gellynck, Jorge Cervera Cárdenas, Zuzanna Pieniak, Wim Verbeke · 2014 · Agribusiness

    This study examines how innovative entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity drive farm business performance among banana farmers in Ecuador. Using structural equation modeling on 199 farmers, the researchers found that trust and entrepreneurial orientation strengthen absorptive capacity, which in turn boosts innovation. However, innovation outcomes did not directly improve farm business performance, suggesting other factors mediate this relationship.

  • Water Holding Capacity and Absorption Properties of Wood Chars

    Jun Zhang, Changfu You · 2013 · Energy & Fuels

    Wood chars produced from poplar and pine at different temperatures show strong positive correlations between water holding capacity and total pore volume. Surface area alone does not predict water holding capacity, but pore size distribution matters significantly. Large pores facilitate water movement to smaller pores, while mesopore volume critically affects water absorption rates. These findings support using biomass char as a soil amendment.

  • Impact of knowledge sharing, learning adaptability and organizational commitment on absorptive capacity in pharmaceutical firms based in Pakistan

    Muhammad Rafique, Shafqat Hameed, Mujtaba Hassan Agha · 2017 · Journal of Knowledge Management

    Pakistani pharmaceutical firms depend on absorbing external knowledge from foreign technology sources. This study shows that employee behaviors—specifically knowledge sharing, learning adaptability, and organizational commitment—significantly strengthen a firm's absorptive capacity. Knowledge acquisition functions as routine work, while adaptability and commitment matter most during strategic planning. Human capital, not just technology infrastructure, drives a firm's ability to absorb and compete with new knowledge.

  • Re-designing the business organization using disruptive innovations based on blockchain-IoT integrated architecture for improving agility in future Industry 4.0

    Santosh B. Rane, Yahya Abdul Majid Narvel · 2021 · Benchmarking An International Journal

    This paper proposes integrating blockchain and Internet of Things technologies to redesign business operations for greater agility in Industry 4.0. The authors demonstrate their approach using a sensorized industrial pump that monitors operations in real time and enables predictive asset management. They argue that combining blockchain's decentralization, security, and autonomous coordination features with IoT capabilities helps manufacturing, oil and gas, engineering, construction, and utility companies operate more agilely.

  • An absorption capacity investigation of new absorbent based on polyurethane foams and rice straw for oil spill cleanup

    Anh Tuan Hoang, Van Vang Le, Abdel Rahman Al-Tawaha, Duong Nam Nguyen, Abdel Razzaq Al‐Tawaha, Muhamad Mat Noor, Van Viet Pham · 2018 · Petroleum Science and Technology

    Researchers developed a new absorbent material by combining polyurethane foam with rice straw, an agricultural residue from Vietnam, to clean up oil spills. The material achieved oil absorption capacity of 12.012 grams of oil per gram of absorbent after 120 minutes, performing 3–4 times better than pure polyurethane or cellulose-based alternatives. The optimal composition used 25% rice straw by mass with 0.5 mm particle size.

  • Stimulating frugal innovation via information technology resources, knowledge sources and market turbulence: a mediation-moderation approach

    Muhammad Usman Shehzad, Jianhua Zhang, Phong Ba Le, Khalid Jamil, Ziao Cao · 2022 · European Journal of Innovation Management

    IT resources directly boost frugal innovation in small and medium enterprises, and this effect is partly mediated by knowledge sources. Market turbulence strengthens how knowledge sources drive innovation in functionality and ecosystem design, but weakens their impact on cost reduction. The study surveyed 355 Pakistani SME employees and identifies IT investment and knowledge management as levers for developing-country firms to build frugal innovation capabilities.

  • 3D Printing of Thermoplastic Elastomers: Role of the Chemical Composition and Printing Parameters in the Production of Parts with Controlled Energy Absorption and Damping Capacity

    Marina León-Calero, Sara Catherine Reyburn Valés, Ángel Marcos‐Fernández, Juan Rodríguez‐Hernández · 2021 · Polymers

    This paper investigates how chemical composition and 3D printing parameters affect thermoplastic elastomer parts. Researchers tested different infill densities and patterns to measure energy absorption and damping capacity. They found that a honeycomb infill pattern at 50% density produced optimal performance for both energy absorption and damping properties.

  • The evolution and performance of biotechnology regional systems of innovation

    Jorge Niosi, Marc Banik · 2005 · Cambridge Journal of Economics

    Biotechnology regions develop as complex systems beginning with university research and knowledge spillovers, then progressing toward regional technology markets. Universities establish intellectual property and technology transfer offices to sell knowledge, while venture capital firms add biotechnology portfolios. The study of 90 Canadian biotechnology companies finds that firms in regional agglomerations grow faster than isolated ones, and university spin-offs outperform independent start-ups.

  • Achieving enhanced electromagnetic shielding and absorption capacity of cellulose-derived carbon aerogels <i>via</i> tuning the carbonization temperature

    Tiantian Bai, Yan Guo, Hu Liu, Gang Song, Dianbo Zhang, Yaming Wang, Liwei Mi, Zhanhu Guo, Chuntai Liu, Changyu Shen · 2020 · Journal of Materials Chemistry C

    Researchers developed cellulose-derived carbon aerogels with improved electromagnetic shielding and absorption properties by adjusting carbonization temperature during manufacturing. The simple temperature-tuning approach enhances the material's ability to block and absorb electromagnetic radiation, offering practical applications in shielding technology.

  • Gross Morphology and Absorption Capacity of Cell-Fibers from the Fibrous Vascular System of Loofah (Luffa cylindrica)

    Kheir Eddine Bal, Youcef Bal, Abdelaziz Lallam · 2004 · Textile Research Journal

    This paper examines how loofah plant fibers absorb liquids based on their microscopic structure. Researchers tested raw fibers and chemically treated fibers using water and salt solutions. They found that loofah's natural spongy structure, made of bundled cells with small channels, enables strong liquid absorption—up to 22.6 grams of liquid per gram of fiber. Chemical treatment with formaldehyde further improved absorption capacity.

  • 3D‐Printed Soft and Hard Meta‐Structures with Supreme Energy Absorption and Dissipation Capacities in Cyclic Loading Conditions

    Armin Yousefi, Saman Jolaiy, Mohammadreza Lalegani Dezaki, Ali Zolfagharian, Ahmad Serjouei, Mahdi Bodaghi · 2022 · Advanced Engineering Materials

    Researchers developed 3D-printed auxetic meta-structures using soft and hard polymers to absorb and dissipate energy under repeated loading. They tested thermoplastic polyurethane and polyamide designs inspired by snowflake geometry, using multi-jet fusion printing. Both materials showed strong energy absorption with large recoverable deformations and high dissipation capacity. Computational models accurately predicted experimental results. The structures could enable lightweight, energy-absorbing components for drones and UAVs.

  • Network of Collaborations for Innovation: The Case of Biotechnology

    Vittorio Chiesa, Giovanni Toletti · 2004 · Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

    Biotechnology firms developing new drugs and agricultural products increasingly rely on collaborations to navigate product development and commercialization. This study of 27 organizations examines how inter-institutional partnerships differ across various stages of introducing biotech products to market, comparing collaboration patterns between pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.

  • Characteristics of Nasal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (NALT) and Nasal Absorption Capacity in Chicken

    Haihong Kang, Mengfei Yan, Qinghua Yu, Qian Yang · 2013 · PLoS ONE

    This paper examines the structure and function of nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) in chickens and their capacity to absorb antigens through the nasal mucosa. Researchers found NALT concentrated in specific nasal cavity locations and demonstrated that chicken nasal tissue can absorb various particles and inactivated avian influenza virus. Absorption increased when combined with sodium cholate or CpG DNA. These findings support development of more effective intranasal vaccines for poultry.

  • Resource constrained innovation in a technology intensive sector: Frugal medical devices from manufacturing firms in South Africa

    Sanghamitra Chakravarty · 2021 · Technovation

    South African manufacturing firms develop frugal medical devices by building advanced internal capabilities and forging knowledge collaborations to overcome resource constraints and institutional gaps. These firms design affordable, functional devices through bottom-up collaborative processes that address local health challenges while reducing costs in design, engineering, and manufacturing. State support and global non-profits play critical roles in scaling these innovations for public health impact.

  • Paradoxes of implementing digital manufacturing systems: A longitudinal study of digital innovation projects for disruptive change

    Lukas Moschko, Vera Blažević, Frank T. Piller · 2023 · Journal of Product Innovation Management

    Digital manufacturing technologies promise operational efficiency and business model transformation, yet many established companies achieve only incremental improvements. A longitudinal study of eight manufacturing firms identifies three key tensions blocking success: integrating physical and digital assets, innovating within existing operations, and coordinating internal and external stakeholders. These conflicting forces pull digital projects away from ambitious goals, explaining why digitization remains difficult for established firms.

  • Green Innovation Sustainability: How Green Market Orientation and Absorptive Capacity Matter?

    Yueping Du, Huanhuan Wang · 2022 · Sustainability

    This study examines how green market orientation and absorptive capacity drive green innovation in manufacturing firms. Using survey data from 262 Chinese firms, the authors find that green market orientation boosts only green product innovation, while absorptive capacity improves both product and process innovation. The two factors interact positively to enhance both innovation types. The research reveals differential effects of internal capabilities on different forms of green innovation.

  • Intestinal Morphology, Epithelial Cell Proliferation, and Absorptive Capacity in Neonatal Calves Fed Milk-Born Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I or a Colostrum Extract

    B. Roffler, A. Fäh, S.N. Sauter, H.M. Hammon, Peter Gallmann, Г. Брем, J.W. Blum · 2003 · Journal of Dairy Science

    This study examined how insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) affects intestinal development in newborn calves. Feeding calves supraphysiological amounts of human IGF-I from transgenic rabbit milk produced no effects. However, feeding a bovine colostrum extract containing physiological IGF-I levels increased intestinal villus size and epithelial cell proliferation, though it temporarily reduced absorptive capacity.

  • How Institutions Influence SME Innovation and Networking Practices: The Case of Vietnamese Agribusiness

    Thai Thi Minh, Carsten Nico Hjortsø · 2015 · Journal of Small Business Management

    Vietnamese agribusiness SMEs operate within institutional constraints that discourage long-term investment and innovation. Instead of developing new products, firms pursue cost-control strategies. Social norms drive reliance on friendship-based networks that limit knowledge sharing and business effectiveness. Institutional pressures prevent SMEs from balancing exploration and exploitation. The study demonstrates how institutional frameworks in emerging economies shape innovation behavior.

  • Lowering in water absorption capacity and mechanical degradation of sisal/epoxy composite by sodium bicarbonate treatment and PLA coating

    Parul Sahu, M. K. Gupta · 2019 · Polymer Composites

    Researchers treated sisal fibers with sodium bicarbonate and coated them with polylactic acid to create stronger, water-resistant biocomposites. The treated and coated sisal-epoxy composites absorbed 30% less water than untreated versions and showed minimal mechanical degradation when exposed to moisture, maintaining superior tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness compared to conventional sisal composites.

  • Development of a method for determining oil absorption capacity in pulse flours and protein materials

    Ning Wang, Lisa Maximiuk, Dora Fenn, Michael T. Nickerson, Anfu Hou · 2020 · Cereal Chemistry

    Researchers developed an improved laboratory method for measuring oil absorption capacity in pulse and soybean flours and protein products. The new method addresses problems with conventional testing by using a lower sample-to-oil ratio, reduced centrifugal force, and a filter paper apparatus to prevent material loss. The simplified procedure produces reliable, reproducible results and enables faster testing of multiple samples while accurately distinguishing between different pulse and soybean ingredients.

  • Digital revolution for the agroecological transition of food systems: A responsible research and innovation perspective

    Véronique Bellon-Maurel, Évelyne Lutton, Pierre Bisquert, Ludovic Brossard, Stéphanie Chambaron, Pierre Labarthe, Philippe Lagacherie, François Martignac, Jérôme Molénat, Nicolas Parisey, Sébastien Picault, Isabelle Piot‐Lepetit, Isabelle Veissier · 2022 · Agricultural Systems

    Digital technologies in agriculture have focused on precision farming for large-scale conventional systems. This paper argues that digital agriculture can instead accelerate agroecological transitions by redirecting research toward new data sources, processing methods, and connectivity. Using responsible research and innovation principles, an interdisciplinary team developed a research agenda prioritizing digitalization that empowers farmers, manages territories as commons, and supports local food systems while addressing tensions between rationalization and farming diversity.

  • Growth, digestive and absorptive capacity and antioxidant status in intestine and hepatopancreas of sub-adult grass carp Ctenopharyngodonidella fed graded levels of dietary threonine

    Yang Hong, Wei‐Dan Jiang, Sheng‐Yao Kuang, Kai Hu, Ling Tang, Yang Liu, Jun Jiang, Yong‐An Zhang, Xiao‐Qiu Zhou, Lin Feng · 2015 · Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of animal science and biotechnology

    This study examined how dietary threonine levels affect grass carp growth and health. Researchers found that optimal threonine supplementation significantly improved weight gain, feed efficiency, and digestive enzyme activity. The treatment also reduced oxidative stress markers and enhanced antioxidant defenses in the intestine and liver. The results establish that grass carp require approximately 11.6 grams of threonine per kilogram of diet for optimal growth.

  • Innovations and stepwise evolution of CBFs/DREB1s and their regulatory networks in angiosperms

    Yuqi Nie, Liangyu Guo, Fuqiang Cui, Yirong Shen, Xiaoxue Ye, Deyin Deng, Shuo Wang, Jianhua Zhu, Wenwu Wu · 2022 · Journal of Integrative Plant Biology

    This paper traces the evolutionary origin of CBF/DREB1 genes, which regulate cold tolerance in flowering plants. The researchers found that CBF/DREB1 evolved from tandem duplication of an ancestral DREB III gene, then split into two clades through whole genome duplication. Only one clade developed cold sensitivity. Gene duplications accelerated during the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and Ice Age, when global temperatures dropped. These duplications rewired regulatory networks that enabled plants to survive colder climates.

  • How to unleash frugal innovation through internet of things and artificial intelligence: Moderating role of entrepreneurial knowledge and future challenges

    Weiwei Qin · 2024 · Technological Forecasting and Social Change

    IoT and artificial intelligence both significantly predict frugal innovation in China, according to analysis of 779 responses. Entrepreneurial knowledge moderates this relationship, meaning business skills help organizations effectively adopt these technologies for affordable, simple solutions. The study recommends that managers incorporate both IoT and AI capabilities while developing entrepreneurial competencies to compete in technology-driven markets.

  • Mediation-moderation model of green absorptive capacity and green entrepreneurship orientation for corporate environmental performance

    Lahcene Makhloufi, Farouk Djermani, Tang Meirun · 2023 · Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal

    Chinese manufacturing firms improve environmental performance by developing green absorptive capacity—the ability to convert environmental knowledge into practical application. The study shows that green absorptive capacity strengthens managerial environmental concern and green innovation performance, which then enhance environmental outcomes. Green entrepreneurship orientation helps exploit eco-friendly opportunities but only when green absorptive capacity bridges the gap between environmental awareness and business strategy.

  • Farmer innovation diffusion via network building: a case of winter greenhouse diffusion in China

    Bin Wu, Liyan Zhang · 2013 · Agriculture and Human Values

    Winter greenhouse technology diffused successfully across China through collaborative networks between farmers, government, and other stakeholders. The study identifies three network levels—informal farmer networks, farmer-led networks, and government-facilitated networks—as essential to innovation diffusion. Building mutual trust and enabling farmer leadership within these networks proved crucial for successful technology adoption and spread.

  • Effect of fiber loading on mechanical and water absorption capacity of Polylactic acid/Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate/Kenaf composite

    N I Ismail, Z. A. Mohd Ishak · 2018 · IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering

    Researchers blended polylactic acid with polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate and reinforced it with kenaf fiber at varying levels. Tensile strength and stiffness improved as fiber content increased from 10 to 40 percent. Water absorption rose with both fiber content and exposure time. The biodegradable composite shows promise for automotive and other applications seeking alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

  • Profiting from innovation when digital business ecosystems emerge: A control point perspective

    René Bohnsack, Michael Rennings, Carolin Block, Stefanie Bröring · 2024 · Research Policy

    Digital transformation shifts how companies profit from innovation in emerging ecosystems. The paper examines smart farming through a control points framework, showing that value capture depends on who owns strategic, technical, generic, and institutional control points in layered digital architectures. Incumbents, new entrants, and diversifying firms compete in a seesaw pattern to establish bargaining positions. The findings help firms optimize ecosystem strategies and guide policymakers in supporting institutional development.

  • How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations?

    Cheryl R. Doss, Michael L. Morris · 2000 · Agricultural Economics

    Men and women in Ghana adopt modern maize varieties and chemical fertilizer at different rates because women have less access to complementary inputs like land, labor, and extension services. The research shows that closing the adoption gap does not require changing agricultural research systems, but rather improving women's access to these critical resources through targeted policy measures.

  • OPERATIONALIZING AN INNOVATION PLATFORM APPROACH FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN BURKINA FASO

    Der Dabiré, Nadine Andrieu, Patrice Djamen, Kalifa Coulibaly, Héléna Posthumus, A. Diallo, Médina Karambiri, Jean-Marie Douzet, Bernard Triomphe · 2016 · Experimental Agriculture

    Innovation platforms in three Burkina Faso villages successfully engaged farmers in developing and testing conservation agriculture practices. The platforms enabled active farmer participation in identifying cropping systems, improved their knowledge of conservation agriculture, strengthened producer networks, and established new rules for managing crop residues. The study shows innovation platforms effectively address complex agricultural innovations requiring technical, organizational, and institutional changes.

  • Agricultural Productivity and Poverty Alleviation: What Role for Technological Innovation

    Abdelhafidh Dhrifi · 2014 · Journal of Economic and Social Studies

    Agricultural productivity significantly reduces poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, with technological innovation playing a crucial role. The study analyzed 32 SSA countries from 1990-2011 and found that technological innovation directly lowers poverty and indirectly reduces it by boosting agricultural productivity and broader economic growth. Agriculture's poverty-reduction impact depends on sector growth, poor people's participation, and agriculture's economic share.

  • What Does an Inventory of Recent Innovation Experiences Tell Us About Agricultural Innovation in Africa?

    Bernard Triomphe, Anne Floquet, Geoffrey N. Kamau, Brigid Letty, Simplice D. Vodouhê, Teresiah Nganga, Joe B. Stevens, Jolanda van den Berg, Nour Selemna, Bernard Bridier, Todd Crane, C.J.M. Almekinders, Ann Waters‐Bayer, Henri Hocdé · 2013 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    An inventory of 57 agricultural innovation cases across Benin, Kenya, and South Africa reveals that African smallholder farmers actively drive innovation through diverse stakeholders and market forces. Innovation processes typically unfold over long timeframes, often bundle multiple changes together, and frequently connect to external funding. The research demonstrates African agriculture's dynamic response to challenges, countering negative perceptions and highlighting the continent's innovation capacity.

  • Innovation and productivity in dryland agriculture: a return-risk analysis for Australia

    Peter Carberry, Sarah Bruce, James Walcott, B. A. Keating · 2010 · The Journal of Agricultural Science

    Australian dryland farming has remained productive despite harsh conditions, driven by science and technology investments over 30 years. The paper examines risks and returns from technological innovations and identifies sources of future productivity gains. It finds that agricultural research and development significantly contributed to productivity growth, but this has slowed in the past decade due to drought and declining public investment. Future gains require sustained RD&E investment, improved risk management, farmer skills, and policies promoting efficiency.

  • Towards agri‐food industry sustainability: Addressing agricultural technology adoption challenges through innovation

    Ajjaree Limpamont, Pichawadee Kittipanya‐ngam, Nopparuj Chindasombatcharoen, Harry Jay Cavite · 2024 · Business Strategy and the Environment

    Agricultural technology adoption remains low in Thailand despite its promotion, limiting sustainability gains in the agri-food sector. This study identifies adoption barriers at both farmer and ecosystem levels, including infrastructure gaps and limited awareness of technology benefits. Solutions require reshaping farmer attitudes and upgrading physical, digital, and legal infrastructure. The findings provide guidance for technology providers and policymakers seeking to increase smallholder farmer adoption and improve environmental sustainability.

  • Anticipating gender impacts in scaling innovations for agriculture: Insights from the literature

    Erin McGuire, Anne M. Rietveld, Amanda Crump, Cees Leeuwis · 2021 · World Development Perspectives

    Small farms produce most of the world's food, but innovations often fail to address gender inequalities and may cause harm. This review identifies six critical areas where gender considerations matter when scaling agricultural innovations: team composition, innovation design, communication, business models, technology adaptation, and political economy. The authors recommend practical methods for collecting gender-disaggregated data and call for scaling tools that explicitly address gender and social marginalization.

  • Entrepreneurial Talent Building for 21st Century Agricultural Innovation

    Bo Kyeong Yoon, Hyunhyuk Tae, Joshua A. Jackman, Supratik Guha, Cherie R. Kagan, Andrew J. Margenot, Diane Rowland, Paul S. Weiss, Nam‐Joon Cho · 2021 · ACS Nano

    Agricultural innovation requires developing entrepreneurial farmers—termed 'AgTech Pioneers'—who can participate as cocreators in cross-sector innovation ecosystems. The paper argues that talent development, interdisciplinary training programs, and innovation clusters should support farmer participation in sustainable food system transitions. This approach harnesses technological advances, reinvigorates farming careers, and accelerates application of nanoscience and nanotechnology to address agricultural challenges.

  • Social Preferences and Agricultural Innovation: An Experimental Case Study from Ethiopia

    Bereket Kebede, Daniel John Zizzo · 2014 · World Development

    An experiment in Ethiopia shows that farmers who burn money to reduce others' earnings display strong inequality aversion based on absolute income differences. Villages where farmers engage in more money burning adopt fewer agricultural innovations in practice. This demonstrates that social preferences—particularly concerns about fairness and relative wealth—significantly influence whether farmers adopt new agricultural technologies in developing countries.

  • ICTs for Agricultural Extension. Global Experiments, Innovations and Experiences

    Timothy Koehnen · 2011 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This book examines global experiments and innovations in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) for agricultural extension services. It compiles case studies and experiences from various countries showing how ICTs are being deployed to improve agricultural knowledge transfer, farmer education, and extension service delivery in rural areas worldwide.

  • Innovations in afforestation of agricultural bottomlands to restore native forests in the eastern USA

    Daniel C. Dey, Emile S. Gardiner, John M. Kabrick, John A. Stanturf, Douglass F. Jacobs · 2010 · Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

    The paper presents innovations for restoring native forests in former agricultural fields across the eastern USA. Key advances include improved nursery production of larger, healthier seedlings with better root systems, and new silvicultural practices like planting seedlings with cover crops to reduce competition and herbivory. An innovative strategy uses fast-growing poplar trees as nurse crops to establish slower-growing oak species, which are then harvested to release the oaks. These ecosystem-based approaches restore ecological function faster and more affordably than traditional single-species afforestation.

  • Agricultural Innovation in Asia: Drivers, Paradigms and Performance

    G. Gijsbers · 2009 · Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)

    Agricultural innovation in Asia has driven impressive productivity gains, but faces mounting pressures from climate change, land loss, and population growth. This study identifies four distinct techno-institutional paradigms shaping Asian agriculture: the green revolution, sustainability revolution, biotechnology revolution, and supermarket revolution. Each paradigm involves different technologies, actors, and networks with varying performance outcomes across Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Effective innovation policies must align with each paradigm's specific opportunities and constraints.

  • Innovation context and technology traits explain heterogeneity across studies of agricultural technology adoption: A meta‐analysis

    Dario Schulz, Jan Börner · 2022 · Journal of Agricultural Economics

    A meta-analysis of 304 farm-level adoption studies across 60+ countries reveals that agricultural technology adoption depends on matching innovation characteristics with local contexts. Land, capital, and knowledge constraints matter most when technologies require those resources intensively, but constraints weaken where resources are abundant. Rural development and extension programs should tailor strategies to fit both geographic conditions and specific technology traits.

  • Can digital financial inclusion effectively stimulate technological Innovation of agricultural enterprises?—A case study on China

    Jinhui Zhu, Zhenghui Li · 2021 · National Accounting Review

    Digital financial inclusion significantly boosts technological innovation efficiency in Chinese agricultural enterprises. The study analyzed listed agricultural companies from 2015 to 2020 and found that digital financial inclusion promotes innovation through three mechanisms: enterprise digitization, reduced financing constraints, and improved market efficiency. Non-state-owned enterprises with higher financing levels benefit most. The positive effect strengthens as enterprises advance their innovation capabilities.

  • Do translocal networks matter for agricultural innovation? A case study on advice sharing in small-scale farming communities in Northeast Thailand

    Till Rockenbauch, Patrick Sakdapolrak, Harald Sterly · 2019 · Agriculture and Human Values

    Social networks drive agricultural innovation in Northeast Thailand's farming communities. The study maps advice-sharing patterns for sugarcane and rice farming over five years, finding that translocal networks—connections across migrant communities—carry substantial innovation knowledge. Extension agencies and elite farmers dominate formal advice channels, but migration experience itself enables bottom-up innovations that reach less-connected farmers. Translocal networks boost adaptive capacity when innovations fit small-scale farming practices and limited resources.

  • Best Practices of Agricultural Information System in the Context of Knowledge and Innovation

    Haryono Soeparno, Anzaludin Samsinga Perbangsa, Bens Pardamean · 2018

    Indonesia's agriculture sector employs 40 million farmers but faces declining participation and productivity. This paper proposes an agricultural knowledge and information system model designed to collect, manage, and disseminate farming knowledge and best practices. The system enables farmers to access information anytime and anywhere, helping them increase productivity and sell higher-value commodities through efficient resource management.

  • Agriculture and crop science in China: Innovation and sustainability

    Yunbi Xu, Jiayang Li, Jianmin Wan · 2017 · The Crop Journal

    China's agricultural sector is transitioning from traditional to modern crop science through innovations in hybrid rice breeding, minor cereals, legumes, rapeseed, and genomics-based research. The paper surveys advances in crop management, cotton production, and QTL mapping while identifying constraints to sustainable agricultural development. China must modernize its farming systems to meet future food security and sustainability demands.

  • Legacy sectors: barriers to global innovation in agriculture and energy

    Charles Weiss, William B. Bonvillian · 2013 · Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

    The US innovation system contains 'legacy sectors' in agriculture and energy that resist disruptive change through subsidies, entrenched infrastructure, regulatory barriers, powerful vested interests, and established consumer habits. These structural obstacles prevent new technologies from reaching markets, even when socially beneficial. The authors argue that large-scale research investment is needed regardless of competitive costs, and that American paradigms exported globally delay innovation adoption in developing countries that need locally appropriate technologies.

  • Learning and Innovation Competence in Agricultural and Rural Development

    Laxmi Prasad Pant · 2012 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This paper argues that agricultural and rural development benefit when competence development and capacity development are integrated rather than kept separate. The research finds that measuring learning outcomes—changes in how people think, feel, and act—better develops organizational innovation capacity than traditional input-output metrics. The author concludes that combining theory-based, competence-based, and experiential learning through education and extension strengthens innovation systems in agriculture.

  • The impact of agricultural innovation system interventions on rural livelihoods in Malawi

    Mariam Mapila, Johann F. Kirsten, Ferdinand H. Meyer · 2012 · Development Southern Africa

    A study in Malawi measured how an agricultural innovation system intervention affected rural livelihoods using propensity score matching. Participating households improved crop and livestock production, income, asset ownership, and fertilizer use during the program. However, benefits declined when the research program ended. The authors recommend strengthening local extension officers' capacity and funding to sustain innovation system benefits.

  • The Effect of Innovation on Agricultural and Agri-food Exports in OECD Countries

    Pascal L. Ghazalian, William Hartley Furtan, Ghazalian, Pascal L., Furtan, William Hartley · 2007 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    This paper examines how research and development investment affects agricultural and food product exports across 21 OECD countries from 1990 to 2003. R&D spending boosts primary agricultural exports but reduces processed food exports because increased market power outweighs market expansion benefits. The research also finds that R&D in primary agriculture indirectly increases processed food exports through supply chain effects.

  • Innovation in agriculture: An analysis of Swedish agricultural and non-agricultural firms

    Lina Bjerke, Sara Johansson · 2022 · Food Policy

    Swedish agricultural firms innovate at similar rates to non-agricultural firms, with one-third being innovation creators. Agriculture shows higher process innovation but not more technology adoption than other sectors. The key difference lies in how agricultural firms source knowledge—they rely less on external collaboration and more on internal capacity. Innovation support policies should strengthen in-house knowledge capabilities in agricultural firms rather than emphasizing collaborative research partnerships.

  • Towards climate smart agriculture : How does innovation meet sustainability?

    Katalin Takács‐György, István Takács · 2022 · Ecocycles

    Precision farming and climate-smart agriculture innovations enable sustainable food production by efficiently using natural resources and reducing environmental harm. The authors argue that farming strategies based on farmer cooperation, technologies that minimize health risks, and de-growth principles are essential for sustainability. Strengthening rural areas and helping farmers adopt competitive, innovative practices through cooperation is necessary for maintaining a sustainable economy.

  • Adoption and Dis-Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of Farmers’ Innovations and Integrated Fruit Fly Management in Kenya

    Charity Wangithi, Beatrice Muriithi, Raphaël Belmin · 2021 · Agriculture

    Kenyan mango farmers face severe losses from invasive fruit flies and rely heavily on pesticides despite knowing integrated pest management alternatives. The study finds that farmer adoption of sustainable IPM practices increases with education, orchard size, extension contact, and prior use of indigenous methods. Dis-adoption occurs when orchards shrink or farmers abandon non-pesticide practices. Better training and extension services can boost sustainable pest management uptake.

  • Chile as a key enabler country for global plant breeding, agricultural innovation, and biotechnology

    Miguel Sánchez · 2020 · GM crops & food

    Chile has become a global leader in seed production, particularly for counter-season markets and research. Between 2009 and 2018, Chile conducted over 1,000 seed-planting events for crop development and multiplication, including genetically modified seeds. Every major commodity crop with global cultivation status has undergone field testing in Chile. The country's new regulatory framework for plant breeding techniques positions it to maintain its role as a hub for agricultural biotechnology innovation.

  • Shifting from Fragmentation to Integration: A Proposed Framework for Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System in Egypt

    Yehia Zahran, Hazem S. Kassem, Shimaa Mosad Ahmad Naba, Bader Alhafi Alotaibi · 2020 · Sustainability

    Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems in Egypt's Dakhalia governorate suffer from fragmentation caused by weak regulatory frameworks, poor infrastructure, and ineffective intermediary organizations. The study proposes a framework to strengthen these systems by improving actor linkages, fostering public-private partnerships, and distributing appropriate technologies. Better coordination between farmers, researchers, and support organizations can boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.

  • Research and innovation in agriculture: beyond productivity?

    Davide Viaggi · 2019 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    Agricultural research impact assessment has traditionally focused on productivity gains, but this approach is insufficient. The paper argues that emerging concepts—bioeconomy, circular economy, eco-innovation, life cycle assessment, and ecosystem services—require rethinking how we measure research effects. While aggregate productivity metrics remain relevant, researchers need more nuanced analytical frameworks and broader definitions of productivity that account for environmental performance and sustainability outcomes.

  • Innovation-Sustainability Nexus in Agriculture Transition: Case of Agroecology

    Hamid El Bilali · 2019 · Open Agriculture

    Agroecology offers a promising pathway for sustainable agricultural transition by combining innovation and sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The paper argues that agroecology can harmonize these goals, though not all traditional practices qualify as agroecological, and farmer-led innovations require careful evaluation. Clarifying relationships between agroecology as science, movement, and practice remains essential for maximizing agricultural transition potential.

  • Potential Benefits from Innovations to Reduce Heat and Water Stress in Agriculture

    Nathan Hendricks · 2018 · Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists

    Climate change will reduce agricultural productivity in the central United States through two distinct mechanisms: heat stress and water stress. Using econometric analysis of rental rates, the author finds that by mid-century, climate damages will reach $9.5 billion annually, with heat stress causing 65% of losses and water deficit causing 32%. The spatial variation in damage sources suggests that targeted innovations addressing heat or water stress will have different benefits depending on region.

  • Ai-driven innovations in greenhouse agriculture: Reanalysis of sustainability and energy efficiency impacts

    Siamak Hoseinzadeh, Davide Astiaso Garcia · 2024 · Energy Conversion and Management X

    AI integration in greenhouse agriculture significantly reduces heating energy consumption, improving energy efficiency. However, AI shows only marginal improvements in CO2 emissions, electricity, and water usage compared to traditional methods. Crop quality and profitability gains match conventional techniques. The study reveals AI's mixed impact on sustainability, highlighting strong potential in energy efficiency but limited effectiveness in other key sustainability areas, requiring further research and investment.

  • Agricultural products intelligent marketing technology innovation in big data era

    Xiao-Yuan Liu · 2021 · Procedia Computer Science

    Big data technology improves agricultural product marketing by enabling better information services for farmers. The paper identifies problems in current intelligent marketing systems and proposes an innovation model based on data collection, storage, and analysis techniques. It outlines how to build data centers and public information platforms that farmers can use to increase income and support poverty alleviation efforts.

  • Anchoring innovation methodologies to ‘go-to-scale’; a framework to guide agricultural research for development

    Mikinay Seifu, Annemarie van Paassen, Laurens Klerkx, Cees Leeuwis · 2020 · Agricultural Systems

    Research for development projects use innovation platforms to solve agricultural problems, but scaling these approaches to new contexts remains unclear. This paper develops a framework for anchoring innovation methodologies across networking, institutional, and methodological dimensions. Testing the framework on a farmer research group in Ethiopia, the authors identify which anchoring tasks succeeded or failed and provide concrete recommendations for R4D projects seeking to scale their innovations effectively across different contexts.

  • The drivers of innovation diffusion in agriculture: evidence from Italian census data

    G. Avolio, Emanuele Blasi, Clara Cicatiello, Silvio Franco · 2014 · Journal on Chain and Network Science

    Italian agricultural innovation spreads unevenly across regions, driven by local productive conditions, farm characteristics, and institutional frameworks. Using 2010 census data from 110 provinces, the authors mapped diffusion of product, process, organizational, and marketing innovations. Some innovations concentrate in specific areas with favorable market conditions, while others depend on individual farm features. Rural development spending and regulatory context significantly influence adoption rates, showing how productive and institutional systems interact to enable or constrain agricultural innovation.

  • Harnessing biostimulants for sustainable agriculture: innovations, challenges, and future prospects

    Amine Khoulati, Sabir Ouahhoud, Mohamed Taibi, Said Ezrari, Samira Mamri, Othmane Merah, Abdelkader Hakkou, Mohamed Addi, Adil Maleb, Ennouamane Saalaoui · 2025 · Discover Agriculture

    Biostimulants enhance plant growth and resilience while reducing chemical inputs, but face adoption barriers from inconsistent formulations, unclear regulations, and limited mechanistic understanding. This review examines biostimulant development, classifications, and mechanisms while identifying challenges in product performance, regulatory compliance, and economics. The authors argue biostimulants can improve nutrient efficiency and climate resilience, and propose a framework integrating research, policy, and practice to advance sustainable agriculture.

  • Empowering small farmers for sustainable agriculture: a human resource approach to SDG-driven training and innovation

    Satyendra C. Pandey, Pratik Modi, Vijay Pereira, Samuel Fosso Wamba · 2024 · International Journal of Manpower

    Training programs significantly boost small farmers' adoption of sustainable agriculture when they combine sustained exposure, intrinsic motivation, and farmer innovation capacity. The study of 331 small farmers in a government intervention shows that psychological characteristics and training quality together drive sustainable practice adoption, advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Effect of Climate Smart Agriculture Innovations on Climate Resilience among Smallholder Farmers: Empirical Evidence from the Choke Mountain Watershed of the Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia

    Abyiot Teklu, Belay Simane, Mintewab Bezabih · 2023 · Sustainability

    Climate-smart agriculture innovations significantly strengthen smallholder farmers' ability to withstand climate change impacts in Ethiopia's Blue Nile Highlands. Using data from 424 farmers, the study found that improved crop varieties, crop residue management, and soil-water conservation increase climate resilience capacity, though effects vary by innovation type. Success requires complementary systems including early warning networks, extension services, safety nets, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

  • The Effect of Agriculture Insurance on Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China: The Mediation Role of Low-Carbon Technology Innovation

    Shijie Jiang, Lilin Wang, Feiyun Xiang · 2023 · Sustainability

    Agricultural insurance reduces carbon emissions from farming in China by encouraging adoption of low-carbon technologies. Using provincial data from 2001–2019, the study finds insurance directly cuts emissions and indirectly reduces them by spurring farmers to adopt cleaner practices. The effect is strongest in eastern China and non-grain-producing regions. Expanding agricultural insurance can help China meet carbon neutrality goals.

  • Research and innovation in agricultural water management for a water‐secure world

    D. Mark Smith, Alok Sikka, Tinashe Lindel Dirwai, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi · 2023 · Irrigation and Drainage

    Agricultural water management requires transformative innovation to sustain food systems under climate change and water scarcity. New technologies optimize irrigation and water productivity, but innovations often fail to address equity and access gaps, particularly in the global South. The paper argues that transdisciplinary approaches integrating water-energy-food nexus thinking enable innovations that account for local constraints and governance, making solutions more relevant and scalable.

  • Do agricultural innovation platforms and soil moisture and nutrient monitoring tools improve the production and livelihood of smallholder irrigators in Mozambique?

    Mário Chilundo, Wilson de Sousa, Evan Christen, Joaquim Faduco, Henning Bjørnlund, Etevaldo Cheveia, P. Munguambe, Fernando Caldeira Jorge, Richard Stirzaker, André van Rooyen · 2020 · International Journal of Water Resources Development

    A four-year project in Mozambique introduced agricultural innovation platforms and soil monitoring tools to smallholder irrigators. Farmers used these tools to improve irrigation and fertilizer management, increasing crop production. The innovation platforms strengthened market links and information access, boosting farmer incomes and well-being while addressing supply chain and infrastructure barriers.

  • Scaling and institutionalization within agricultural innovation systems: the case of cocoa farmer field schools in Cameroon

    Sander Muilerman, Seerp Wigboldus, Cees Leeuwis · 2018 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Farmer field schools in Cameroon's cocoa sector failed to scale effectively despite a public-private partnership. The study identifies four key barriers: the curriculum wasn't adapted to local contexts, extension workers lacked genuine commitment and resources, management approaches didn't evolve from pilot to scaling phases, and strategic leadership was absent. Successful scaling requires translating pilots to fit specific institutional conditions rather than simply rolling out standardized programs.

  • Does Adoption of Agricultural Innovations Impact Farm Production and Household Welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Meta-Analysis

    Kolawole Ogundari, Olufemi Daniel Bolarinwa · 2018 · Agricultural and Resource Economics Review

    A meta-analysis of 92 studies from sub-Saharan Africa between 2001 and 2015 finds that adopting agricultural innovations does increase farm production and household welfare, but the effects are modest. The positive impacts exist but remain relatively small, indicating a weaker relationship than might be expected from widespread innovation adoption efforts.

  • Synergies at the interface of farmer–scientist partnerships: agricultural innovation through participatory research and plant breeding in Honduras

    Sally Humphries, Juan Carlos Rosas, Marvin Gómez, José Jiménez, Fredy Sierra, Omar Gallardo, Carlos Federico Domínguez Ávila, Mérida Barahona · 2015 · Agriculture & Food Security

    Participatory plant breeding in Honduras, involving farmer researchers, plant breeders, and NGOs, successfully developed new bean varieties with very high adoption rates among poor farmers. This farmer-scientist collaboration produced synergies that improved food security and addressed agricultural diversity better than conventional breeding alone. Long-term donor support and seed regulatory systems enabling small seed enterprises proved essential for sustaining farmer engagement in research.

  • e-Agriculture Prototype for Knowledge Facilitation among Tribal Farmers of North-East India: Innovations, Impact and Lessons

    Saravanan Raj · 2012 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    An ICT-based agricultural extension project in North-East India reduced costs per farmer by 73% and cut service delivery time by two-thirds compared to conventional extension systems. However, the study finds that information technology alone cannot drive rural development. Successful e-agriculture requires combining digital advisory services with field demonstrations, supply chain linkages, and public-private partnerships to support tribal farming communities.

  • Knowledge management for agricultural innovation: lessons from networking efforts in the Bolivian Agricultural Technology System

    Frank Hartwich, Mario Monge Pérez, Luís A. de Oliveira Ramos, José Luis Soto · 2008

    Farmers in Bolivia who participated in agricultural innovation projects using multi-agent knowledge management networks adopted innovations more successfully than those in traditional technology transfer programs. Farmer adoption rates depended on both the project's knowledge management approach and how embedded farmers were in local learning networks. The study confirms that farmers need intensive relationships with multiple agents—not just one extension agency—to access sufficient knowledge, build confidence, and jointly learn to apply innovations.

  • Technological Innovations in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture: Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems in Metropolises

    Shulang Fei, Rui Wu, He Liu, Feifei Yang, Nan Wang · 2025 · Horticulturae

    Urban and peri-urban agriculture addresses food security and sustainability challenges in cities, but technological barriers limit its potential. This review examines advanced technologies for improving productivity, optimizing space use, and managing resources in urban farming. The authors identify obstacles across research, dissemination, and commercialization stages, then recommend increased funding for interdisciplinary R&D, stronger technology extension systems, improved business models, and stakeholder collaboration to scale these innovations.

  • Innovations in smallholder agricultural financing and economic efficiency of maize production in Ghana’s northern region

    Mark Appiah‐Twumasi, Samuel A. Donkoh, Isaac Gershon Kodwo Ansah · 2022 · Heliyon

    Maize farmers in northern Ghana who use innovative financing methods achieve 4-10% higher economic efficiency than non-users. The study finds that mechanized services unexpectedly reduced technical efficiency. Policymakers should prioritize reducing inefficiency through extension services, timely equipment access, and market linkages rather than introducing new technologies. Village Savings and Loans Associations and informal financing options help poor farmers access credit and inputs.

  • Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia

    Aman Ullah, Ahmad Nawaz, Muhammad Farooq, Kadambot H. M. Siddique · 2021 · Sustainability

    Rice-wheat cropping systems feed billions in Asia but face declining yields, high emissions, and environmental damage from nitrogen fertilizer and residue burning. Farmers in South Asia are adopting direct-seeded rice instead of transplanted rice, reducing water use, labor, and methane emissions. The paper recommends precision agriculture, allelopathic crops for weed control, legume incorporation for soil health, and rice-specific harvesters for residue management, while accounting for local soil conditions and farmer economics.

  • Review of climate change issues: A forcing function perspective in agricultural and energy innovation

    İlhami Yıldız · 2019 · International Journal of Energy Research

    Climate change creates urgent innovation opportunities in agriculture, energy, and food systems. Rising temperatures increase cooling demands and energy stress, while droughts threaten food production despite projected 60% global food demand increases by 2050. The paper argues that innovations in agri-food and energy sectors can simultaneously reduce emissions, build climate resilience, improve food security, and reduce poverty. These sectors hold significant potential for novel products, processes, and policies that accelerate both climate mitigation and adaptation.

  • Markets, institutions and policies: A perspective on the adoption of agricultural innovations

    Alastair Orr · 2018 · Outlook on Agriculture

    Agricultural innovation adoption succeeds when technology combines with supportive markets, institutions, and policies. Case studies show hybrid pearl millet in India and dual-purpose cowpea in Nigeria achieved high adoption through strong market demand and effective seed delivery institutions. Conversely, pigeon pea varieties in Malawi and conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe saw low adoption due to weak market conditions, misunderstood demand, and inadequate input delivery systems. Enabling conditions fundamentally determine innovation success.

  • Gender Norms and Agricultural Innovation: Insights from Six Villages in Bangladesh

    Lemlem Aregu, Afrina Choudhury, Surendran Rajaratnam, Catherine Locke, Cynthia McDougall · 2018 · Journal of Sustainable Development

    Gender norms in Southwest Bangladesh significantly shape how men and women engage with agricultural innovation in aquaculture, fisheries, and farming. The study of six villages reveals that gender norms interact with broader inequalities to either enable or constrain innovation differently for different people. Technical organizations promoting innovation must address underlying gender norms and their effects on motivation and outcomes, rather than simply identifying gender gaps.

  • The challenges of innovation for sustainable agriculture and rural development: Integrating local actions into European policies with the Reflective Learning Methodology

    Heidrun Moschitz, Robert Home · 2014 · Action Research

    European agricultural policy treats farmers as passive technology adopters rather than active innovators. This paper describes a participatory action research method called Reflective Learning Methodology that bridges local farming innovation networks with European policy frameworks. The method helps translate grassroots sustainable agriculture initiatives into regional support structures, addressing the gap between how innovation actually happens on farms and how policy currently supports it.

  • Exploring innovation for sustainable agriculture: A systematic case study of permaculture in Nepal

    Shubh Pravat Singh Yadav, Vivek Lahutiya, Netra Prasad Ghimire, Bishnu Yadav, Prava Paudel · 2023 · Heliyon

    This case study examines permaculture practices in Nepal as a sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture. The researchers analyzed three Nepalese permaculturists' approaches, which integrate biodiversity, crop-animal systems, watershed management, and on-site energy production. The study shows how local knowledge and practitioners' imaginaries can transform agricultural systems toward ecological sustainability and encourage emotional connections between farmers and the environment.

  • Californian innovation ecosystem: emergence of agtechs and the new wave of agriculture

    A. A. Mikhaĭlov, Carlos Alexandre Miranda Oliveira, Antônio Domingos Padula, Fernanda Maciel Reichert · 2021 · Innovation & Management Review

    California's agtech innovation ecosystem generates radical agricultural innovations through a distinctive combination of factors. Universities and research institutions develop new knowledge, venture capital and funding enable new businesses, and diverse actors—including accelerators and multinational companies—interact in complex networks with multiple roles. These interconnected characteristics create an environment where agricultural technology disruption thrives.

  • Innovations in agricultural marketing: a case study of e-tendering system in Karnataka, India

    S Pavithra, C. P. Gracy, Raka Saxena, Ganesh Gowda Patil · 2018 · Agricultural Economics Research Review

    An e-tendering system for agricultural marketing in Karnataka reduced transaction time, improved price transparency, and increased market revenue for pigeon pea sales. However, trader resistance prevented uniform adoption across all markets. The study identifies factors explaining why some markets successfully implemented the innovation while others failed, offering insights into barriers to agricultural marketing reforms.

  • Research capacity for local innovation: the case of conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique

    Brendan Brown, Ian Nuberg, Rick Llewellyn · 2018 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Agricultural researchers in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique lack the institutional capacity to adapt conservation agriculture to local contexts. While researchers identified specific gaps preventing CA adoption, financial, human, and social constraints within their systems prevent participatory research needed to customize farming practices for farmers. CA remains a donor-driven intervention unsuited to local conditions.

  • IMPORTÂNCIA RELATIVA DE CANAIS DE COMUNICAÇÃO NO PROCESSO DE DECISÃO SOBRE INOVAÇÕES AGRÍCOLAS. ZONA DO TRIÂNGULO DE MINAS GERAIS RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN THE DECISION PROCESS OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS. TRIANGLE OF MINAS GERAIS ZONE

    Rolf Eduardo Pulschen, Miguel Ribon, Carlos M. Andreotti, Gabriel Canedo Quiroga, Francisco Machado Filho · 2007 · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología

    This study examined how cotton farmers in Brazil's Minas Gerais region make decisions about adopting agricultural innovations. Researchers surveyed 155 producers and found that technical advisors were the most influential communication channel across all decision stages, followed by peers and neighbors. Farmers were heavily exposed to radio and television but not print media, and change agents rarely used mass media to promote innovations.

  • Sustainable innovation in agriculture: Building competitiveness and business sustainability

    Pavla Vrabcová, Hana Urbancová · 2023 · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika)

    Agricultural companies must shift from merely meeting legal requirements to actively pursuing sustainable innovation through interdisciplinary approaches. This study analyzed 183 companies and five focus groups to identify factors driving sustainable innovation in agriculture. Six key factors emerged: process approach, corporate social responsibility, quality management systems, supply chain operations, production demand, and employee performance.

  • Living Labs as an Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

    Jorieke Potters, Kevin Collins, H.B. Schoorlemmer, Egil Petter Stræte, Emīls Ķīlis, Andy Lane, Héloïse Leloup · 2022 · EuroChoices

    Living Labs bring together farmers, businesses, and public agencies to co-create and test agricultural innovations. This study evaluated six Living Labs across Europe from 2018 to 2021 and identified four critical conditions for success: the challenge must be appropriately complex, the enabling environment must support collaboration, facilitation must be skilled, and participants must maintain momentum. These findings help policymakers and practitioners design more effective Living Labs for sustainable farming.

  • Responsible Innovation Definitions, Practices, and Motivations from Nanotechnology Researchers in Food and Agriculture

    Adam Kokotovich, Jennifer Kuzma, Christopher L. Cummings, Khara Grieger · 2021 · NanoEthics

    Nanotechnology researchers developing food and agriculture products define and practice responsible innovation narrowly, focusing mainly on product safety and efficiency rather than broader principles like inclusion and reflexivity. Researchers hold conflicting views on whether responsible innovation serves industry interests or public good, and some pursue it primarily for reputation protection rather than societal benefit. The study recommends deeper discussions among researchers about what responsible innovation truly means beyond technical product attributes.

  • “Summer sowing”: A successful innovation to increase the adoption of key species of annual forage legumes for agriculture in Mediterranean and temperate environments

    B. J. Nutt, A. Loi, Belinda Hackney, Ron Yates, M. D'Antuono, Robert J. Harrison, John Howieson · 2021 · Grass and Forage Science

    Researchers tested summer sowing of annual legume species in Australia, finding that several species with hard seeds can be sown into dry soil in late summer and establish robust pastures after winter rains. Summer-sown legumes produced 1.5 to 10 times more herbage than conventionally sown alternatives. The technique works across different species and climatic zones in Western Australia and New South Wales, offering a practical innovation for pasture renovation that removes adoption barriers.

  • Discovering innovation opportunities based on SECI model: reconfiguring knowledge dynamics of the agricultural artisan production of agave-mezcal, using emerging technologies

    Columba Lisset Flores Torres, Luis Alberto Olvera-Vargas, Julia Sánchez Gómez, David Israel Contreras-Medina · 2020 · Journal of Knowledge Management

    This study examined 44 mezcal producers in Oaxaca, Mexico to identify innovation opportunities in agave-mezcal production using the SECI knowledge model. Researchers found that producers need digital tools to improve their work and external connections. The study recommends developing a user-friendly mobile application for mezcal producers and creating a collaborative mezcal-tech-hub to strengthen producer networks and knowledge sharing.

  • Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia region, Ethiopia: from innovator to tempered radical

    Cathy Rozel Farnworth, Diana Escobedo López, L.B. Badstue, Mahelet Hailemariam, Bekele Abeyo · 2018 · Gender Technology and Development

    Women and men farmer innovators in Ethiopia's Oromia region actively challenge restrictive gender norms and top-down extension systems while pursuing agricultural innovation. Women innovators face particular constraints, operating as precarious outsiders who carefully negotiate between social expectations and sanctions. The study uses the concept of 'tempered radicals' to explain how innovators contest dominant narratives while advancing their own farming practices, revealing significant gender differences in how they navigate competing pressures.

  • Functions of the Intermediary Organizations for Agricultural Innovation in<scp>M</scp>exico: The<scp>C</scp>hiapas Produce Foundation

    Gabriela Dutrénit, A. Rocha-Lackiz, Alexandre O. Vera‐Cruz · 2012 · Review of Policy Research

    Intermediary organizations bridge knowledge gaps between agricultural innovators and farmers. This study examines the Chiapas Produce Foundation in Mexico, analyzing how it connects small farmers with technology suppliers and researchers. The foundation manages public resources to promote agricultural innovation among farmers with varying economic conditions and innovation capacity, revealing critical functions these intermediaries perform in developing country agricultural sectors.

  • Innovations in Government Responses to Catastrophic Risk Sharing for Agriculture in Developing Countries

    Jerry R. Skees, Barry J. Barnett, Jason G. Hartell, Skees, Jerry R., Barnett, Barry J., Hartell, Jason G. · 2006 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    Agricultural risk markets barely exist in developing countries, and even wealthy nations require heavy government subsidies to support crop insurance against natural disasters. These subsidies prove expensive and inefficient, sometimes worsening future catastrophes. The paper examines how governments with limited budgets can still foster agricultural risk-sharing markets for crop and livestock losses caused by natural hazards, identifying specific policy interventions that work without massive subsidies.

  • Conservation Tillage and Cropping Innovation: Constructing the New Culture of Agriculture

    Doug Karlen, Frank Clearfield, Peter Nowak · 2001 · Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

    This book examines how no-tillage farming technology spread among farmers through social networks and action-learning groups. The authors show that successful conservation tillage systems depend on farmer management and personal motivation to change. They analyze how deeply entrenched plowing culture was in both farming communities and broader U.S. and Australian societies, and how farmers overcame this cultural resistance through innovation networks.

  • Relative advantage and complexity: Predicting the rate of adoption of agricultural innovations

    Geoff Kaine, Vic Wright · 2022 · Frontiers in Agronomy

    Farmers adopt agricultural innovations at rates determined by perceived complexity and relative advantage, not just novelty. A survey of 200 New Zealand dairy farmers found that simple technologies take months to adopt while complex ones take years. Critically, originality doesn't predict integration difficulty—apparently simple practices often prove hard to implement in real farm systems. Understanding farm-system integration requirements is essential for predicting adoption timelines and assessing farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change.

  • Changing Fortunes of Government Policies and Its Implications on the Application of Agricultural Innovations in Cameroon

    Lotsmart Fonjong · 2003 · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología

    Government policy shifts in Cameroon have undermined agricultural infrastructure and research institutions, creating barriers to innovation adoption among farmers. Despite agriculture's critical role in the economy and poverty reduction, budget allocation has not translated into functional support systems. The author argues that continued policy neglect will severely limit farmers' ability to adopt innovations, reducing productivity and food security, and calls for coordinated action beyond government alone.

  • Guidance on farmer participation in the design, testing and scaling of agricultural innovations

    Lukas Pawera, Ravishankar Manickam, C.W. Wangungu, Uon Bonnarith, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Ramasamy Srinivasan · 2024 · Agricultural Systems

    Smallholder farmers in the Global South adopt agricultural innovations at low rates because technologies are often unsuitable and poorly designed for local contexts. This paper develops practical guidance for choosing appropriate levels of farmer participation in innovation design, testing, and scaling. The authors reviewed participatory research literature and analyzed vegetable innovation projects across Asia and Africa, creating a framework that matches farmer participation levels to innovation readiness. They find that participation should increase as innovations mature, and early farmer consultation strengthens locally relevant design.

  • Rural Broadband and Precision Agriculture: A Frame Analysis of United States Federal Policy Outreach under the Biden Administration

    Catherine E. Sanders, Kristin E. Gibson, Alexa J. Lamm · 2022 · Sustainability

    The Biden administration's communications about rural broadband emphasize economic benefits, equity, and urgency, but largely ignore precision agriculture's role in sustainable farming. Analysis of federal policy messaging reveals five main frames, with broadband expansion framed as a nationwide issue affecting both rural and urban areas. The study finds a critical gap: policymakers rarely connect broadband access to agricultural sustainability, potentially undermining precision agriculture adoption in rural regions.

  • Optimization of assured result in dynamical model of management of innovation process in the enterprise of agricultural production complex

    А. Ф. Шориков, Vitalina Babenko · 2014 · Economy of Regions

    This paper develops a dynamic mathematical model for managing innovation processes in agricultural enterprises under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information. Rather than relying on traditional stochastic approaches that require detailed probability data, the authors propose a minimax control method that guarantees optimal results despite risks and modeling errors. The approach uses linear programming and discrete optimization to create practical computer tools for decision-making in agricultural innovation management.

  • Neoliberalism, the University, Public Goods and Agricultural Innovation

    Leland Glenna, Sally Shortall, Barbara Brandl · 2014 · Sociologia Ruralis

    Agricultural research funding has shifted from government-led public institutions toward private funding and public-private partnerships over the past four decades. This trend risks neglecting public goods that don't generate profit. The authors document funding patterns across the USA, UK, Ireland, and Germany, finding that while neoliberal approaches appear in all four countries, their implementation and effects vary significantly based on national and institutional contexts.

  • Can convergence of agricultural sciences support innovation by resource-poor farmers in Africa? The cases of Benin and Ghana

    Anita Huis, Janice Jiggins, Dansou Kossou, Cees Leeuwis, N.G. Röling, O. Sakyi-Dawson, P.C. Struik, Rigobert C. Tossou · 2007 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    A research program in Benin and Ghana found that developing appropriate farm technologies alone cannot help resource-poor farmers innovate. The real barriers are institutional: limited market access, poor infrastructure, lack of credit, cheap imports, and political exclusion. The researchers concluded that poverty reduction requires institutional change, not just better farming techniques. The program documents various attempts to address these deeper structural problems.

  • Unlocking the Potential of Agrifood Waste for Sustainable Innovation in Agriculture

    Mônica Voss, C. Reyes Valle, Emanuela Calcio Gaudino, Silvia Tabasso, Claudio Forte, Giancarlo Cravotto · 2024 · Recycling

    Food waste represents a major global challenge, with 1 billion tons generated annually. This review examines how agricultural and food waste can be converted into valuable products—biocides, bio-based fertilizers, and biostimulants—that boost crop yields and plant health. Using waste-derived compounds supports circular economy principles while addressing food security and environmental sustainability goals simultaneously.

  • Augmenting agricultural sustainability: Investigating the role of agricultural land, green innovation, and food production in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

    Kashif Raza Abbasi, Qingyu Zhang · 2024 · Sustainable Development

    This study examines how agricultural land use, green innovation, food production, and renewable energy affect greenhouse gas emissions across the world's top 20 agricultural countries from 1980 to 2021. The researchers found that green innovation combined with agricultural land management, renewable energy adoption, and increased food trade openness all reduce emissions, while agricultural expansion and food production alone increase them. The findings support policies that balance agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.

  • Design thinking for responsible Agriculture 4.0 innovations in rangelands

    Zachary M. Hurst, Sheri Spiegal · 2023 · Rangelands

    Agriculture 4.0 brings digital technologies like sensors, robotics, and data analytics to livestock farming on rangelands. This paper applies design thinking and responsible innovation frameworks to guide development of precision livestock farming technologies. The authors outline six design stages and show how responsible innovation dimensions—anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, responsiveness, and equity—apply at each step. A case study of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project demonstrates how this human-centered approach works in practice.

  • Agroecology and communal innovation: LabCampesino, a pedagogical experience from the rural youth in Sumapaz Colombia

    Jairo A. Peña-Torres, Juan David Reina-Rozo · 2022 · Current Research in Environmental Sustainability

    Rural youth in Colombia's Sumapaz province participated in LabCampesino, a collaborative laboratory combining agroecology, co-creation, and community organization. Through exploration, experimentation, and prototyping sessions, young farmers built and documented innovations for territorial management and sustainable development. The initiative demonstrated that rural laboratories enable practical, situated education and communal innovation while strengthening agroecological practices and local social organization, offering an alternative to rural-to-urban migration.

  • The multi-actor approach in thematic networks for agriculture and forestry innovation

    Elena Feo, Pieter Spanoghe, Els Berckmoes, Elodie Pascal, M. R. Mosquera‐Losada, Alexander Opdebeeck, Sylvia Burssens · 2022 · Agricultural and Food Economics

    Horizon2020 Thematic Networks use multi-actor approaches to share agricultural and forestry knowledge across different expertise types. The study finds that participation remains unequal across actor types, limiting demand-driven outcomes. Facilitators strengthen relationships between actors, while digital platforms combined with demonstration activities and peer exchange significantly improve knowledge sharing and innovation impact.

  • Factors enhancing agricultural productivity under innovation technology: Insights from Cameroon

    Francis Andrianarison, Cyrille Bergaly Kamdem, Blaise Che Kameni · 2021 · African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development

    This study examines how innovation adoption—improved seeds and modern equipment—affects agricultural productivity in Cameroon, analyzing the roles of farmer education, credit access, and land tenure security. Using national survey data and addressing selection bias, the researchers find that education and credit significantly boost both adoption rates and yields. Tertiary education increases yield by 16.5–18.3% per hectare, while credit access generates 10.9–15.5% gains. The paper concludes that technology adoption alone cannot maximize productivity without complementary investments in farmer education and financial access.

  • International Comparison of the Efficiency of Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation: A Case Study of G20 Countries

    Xiangyu Guo, Canhui Deng, Dan Wang, Xu Du, Jiali Li, Bowen Wan · 2021 · Sustainability

    This study measures agricultural science, technology, and innovation (ASTI) efficiency across G20 countries using data envelopment analysis. Developed G20 nations show declining efficiency trends but stronger innovation capacity, while developing G20 countries demonstrate rising efficiency but lower capacity. R&D spending redundancy and insufficient agricultural research output constrain efficiency gains. Technological change drives most productivity improvements across both groups.

  • An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture

    Daniel El Chami, Fabio Galli · 2020 · Agronomy

    Seaweed-based plant growth regulators reduce fertilizer inputs while improving pear production. Field trials in Italy cut primary nutrients by 35–46% and total fertilization by 13%, while increasing fruit weight by 5% and yield by 19–55%. The agronomic efficiency of the seaweed treatment exceeded conventional fertilization by five to nine times, demonstrating that farmers can achieve better results with fewer inputs.

  • Triggering system innovation in agricultural innovation systems: Initial insights from a community for change in New Zealand

    James Turner, Tracy Ann Williams, Graeme Nicholas, Jeff Foote, Kelly Rijswijk, Tim Barnard, Sam Beechener, Akiko Horita · 2017 · Outlook on Agriculture

    This paper describes a process in New Zealand that brings together agricultural innovation system actors to identify systemic problems and challenge institutional barriers. Through collaborative problem-solving, reflexivity, and practical experimentation, the process helped change agents develop shared understanding of how relationships and boundaries reinforce current practices. The approach stimulated project-level actions and revealed wider system barriers, though integrating individual innovation projects with broader system-level changes remains difficult.

  • Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: agricultural innovation

    Julian M. Alston, Philip G. Pardey · 2016 · Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics

    Agricultural innovation has transformed economies and livelihoods over 150 years, but creates complex economic and policy challenges. Market failures in agricultural research, unequal income distribution effects, and difficulty attributing consequences to specific causes complicate understanding. Australian agricultural economists have contributed significantly to studying these innovation economics issues since the 1950s.

  • Successful agricultural innovation in emerging economies: new genetic technologies for global food production

    David J. Bennett · 2013 · Choice Reviews Online

    This edited volume examines how genetic technologies and crop biotechnology drive agricultural innovation in emerging economies to address food security. It covers the scientific basis for genetically modified crops, their adoption across Africa, Argentina, China, and India, regulatory frameworks enabling innovation, and social and ethical considerations. The work argues that new genetic technologies offer practical solutions for improving food production and nutrition in developing regions.

  • Facilitating Agricultural Innovation Systems: A critical realist approach

    Alex Koutsouris, Koutsouris, Alex · 2012 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

    Agricultural innovation systems have shifted from top-down technology transfer to systemic approaches, but gaps remain between expert and lay knowledge that hinder participatory development. This paper applies critical realism to understand these obstacles and proposes how intermediation functions within agricultural innovation systems can bridge knowledge divides and enable genuine transformation in rural development.

  • Barriers to the adoption of multiple agricultural innovations: insights from Bt cotton, wheat seeds, herbicides and no-tillage in Pakistan

    Muhammad Bilal, Tinoush Jamali Jaghdani · 2024 · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

    Pakistani smallholder farmers adopt agricultural innovations slowly due to interconnected barriers. Using data from 275 farm households, the study finds that farm machinery, off-farm income, and farmer education enable adoption of Bt cotton, improved wheat seeds, herbicides, and no-tillage farming. Weak agricultural extension services and limited financial resources are the main obstacles. Technology adoption works as an integrated system rather than isolated choices.

  • Enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in Spanish agriculture: The role of technological innovation and corporate social responsibility

    Emilio Abad‐Segura, Francisco José Castillo‐Díaz, Ana Batlles‐delaFuente, Luis Jesús Belmonte Ureña · 2024 · Business Strategy & Development

    Spanish agricultural firms that adopt sustainable technological innovations—particularly precision agriculture and smart livestock management—achieve better corporate social responsibility outcomes by using resources more efficiently and reducing environmental harm. However, regional differences exist based on local economic resources, infrastructure, and policy support. The study shows that combining technological innovation with corporate social responsibility strategies strengthens both sustainability and competitiveness, and calls for targeted policies to help lagging regions.

  • Creating a sustainable ripple in rural entrepreneurship – the case of Deserttulip in resource-constrained rural Jordan

    Deema Refai, Nermin Elkafrawi, Peter Gittins · 2023 · International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research

    Rural entrepreneurs in Jordan navigate severe environmental, financial, and institutional constraints to drive sustainable development. The case of Deserttulip demonstrates how entrepreneurs use innovative agricultural technology and collective action to overcome resource scarcity. The study shows that while external structures limit opportunities, entrepreneurs' agency and collaborative initiatives create sustainable ripple effects that strengthen rural communities and promote empowerment beyond individual business success.

  • Systematic review of disruptive innovation (DI) research in agriculture and future direction of research

    Md. Rahat Khan, Md. Zahir Uddin Arif · 2023 · Telematics and Informatics Reports

    This systematic review of 61 articles examines disruptive innovation research in agriculture. Most studies focus on food supply, technology adoption, digital risk management, and modernization in developed and developing countries. The review identifies significant gaps: transition economies receive minimal attention, government policy integration in agricultural innovation remains understudied, and sub-sector research is limited. The authors argue agriculture lacks strong innovation theory foundations and call for expanded investigation across these areas.

  • Spin-Offs, Innovation Spillover and the Formation of Agricultural Clusters: The Case of the Vegetable Cluster in Shouguang City, Shandong Province, China

    Erling Li, Yanan Xu, Shixin Ren, Jay Lee · 2022 · Land

    Agricultural clusters in rural China form through three interconnected mechanisms: farmer spin-offs that transform traditional producers into enterprises, network spillovers that spread agricultural innovations across regions, and spatial integration of farming activities. The study of Shouguang's vegetable cluster reveals that entrepreneurial farmers adopting new knowledge create specialized enterprises that cluster together, generating increasing returns to scale and establishing local agricultural innovation systems that mark cluster maturity.

  • How to assess agricultural innovation systems in a transformation perspective: a Delphi consensus study

    Aurélie Toillier, Syndhia Mathé, Abdoulaye Saley Moussa, Guy Faure · 2021 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    This study used a modified Delphi technique with international experts to design a framework for assessing agricultural innovation systems across multiple countries. Experts reached consensus on a capacity-oriented assessment model with standardized yet flexible components. The research identifies factors that helped and hindered consensus-building, offering practical lessons for future Delphi studies and demonstrating how group-based Delphi methods can support international knowledge co-production on agricultural innovation systems.

  • Formation of an Export-Oriented Agricultural Economy and Regional Open Innovations

    Viktor L. Shabanov, Marianna Vasilchenko, Elena Anatol’evna Derunova, А. П. Потапов · 2021 · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity

    This paper develops indicators and modeling tools to assess how agricultural investments, production output, and exports relate to each other across Russian regions. Using factor and cluster analysis, the authors identify five regional groups with distinct investment levels, production volumes, and export patterns. They find that investment intensity and agricultural production efficiency are undervalued in current assessments. The results support better institutional management of regional agricultural systems oriented toward export.

  • R&amp;D Innovation Adoption, Climatic Sensitivity, and Absorptive Ability Contribution for Agriculture TFP Growth in Pakistan

    Muhammad Usman, Gulnaz Hameed, Abdul Saboor, Lal K. Almas, Muhammad Hanif · 2021 · Agriculture

    Agricultural R&D innovation adoption significantly boosts total factor productivity growth in Pakistan, particularly through tractors, improved seeds, and fertilizer use. Climate factors, especially moderate rainfall, positively affect productivity. However, farmers' weak absorptive capacity limits gains. The study recommends government investment in extension services, farmer training, and climate-smart agriculture practices including rainwater harvesting infrastructure to enhance technology adoption and farmer knowledge.

  • Word of Mouth, Digital Media, and Open Innovation at the Agricultural SMEs

    Tutur Wicaksono, Agus Dwi Nugroho, Zoltán Lakner, Anna Dunay, Csaba Bálint Illés · 2021 · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity

    Agricultural SMEs in Hungary's local markets rely on two main information channels: word-of-mouth and digital media. Research with 156 consumers at Budapest's Central Market Hall found that older consumers prefer word-of-mouth, while educated, foreign, or socially isolated consumers choose digital platforms. The study recommends SMEs strengthen product quality and develop two-way digital communication strategies to reach diverse customer segments.

  • Capacity development for scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations: agricultural extension's role in mitigating climate change effects in Gqumashe community, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Loquitur Maka, Ikponmwosa David Ighodaro, G. P. T. Ngcobo-Ngotho · 2019 · Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir landbouvoorligting/South African journal of agricultural extension

    Farmers in Gqumashe, Eastern Cape, South Africa recognize climate change threatens their agricultural production. The study recommends that agricultural extension agents increase targeted training on climate change awareness, conduct regular farm visits to share information about new technologies and techniques to adapt to climate variability, and provide market information and storage facility guidance to help farmers build resilience.

  • Agricultural research organisations’ role in the emergence of agricultural innovation systems

    Jon Hellin, Carolina Camacho · 2016 · Development in Practice

    Agricultural research organizations often serve as network brokers in innovation systems, but their effectiveness depends on objectives. In Mexico's MasAgro initiative, research organizations proved suitable for developing and scaling specific technologies. However, when innovation goals include extension and education alongside technology development, other actors are better positioned to coordinate the network and achieve broader outcomes.

  • Targeting, bias, and expected impact of complex innovations on developing‐country agriculture: evidence from Malawi

    Beliyou Haile, Carlo Azzarri, Cleo Roberts, David J. Spielman · 2016 · Agricultural Economics

    A participatory action research program in Malawi tested agricultural technologies with smallholder farmers to reduce poverty and improve food security. The study found that better-off farmers were systematically selected to test innovations, creating bias. After accounting for observable differences, early results showed positive effects on maize yield and harvest value, but selection bias from unobservable factors remained a concern. The authors recommend improving program design and targeting criteria to enhance external validity.

  • Organization of Research and Innovation: a Comparative Study of Public Agricultural Research Institutions

    Adriana Bin, Cecilia Gianoni, Paule Jeanne Vieira Mendes, Carolina Thaís Rio, Sergio Salles-Filho, Luiza Maria Capanema · 2013 · Journal of technology management & innovation

    This paper examines how four public agricultural research institutes reorganized their management models and structures. The authors compare their experiences to identify common patterns and differences in how these institutions manage research and innovation processes, policies, and workflows. The goal is to develop better approaches and tools for improving research and innovation management in public agricultural institutions.

  • Induced Innovation in U.S. Agriculture: Time‐series, Direct Econometric, and Nonparametric Tests

    Yucan Liu, C. Richard Shumway · 2008 · American Journal of Agricultural Economics

    This paper tests whether farmers innovate in response to input price changes—the induced innovation hypothesis. Using U.S. state-level agricultural data and three different statistical methods, the authors find little evidence that farmers develop or adopt technologies to save expensive inputs. The results hold consistently across all testing approaches, though the analysis focuses only on demand-side factors and cannot rule out that developing cost-saving technologies for expensive inputs may simply be too expensive.

  • Research Prizes: A Mechanism to Reward Agricultural Innovation in Low-Income Regions

    William A. Masters · 2003 · MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri)

    The paper proposes research prizes as a mechanism to incentivize agricultural innovation in low-income regions. Rather than relying solely on traditional funding models, prizes reward successful innovations that address agricultural challenges in resource-constrained areas, creating direct incentives for developing practical solutions tailored to the needs and conditions of poor farming communities.

  • Cultivating sustainability: Harnessing open innovation and circular economy practices for eco-innovation in agricultural SMEs

    Wongsatorn Worakittikul, Wutthiya Aekthanate Srisathan, Kanokon Rattanpon, Ammika Kulkaew, Jakkaphong Groves, Pongwoot Pontun, Phaninee Naruetharadhol · 2025 · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity

    This study examines how open innovation and circular economy practices drive eco-innovation in agricultural SMEs in Thailand. Surveying 211 SMEs, the research finds that eco-processes most strongly influence SME sustainability initiatives, which in turn generate sustainable products including waste-derived and eco-friendly items. However, eco-products and eco-managerial practices show limited impact on SME initiatives, suggesting these areas need stronger frameworks to support environmental performance.

  • Toward a sustainable agricultural system in China: exploring the nexus between agricultural science and technology innovation, agricultural resilience and fiscal policies supporting agriculture

    Wan Qun, Chao Ranran, Jingsuo Li, Nawab Khan · 2024 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Agricultural science and technology innovation significantly strengthens agricultural resilience across China's 31 provinces from 2007 to 2021. This effect is non-linear and amplified by fiscal policies supporting agriculture. The southeast region shows the strongest resilience development, while non-main producing and economically underdeveloped areas benefit most from innovation investments. Policymakers should tailor innovation strategies locally and reinforce agricultural fiscal support.

  • Green technology innovation, trade deficit and carbon emission transfer in agriculture under the new “dual circulation” development pattern of China

    Lin Zhang, Chengzhi Cai, Kripal Singh, Kaiyang Zhong · 2024 · Ecological Indicators

    China's agricultural trade deficit and carbon emissions from agricultural trade are both increasing, with significant regional variation. Green technology innovation shows complex effects: it reduces trade deficits but increases carbon emission transfer in the short term, with benefits varying by region and innovation type. The relationship between trade deficit and carbon emissions is expected to improve over time, supporting coordinated economic and environmental goals in agricultural trade.

  • Do Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems Have the Dynamic Capabilities to Guide the Digital Transition of Short Food Supply Chains?

    Chrysanthi Charatsari, Anastasios Michailidis, Martina Francescone, Marcello De Rosa, Dimitrios Aidonis, Luca Bartoli, Giuseppe La Rocca, Luca Camanzi, Evagelos D. Lioutas · 2023 · Information

    Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems in Greece and Italy struggle to capitalize on digital opportunities in short food supply chains, despite sensing external changes. Knowledge emerges as critical for building transformative capacity, but systems lack functional connections between stakeholders. Strengthening engagement from public advisory organizations, universities, and technology providers is essential for developing the collective knowledge base needed for successful digital transition.

  • The Driving Factors of Innovation Quality of Agricultural Enterprises—A Study Based on NCA and fsQCA Methods

    Xiaonan Fan, Jingyang Li, Ye Wang · 2023 · Sustainability

    Agricultural processing enterprises in Liaoning province, China achieve high innovation quality through two main pathways: entrepreneurship combined with government support, or green technology capability combined with market demand. Entrepreneurship and green technology capability emerge as the most universal drivers. The study identifies seven configurations that prevent high innovation quality, categorized as technology-inhibited, entrepreneurship-deprived, or government and market-driven types.

  • Role of the interaction space in shaping innovation for sustainable agriculture: Empirical insights from African case studies

    Thirze Hermans, Harriet Elizabeth Smith, Stephen Whitfield, Susannah M. Sallu, John Recha, Andrew J. Dougill, Christian Thierfelder, Mphatso Gama, W. T. Bunderson, Richard Museka, Nike Doggart, Charles Meshack · 2023 · Journal of Rural Studies

    Agricultural development projects in Malawi and Tanzania use farm trials and farmer field schools to promote sustainable agriculture innovation. The study reveals that knowledge exchange succeeds through knowledge brokers who facilitate social learning, yet simultaneously create social exclusions. The design of interaction spaces between researchers and farmers directly shapes both technical and social knowledge construction. Effective scaling requires opening these spaces for genuine co-creation and collaborative knowledge building.

  • Household welfare impacts of an agricultural innovation platform in Uganda

    Beine Peter Ahimbisibwe, John Morton, Shiferaw Feleke, Arega D. Alene, Tahirou Abdoulaye, Kate Wellard, Eric Mungatana, Anton Bua, Solomon Asfaw, Victor M. Manyong · 2020 · Food and Energy Security

    An agricultural innovation platform in Uganda that brought together researchers and farmers to develop improved cassava varieties and establish a seed entrepreneurship system increased household consumption expenditure by 47.4% among participating farmers. The platform's impact varied by household characteristics like gender, suggesting that targeted interventions for specific farm groups could improve rural livelihoods further.

  • Network Structure and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Spatial Correlation Network—A Study Based on Data from 30 Provinces in China

    Fulin Wang, Ling Wu, Fan Zhang · 2020 · Symmetry

    This study maps how agricultural science and technology innovation spreads across 30 Chinese provinces through two stages: R&D and technology application. Using network analysis, researchers found that innovation shows clear spatial correlation and spillover effects across regions. The network has a core-periphery structure with strong stability. Market differences, government agricultural support, geographic proximity, and regional economic development drive innovation spread. The findings support cross-regional coordination mechanisms to address uneven distribution of innovation resources.

  • A study on research hot-spots and frontiers of agricultural science and technology innovation - visualization analysis based on the Citespace III

    Qiqi Chen, Junbiao Zhang, Yu HUO · 2016 · Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika)

    This paper analyzes international agricultural science and technology innovation research using citation mapping software to identify research hotspots and frontiers. The authors compare international trends with Chinese agricultural innovation research, finding disconnects between agricultural science studies and actual production, weak market mechanisms, and poor resource allocation. They map the evolution of agricultural innovation research globally to inform China's science and technology innovation system development.

  • Supporting Innovation in Organic Agriculture: A European Perspective Using Experience from the SOLID Project

    Susanne Padel, Mette Vaarst, Konstantinos Zaralis · 2015 · Sustainable Agriculture Research

    Organic farming drives agricultural innovation through stakeholder collaboration rather than just new technologies. The SOLID project used farmer-led participatory research across Europe to identify and solve problems in organic dairy farming. Farmers lacked confidence in forage production reliability despite recognizing its importance. The study shows that combining scientific expertise with farmers' practical knowledge through systems-based approaches effectively develops sustainable innovations.

  • Patterns and Collaborators of Innovation in the Primary Sector: A Study of the Danish Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industry

    Jesper Lindgaard Christensen, Michael S. Dahl, Søren Qvist Eliasen, René Ernst Nielsen, Christian Richter Østergaard · 2011 · Industry and Innovation

    Danish agricultural, forestry, and fishery firms show substantial innovation despite being classified as low-tech. Nearly half of 640 surveyed firms reported some innovation activity, with product/process innovation at 23 percent. Firms selling directly to consumers innovated more than those in processing or wholesale. Most innovative firms worked independently, citing internal drivers. The industry's strong extended knowledge base—universities, research institutions, advisory services—provides critical innovation support that traditional surveys often miss.

  • Knowledge and InnovatIon for agrIcultural development

    Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Kristin Davis · 2009 · Policy briefs

    Rural agricultural development requires linking indigenous knowledge with formal research and development. The paper argues that while rural communities innovate through local experimentation and adaptation, indigenous knowledge alone cannot address complex challenges like food price volatility, climate change, and biofuel demand. Sustainable agricultural development accelerates when formal and informal knowledge systems connect, enabling knowledge creation, sharing, and practical application across technologies, organizations, institutions, and policies.

  • Navigating psychological barriers in agricultural innovation adoption: A multi-stakeholder perspective

    Nopparuj Chindasombatcharoen, Naoum Tsolakis, Mukesh Kumar, Eoin O’Sullivan · 2024 · Journal of Cleaner Production

    Smallholder farmers in the Global South face psychological barriers that prevent them from adopting agricultural innovations. This study identifies four key psychological obstacles: trust, effort, attitudinal, and normative barriers. The researchers interviewed rice farmers and agricultural technology companies to develop an integrated framework showing how to overcome these barriers through demonstrating clear benefits, building trust, reducing effort requirements, and developing human capital.

  • Phosphorus dynamics and sustainable agriculture: The role of microbial solubilization and innovations in nutrient management

    José Abraham García-Berumen, Juan Armando Flores de la Torre, Sergio de los Santos‐Villalobos, Alejandro Espinoza-Canales, Francisco Guadalupe Echavarría-Cháirez, Héctor Gutiérrez Bañuelos · 2024 · Current Research in Microbial Sciences

    Phosphorus availability limits crop growth in many soils, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers causes environmental damage like water eutrophication. Phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms—bacteria and fungi that convert insoluble phosphorus into plant-available forms—offer a sustainable alternative. Integrating these microbes into farming systems reduces chemical fertilizer dependence, improves soil health, and decreases phosphorus pollution while meeting growing food demand.

  • Endogenous learning and innovation in African smallholder agriculture: lessons from Guinea-Bissau

    Merlin Leunda Martiarena, Marina Padrão Temudo · 2023 · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

    Smallholder rice farmers in Guinea-Bissau continuously reinvent and share farming knowledge across generations, creating a dynamic agricultural system. External development actors must understand how endogenous knowledge is produced and spreads among farmers to design effective interventions. Co-producing innovations that respect local conditions and allow farmers to adapt technologies to their needs strengthens the entire knowledge system.

  • From Policy Promises to Result through Innovation in African Agriculture?

    Ruth Haug, Susan Nchimbi‐Msolla, Alice W. Murage, Mokhele Edmond Moeletsi, Mufunanji Magalasi, Mupenzi Mutimura, Feyisa Hundessa, Luca Cacchiarelli, Ola Tveitereid Westengen · 2021 · World

    Agricultural innovation can help African countries achieve food security and poverty reduction goals, but moving from policy promises to real results remains difficult. The paper identifies technological and institutional innovations that boost smallholder farmer productivity and income, yet barriers—including weak governance, limited resources, and knowledge gaps—prevent their adoption. Effective implementation mechanisms beyond goal-setting are essential to deliver promised outcomes.

  • Overcoming constraints of scaling: Critical and empirical perspectives on agricultural innovation scaling

    Million Gebreyes, Kindu Mekonnen, Peter S. Thorne, Melkamu B. Derseh, Aberra Adie, Annet A. Mulema, Seid Ahmed Kemal, Lulseged Tamene, Tilahun Amede, Amare Haileslassie, Aster Gebrekirstos, Walter Mupangwa, Mohammed Ebrahim, Temesgen Alene, A. Asfaw, Workneh Dubale, S. Yasabu · 2021 · PLoS ONE

    Agricultural innovation scaling in Ethiopia requires balancing technical and social factors, not just linear technology rollout. Scaling succeeds through flexible, stepwise strategies that build long-term partnerships, trust, and continuous learning rather than rigid predetermined plans. Social dynamics, actor relationships, and emergent processes matter as much as technical requirements for achieving real impact on rural livelihoods.

  • Multidisciplinary assessment of agricultural innovation and its impact: a case study of lowland rice variety WITA 9 in Côte d’Ivoire

    Kazuki Saito, Amadou Touré, Aminou Arouna, Rose Fiamohe, D. Silué, John Manful, A. M. Bèye, Andrew Abiodun Efisue · 2019 · Plant Production Science

    WITA 9, a lowland rice variety released in Côte d'Ivoire, outperforms other varieties in yield and disease resistance. A comprehensive evaluation found 24% farmer adoption, with adopters gaining 0.7 tons per hectare in yield and $91 additional income per season. Consumers prefer WITA 9 to locally produced alternatives and value it similarly to imported rice. The variety offers significant potential for boosting productivity and reducing rice imports, though better seed systems and awareness campaigns are needed.

  • Innovations in Value-Addition of Agricultural By-Products in Uganda

    Denis Nsubuga, Noble Banadda, Nicholas Kiggundu · 2019 · Journal of Environmental Protection

    Uganda generates millions of tons of agricultural by-products from crops, livestock, fish, and forestry annually. Current innovations convert these materials into briquettes, biogas, biochar, organic fertilizers, and composite building materials. The review identifies additional opportunities: bones for soft tissue and buttons, blood for adhesives and fertilizers, and fish oil for food enrichment. These value-addition strategies reduce waste while creating new products and income sources.

  • What Prompts Agricultural Innovation in Rural Nepal: A Study Using the Example of Macadamia and Walnut Trees as Novel Cash Crops

    Andrea Karin Barrueto, Juerg Merz, Thomas Köhler, Thomas Hammer · 2018 · Agriculture

    In Nepal, researchers studied what drives farmers to adopt macadamia and walnut cultivation as novel cash crops. Through household surveys and statistical analysis, they found that ethnicity, wealth, and prior experience with fruit trees significantly influence adoption. Years of tree cultivation experience and existing fruit tree income most strongly predict nut farming. The study concludes that wealthier households lead adoption, while poor, landless, and female-headed households need alternative business models and new policies to participate in this agricultural innovation.

  • Efficiency of small enterprises of protected agriculture in the adoption of innovations in Mexico

    Juan Manuel Vargas-Canales, María Isabel Palacios Rangel, Jorge Aguilar Ávila, Joaquín Huitzilihuitl Camacho Vera, Jorge Gustavo Ocampo Ledesma, Sergio Ernesto Medina–Cuéllar · 2018 · Estudios Gerenciales

    Small protected agriculture enterprises in Mexico adopt innovations more efficiently when producers have higher education levels, greater farming experience, and access to extension services. The study identifies three distinct producer groups with different adoption behaviors. The research recommends strengthening connections among producers and improving extension services to support collective territorial development.

  • Managing Agricultural Research for Prosperity and Food Security in 2050: Comparison of Performance, Innovation Models and Prospects

    Jane Payumo, Shireen K. Assem, Neeru Bhooshan, H. Galhena, Ruth Mbabazi, Karim Maredia · 2018 · The Open Agriculture Journal

    This study compares agricultural research and innovation performance across six emerging economies in Asia and Africa—Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Uganda, and Kenya. The authors find that these countries show varying levels of success in R&D investment, policy implementation, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships. They identify best practices and recommend that sustained agricultural development requires strong policies supporting research investment, strategic partnerships linking research to practice, and continuous capacity building.

  • MODELING OF FACTORS INFLUENCING INNOVATION ACTIVITIES OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES OF UKRAINE

    Vitalina Babenko · 2017 · SCIENTIFIC BULLETIN OF POLISSIA

    This paper analyzes factors influencing innovation activities in Ukrainian agricultural enterprises. The author develops economic-mathematical models to identify latent factors affecting innovation dynamics, including costs, funding sources, and implementation rates. The research reveals patterns in how agricultural enterprises manage innovation processes and their internal and external relationships. The findings provide guidelines for determining Ukraine's innovation strategy in global agricultural markets.

  • Fertilizer use optimization approach: An innovation to increase agricultural profitability for African farmers

    George Oduor, Joseph M. Macharia, Harrison Rware, C. Kayuki · 2016 · African Journal of Agricultural Research

    African smallholder farmers underinvest in fertilizer due to uncertainty about returns, keeping yields low despite agriculture's importance to the region. Researchers developed fertilizer optimization tools tailored to 65 agro-ecological zones and 14 major crops across Sub-Saharan Africa. These tools, along with complementary nutrient substitution tables, help farmers maximize profitability and returns on fertilizer investment.

  • Agricultural business model innovation in Swedish food production : The influence of self-leadership and lean innovation

    Pia Ulvenblad, Maya Hoveskog, Joakim Tell, Per‐Ola Ulvenblad, Jenny Ståhl, Henrik Barth · 2014 · Hogskolan Ihalmstad (Halmstad University)

    Swedish agricultural producers need stronger leadership and organizational practices to innovate their business models across the food value chain. The paper proposes that self-leadership and lean innovation methods can drive business model innovation in farming. It presents a framework combining these approaches and recommends action research through learning networks as a method for agricultural sectors to develop and improve operations from farm to consumer.

  • Innovation and Productivity Advances in British Agriculture: 1620–1850

    James B. Ang, Rajabrata Banerjee, Jakob B. Madsen · 2012 · Southern Economic Journal

    British agriculture between 1620 and 1850 experienced substantial productivity gains driven primarily by technological progress. The researchers measured technological advancement through agricultural patents and published books on farming methods, finding strong evidence that innovation directly fueled productivity improvements. This supports economic theory linking agricultural development to broader economic growth.

  • European Sugar Policy Reform and Agricultural Innovation

    Koen Dillen, Matty Demont, Éric Tollens · 2008 · Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d agroeconomie

    The EU's 2006 sugar market reform reduced adoption incentives for genetically modified sugar beet among high-cost farmers while increasing incentives for medium-cost producers. Low-cost farmers remained largely unaffected. The reform successfully reduced flexibility and competitiveness of high-cost producers, achieving its goal of crowding them out and strengthening the European sugar market's overall competitiveness.

  • Fostering Farmer First Methodological Innovation: Organizational Learning and Change in International Agricultural Research

    Jeff Ashby · 2007

    Participatory plant breeding programs at international agricultural research institutes failed to truly empower farmers because they focused on reforming supply-side science bureaucracies without addressing accountability to poor farmers' actual needs. The farmer-first approach became cosmetic rather than transformative because change champions lacked political power and connection to broader sociopolitical actors. Future progress requires addressing the political dimensions of farmer-driven innovation demand in agriculture.

  • Balancing technological innovation and environmental regulation: an analysis of Chinese agricultural biotechnology governance

    James F. Keeley · 2006 · Environmental Politics

    China manages agricultural biotechnology development through state-led institutions while balancing limited regulatory capacity, a massive smallholder farming sector, and international oversight. The paper examines how China governs genetically modified crops, particularly Bt cotton and GM rice, analyzing the institutional arrangements and competing biotechnology discourses that shape policy decisions around technology adoption and environmental risk assessment.

  • Reducing food loss through sustainable business models and agricultural innovation systems

    Subhanjan Sengupta, Sonal Choudhary, Raymond Obayi, Rakesh Nayak · 2024 · Supply Chain Management An International Journal

    This study identifies how sustainable business models integrated with agricultural innovation systems reduce food loss in postharvest supply chains. Researchers found that value losses cascade through supply chains via multiplier and stacking effects. They propose four strategies: redefining ownership as stewardship, enabling beneficiary identification, strengthening value addition, and building community capacity. The findings emphasize networked approaches combining agricultural innovation systems with sustainable business models to address early-stage food loss.

  • Adoption of ICT-in-Agriculture Innovations by Smallholder Farmers in Kenya

    Fredrick Mzee Awuor, Dorothy Apondi Rambim · 2022 · Technology and Investment

    Smallholder farmers in Kenya face barriers to adopting digital agricultural tools despite their potential to boost productivity and market access. A study of 100 farmers in Siaya County found that cost, illiteracy, ICT skills, information quality, and gender significantly influence whether farmers adopt agricultural technology innovations. Female smallholders practicing traditional farming methods remain the primary demographic needing support.

  • Research on the Efficiency of Green Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Resource Allocation Based on a Three-Stage DEA Model—A Case Study of Anhui Province, China

    Sheng Yao, Guosong Wu · 2022 · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

    This study evaluates how efficiently Anhui Province allocates resources for green agricultural technology innovation. Using a three-stage data envelopment analysis model, researchers found that overall resource allocation efficiency improved over time, but scale efficiency remained low. Technical efficiency was strong across 16 cities, yet scale efficiency varied significantly by region. Hefei and Fuyang led in allocation efficiency. The study recommends improving scale efficiency through better government-market coordination, stronger research platforms, talent development, and open knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

  • Diffusion of Agricultural Technology Innovation: Research Progress of Innovation Diffusion in Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Parks

    Xieyang Chen, Tongsheng Li · 2022 · Sustainability

    Chinese agricultural science and technology parks drive technology diffusion through a systematic model. The research analyzes how these parks function as innovation hubs, examining both the spatial and temporal patterns of technology spread. It identifies key factors influencing farmer adoption of new agricultural technologies and explores how different environmental conditions and technology types affect adoption behavior. The study reveals a "point-axis" diffusion pattern and highlights emerging adoption behaviors among new business agents in agricultural innovation.

  • Robot innovation brings to agriculture efficiency, safety, labor savings and accuracy by plowing, milking, harvesting, crop tending/picking and monitoring

    Richard Bloss · 2014 · Industrial Robot the international journal of robotics research and application

    Robots are transforming agriculture globally by automating traditional farming tasks including plowing, milking, harvesting, and crop monitoring. These robotic systems deliver significant labor savings, improve performance accuracy, and accelerate field coverage. The paper reviews diverse robotic applications across agricultural operations worldwide, demonstrating how automation creates practical benefits for farming operations.

  • Australian agricultural R&amp;amp;D and innovation systems

    Tony Sörensen · 2011 · International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy

    Australia's agricultural sector maintains global competitiveness through cutting-edge R&D and rapid innovation despite minimal public subsidies and high export volumes. The paper challenges urban-focused creativity theories by demonstrating that rural innovation systems can be equally powerful, driven by scale economies and quality control demands in the farming sector.

  • Territory and innovation behaviour in agri-food firms: does rurality matter?

    Jose-Maria Garcia Alvarez-Coque, Teresa López-García Usach, Mercedes Sánchez · 2012 · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics

    Innovation in agri-food firms depends on both company structure and territorial characteristics. Using data from Valencia, Spain, the study finds that rural location itself does not hinder innovation. Instead, proximity to training services and technological institutes significantly boosts innovation rates. Education levels and access to knowledge infrastructure matter more than urban versus rural designation.

  • Urban–Rural Integration and Agricultural Technology Innovation: Evidence from China

    Huasheng Zhu, Ce Geng, Yawei Chen · 2024 · Agriculture

    Urban-rural integration in China promotes agricultural technological innovation, with effects varying by region and agricultural area. The study of 288 cities from 1999-2018 shows that governance systems and mature markets strengthen this relationship. The impact follows a double threshold pattern, where deeper integration produces larger gains in innovation, particularly in central and urban areas. Breaking down urban-rural barriers accelerates agricultural technology development.

  • Innovation of argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) products and byproducts for sustainable development of rural communities in Morocco. A systematic literature review

    Antonio Santoro, Victor Ongoma, Moussa Ait el kadi, Francesco Piras, Beatrice Fiore, Alessandra Bazzurro, Federica Romano, Brahim Meskour, Mohammed Hssaisoune, Adnane Labbaci, Abdellaali Tairi, Tarik Chfadi, Lhoussaine Bouchaou · 2023 · Biodiversity and Conservation

    Argan trees in Morocco face threats from overgrazing and land degradation, but innovative processing of argan byproducts offers economic opportunities for rural communities. Argan press cake, nut shells, and pulp can be converted into livestock feed, bioplastics, biochar, bioenergy, and natural repellents. However, local populations remain underinvolved in development strategies. The paper recommends participatory approaches, training, and product differentiation among women's cooperatives to realize sustainable rural development benefits.

  • Strategy and Innovation of Mushroom Business in Rural Area Indonesia: Case Study of a Developed Mushroom Enterprise from Cianjur district, West Java, Indonesia

    Rendi Febrianda, Hiromi Tokuda · 2017 · International Journal of Social Science Studies

    Mushroom farming in Indonesia's Cianjur district succeeds through dual strategies: technological innovations that boost yields and attract markets, and organizational innovations using contract farming agreements with local producers. These approaches reduce market failures and production risks while building community capacity. Success depends on cooperation with external sources and adaptation to local conditions.

  • Agricultural extension services and rural innovation in inner Scandinavia

    Bjørnar Sæther · 2010 · Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography

    Agricultural extension services in Norwegian Hedmark and Swedish Värmland take different approaches to supporting rural innovation. Värmland's extension services foster entrepreneurship and rural development through networked regional systems, while Hedmark's services remain tied to conventional agro-industrial models within a centralized national system. The study shows extension services function as either catalysts for agricultural restructuring or defenders of traditional farming approaches.

  • Agricultural specialization activates the industry chain: Implications for rural entrepreneurship in China

    Xing Ji, Jia Chen, Hongxiao Zhang · 2023 · Agribusiness

    Agricultural outsourcing in China significantly increases rural entrepreneurship, with 9.1% more rural residents starting private enterprises or self-employment. The effect is stronger in non-grain-producing areas and primarily drives opportunistic entrepreneurship. Agricultural outsourcing activates the broader industry chain, extending it, creating off-farm jobs, and improving credit access. Policymakers should leverage outsourcing to drive rural innovation and industrial transformation.

  • How can agricultural extension and rural advisory services support agricultural innovation to adapt to climate change in the agriculture sector?

    Md Kamruzzaman, Katherine A. Daniell, Ataharul Chowdhury, Steven Crimp, Helen James · 2020 · Advancements in Agricultural Development

    Agricultural extension and advisory services must expand their roles to support farm innovation for climate adaptation. The paper finds that these services should connect diverse actors across sectors, facilitate learning and collaboration, and help farmers develop collective approaches to climate change. This broader, more networked approach to extension work is essential for agricultural sustainability under changing climate conditions.

  • Patriarchal bargains in protected spaces: a new strategy for agricultural and rural development innovation in the western hills of Nepal

    Kiran Kumari Bhattarai, Laxmi Prasad Pant · 2013 · Canadian Journal of Development Studies/Revue canadienne d études du développement

    Rural women in Nepal's western hills need protected spaces to negotiate for their rights within patriarchal systems, rather than relying on broad gender mainstreaming approaches. The study found that women's limited control over land and land-related services undermines their ability to secure benefits from agricultural development unless they have dedicated niches where they can struggle and bargain for their rights.

  • The Role of Buildings in Rural Areas: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations for Sustainable Development

    Alessia Cogato, Leonardo Cei, Francesco Marinello, Andrea Pezzuolo · 2023 · Agronomy

    Rural buildings are central to agricultural sustainability. This systematic review of 2000–2022 research identifies five main research areas: production (25.1%), environmental management (23.2%), construction and efficiency (20.6%), sustainability (20.8%), and engineering technologies (10.3%). The authors find that life cycle assessment, green building design, energy efficiency, and remote detection systems represent the most promising directions for improving rural building performance and reducing environmental impact.

  • Dynamics in rural entrepreneurship – the role of knowledge acquisition, entrepreneurial orientation, and emotional intelligence in network reliance and performance relationship

    Thomas Bilaliib Udimal, Zhuang Jincai, Isaac Akolgo Gumah · 2019 · Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    Rural farmer entrepreneurs in China who rely on business networks improve their performance primarily through acquiring knowledge. Emotional intelligence directly boosts knowledge acquisition, while entrepreneurial orientation strengthens the link between knowledge and performance. The study recommends that extension education prioritize knowledge-building programs and that policymakers focus on developing rural farmers' social capital and entrepreneurial capabilities to enhance business outcomes.

  • Beekeeping innovation for sustaining rural livelihoods. A success story

    Nonita T. Yap, John F. Devlin · 2015 · International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development

    A beekeeping project in Vietnam successfully introduced modern practices to small farmers, exceeding adoption targets and increasing household incomes. Farmers gained unexpected benefits including improved health and stronger family relationships. Success resulted from the innovation's visible benefits, alignment with local sharing practices, and extension agents who simplified the technology and incorporated farmers' existing knowledge into training.

  • Does the Application of ICTs Improve the Efficiency of Agricultural Carbon Reduction? Evidence from Broadband Adoption in Rural China

    Rao Pan, Xiaojin Liu, Shubin Zhu, Xiaolan Kang, Xinglei Zhao, Fangting Xie · 2022 · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

    Rural broadband adoption in China improves agricultural carbon reduction efficiency, according to analysis of 30 provinces from 2011 to 2019. The effect strengthens when land transfer rates are high and farmers invest more in production equipment. Income and efficiency follow an inverted U-shaped relationship, confirming the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. These findings suggest broadband and smart equipment adoption can help farmers in developing countries reduce agricultural emissions.

  • Impact of entrepreneurship training on rural poultry farmers adoption of improved management practices in Enugu State, Nigeria

    Adaku Ezeibe, E.C. Okorji, Jane M. Chah, R. N. Abudei · 2014 · African Journal of Agricultural Research

    Entrepreneurship training significantly increased rural poultry farmers' adoption of improved management practices in Nigeria. Before training, 70% of farmers were unaware of practices like record-keeping and vaccination; after training, 100% knew them and 85% adopted them. Education, farming experience, income, and farm size positively influenced adoption. High input costs, low capital, loan access difficulties, and poor extension services were major barriers. The study recommends more training and government-backed soft loans to boost adoption and food security.

  • Development of Rural Herbal Entrepreneurship in Malaysia

    Kamal Chandra Paul, Azimi Hamzah, Bahaman Abu Samah, Ismi Arif Ismail, Jeffrey Lawrence D’Silva · 2013 · International Journal of Business and Management

    This study identifies critical success and failure factors among rural herbal entrepreneurs in Malaysia through case studies of ten entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs possessed strong customer service knowledge and relevant past experience. Failures stemmed from limited access to government financial support, inadequate infrastructure, and corruption. The findings provide rural herbal entrepreneurs with insights into what drives business success or failure in their sector.

  • Perspectives on communicating 21st-Century agricultural innovations to Nigerian rural farmers

    Agwu A. Ejem, Charity Aremu, Olanrewaju O.P. Ajakaiye, Charity Ben-Enukora, Oluwakemi E. Akerele-Popoola, Tope Israel Ibiwoye, Abiola Folakemi Olaniran · 2023 · Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

    Nigeria's agricultural extension system fails to communicate modern farming innovations effectively to rural farmers because it treats them as passive pupils rather than active participants. The paper argues for a fundamental shift toward two-way communication, better-trained extension agents with stronger communication skills, and recognition of farmers as co-designers of innovations. Evidence from Asian countries demonstrates this approach works better than Nigeria's current top-down, one-way knowledge delivery model.

  • Determinants of innovation by agri-food firms in rural Spain: an MCA PLS-SEM analysis

    Xosé-Manuel Martínez-Filgueira, David Peón, Edelmiro López Iglesias · 2021 · The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review

    Small and medium agri-food firms in Spain innovate primarily to increase sales, enter new markets, and improve product quality, driven by firm capacity and financial resources. Smaller and younger firms face greater barriers to innovation. The study finds that firms rarely innovate to reduce costs or meet regulatory requirements. Public policy should address environmental compliance and employment maintenance, while supporting market-driven innovation incentives.

  • Investigating the Performance of Rural Off-Grid Photovoltaic System with Electric-Mobility Solutions: A Case Study Based on Kenya

    Aminu Bugaje, Mathias Ehrenwirth, Christoph Trinkl, W. Zoerner · 2021 · Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy Water and Environment Systems

    This paper models an off-grid photovoltaic charging station in Kenya to provide reliable, low-emission electricity for rural applications including water purification and electric vehicle charging. The system outperforms diesel generators in cost and environmental impact. The model adapts to different regions by adjusting solar radiation, temperature, and load parameters, offering a replicable solution for rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Investigating the possibility of producing animal feed from sugarcane bagasse using oyster mushrooms: a case in rural entrepreneurship

    Mojtaba Mahmood Molaei Kermani, Samaneh Bahrololoum, Farzaneh Koohzadi · 2019 · Journal of global entrepreneurship research

    Researchers processed sugarcane bagasse with oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus florida) to create animal feed. Laboratory and animal feeding trials showed that mushroom-treated bagasse improved nutritional quality, increasing protein content and digestibility while reducing fiber compared to raw bagasse. The treated material performed as well as wheat and barley straw, making it a viable alternative roughage for feeding livestock.

  • Institutional barriers to successful innovations: Perceptions of rural farmers and key stakeholders in southwest Nigeria

    Oluwaseun Kolade, Trudy Harpham, Gaim Kibreab · 2014 · African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development

    Rural farmers and stakeholders in southwest Nigeria identify institutional barriers as critical to agricultural innovation success. Government policies, market conditions, financial institutions, and infrastructure significantly affect whether farmers adopt new technologies. The study recommends pairing institutional reforms with innovative inputs and strengthening farmers' cooperatives to enable successful agricultural innovation.

  • E-Governance in Rural India: Need of Broadband Connectivity Using Wireless Technology

    Kalpana Chaudhari, Upena D. Dalal, Rakesh Kumar Jha · 2011 · Wireless Engineering and Technology

    Rural India lacks broadband connectivity needed for e-governance systems that could drive agricultural and economic development. This paper examines wireless technology solutions for delivering digital governance services to rural Maharashtra, specifically studying Jalgaon district. The authors argue that expanding ICT access and adoption empowers rural communities, improves agricultural management, and enables greater participation in digital services essential for rural development.

  • Impact of agricultural science and technology innovation resources allocation on rural revitalization

    Guosong Wu, Yuanyuan Wang, Sheng Yao · 2024 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Agricultural science and technology innovation resources in Anhui Province, China positively drive rural revitalization. The relationship is nonlinear—benefits only materialize once resource allocation reaches a threshold. Improved allocation also creates spatial spillover effects that boost development in neighboring rural areas, demonstrating how strategic investment in agtech innovation strengthens broader rural development.

  • An optimized off-grid hybrid system for power generation in rural areas

    Ahmad Sakhrieh, Jamil Al Asfar, Nour Abu Shuaib · 2022 · International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems/International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Researchers optimized a hybrid power system for a cow farm in Jordan combining solar panels, biogas generators, diesel generators, wind turbines, and batteries. The best configuration used solar, biogas, batteries, and diesel generation, achieving 94% renewable energy production, reducing emissions by 92%, and costing $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. This off-grid system meets the farm's daily electrical needs economically and sustainably.

  • Application of Internet of the Things(IOT) for the Water Conservation and Entrepreneurship in the Rural Area

    Akhilesh Joshi, Indraja Dandekar, Narayan Hargude, Amod Shrotri, Ashutosh Dandekar · 2019

    This paper proposes using Internet of Things technology to address water management and create entrepreneurship opportunities in rural Indian villages. The authors argue that IoT-enabled smart village systems can improve water conservation despite adequate rainfall, reduce unemployment, and prevent rural-to-urban migration by generating local economic opportunities. The approach treats water management as a priority domain where digital tools can deliver measurable improvements in rural living standards and economic conditions.

  • Scaling-up of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) Cultivation in Agroforestry for Entrepreneurship and Economic Strengthening of Rural Community of India

    Arvind Bijalwan, Manmohan Dobriyal, Tarun Kumar Thakur, Pooja Verma, Shalini Singh · 2017 · International Journal of Current Research in Biosciences and Plant Biology

    Neem trees have multiple medicinal, religious, and agricultural uses documented in ancient Indian texts and recognized globally, yet remain underutilized in Indian agroforestry despite successful intercropping research with various crops. The paper argues that scaling up neem cultivation through agroforestry systems can create rural entrepreneurship opportunities and strengthen rural economies in India, moving beyond current limited adoption by farming communities.

  • A novel application of machine learning techniques for activity-based load disaggregation in rural off-grid, isolated solar systems

    Varun Mehra, Rajeev J. Ram, Claudio Vergara · 2016

    This paper develops machine learning methods to disaggregate household electricity demand in rural off-grid solar systems in India. By analyzing power usage data from individual homes, the researchers use classification and clustering algorithms to identify which appliances are running and predict future demand. Understanding activity-based electricity patterns helps rural solar systems right-size batteries and panels, reducing costs while ensuring reliable power access.

  • Studying Rural Innovation Management: A Framework and Early Findings from RIU in South Asia

    Rasheed Sulaiman, V. Satyanarayan Reddy, Kumuda · 2010

    This paper develops a framework for analyzing rural innovation management in South Asian agricultural projects, identifying four key elements: functions, actions, tools, and organizational format. The research finds that successful rural innovation requires more than just technology access—it demands bundling technology with network development, policy advocacy, training, and negotiated practice changes. Supporting this broader suite of innovation management activities helps rural communities better utilize agricultural research.

  • Creative Commons: Non-Proprietary Innovation Triangles in International Agricultural and Rural Development Partnerships

    Laxmi Prasad Pant · 2010

    Agricultural development in low-income countries is shifting from traditional technology transfer models toward innovation systems that involve public-private partnerships and open science practices. The paper argues that creative commons approaches generate innovation more effectively than proprietary intellectual property regimes, which often undermine indigenous and local community rights. Pluralistic innovation triangles now connect research, extension, and farming communities while promoting open science at the local level.

  • SUPPORTING LOCAL INNOVATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF FIVE INNOVATION SUPPORT FUNDS

    Esbern Friis-Hansen, Henrik Egelyng · 2007 · Organic Eprints (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture)

    This study reviews five innovation support funds across Africa, India, and Latin America that help rural farmers develop and scale local agricultural innovations. The analysis finds that these funds effectively support both individual innovators and producer groups, but could improve by better balancing support between innovators and their institutional connections, recognizing diverse innovator types, and facilitating continuous learning cycles that connect innovators with entrepreneurs and adopters to commercialize solutions.

  • INNOVATION TRANSFER AND RURAL SMES

    Carmelo Cannarella, Valeria Piccioni · 2003 · University of Zagreb University Computing Centre (SRCE)

    Rural small and medium enterprises struggle to access innovation due to financial, technical, and organizational barriers. This paper examines innovation transfer to agro-industrial SMEs in Central Italy, identifying cultural and communication gaps between researchers and entrepreneurs. The authors propose methodological guidelines for analyzing and meeting innovation demands in rural enterprises, based on their experience deploying research personnel into SMEs.

  • THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACKYARD AS A LOCAL LEVEL INNOVATION INTERMEDIARY IN RURAL CHINA

    Jinghan Li, Cees Leeuwis, Nico Heerink, Weifeng Zhang · 2022 · Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

    Science and Technology Backyards (STBs) in rural China function as innovation intermediaries that support agricultural change by facilitating technological, social, and institutional innovation together. STBs evolved from simple knowledge brokers into systemic intermediaries that help farmers adopt improved practices. Villages with STBs showed higher adoption rates of improved tillage methods and better learning environments than villages without them. However, individual STBs have limited impact beyond their communities, requiring collaboration networks to scale innovation across regions.

  • Perceived Obstacles and Performance of Food and Agribusiness Enterprises: Implications for Urban and Rural Entrepreneurship Development

    Waseem Khan, Tabassum Ali, Aruna Dhamija · 2022 · Journal of Industrial Integration and Management

    This study analyzes 699 food and agribusiness firms using World Bank survey data to compare rural and urban enterprises. The researchers found significant differences in firm characteristics, business performance, and perceived obstacles between rural and urban locations. Results show that obstacles to doing business vary substantially by region, suggesting policymakers should tailor entrepreneurship support strategies to address location-specific challenges.

  • Optimisation of a Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification

    Makumbi David, Afam Uzorka, Yakubu Ajiji Makeri · 2022 · Journal of Power and Energy Engineering

    This paper optimizes anaerobic digestion systems that convert cattle waste into biogas for rural electricity generation. Using Tabu Search optimization, the authors determine the ideal system size and operating method to maximize revenue for a given number of cattle. The findings show that properly sized waste-to-energy systems can effectively increase electricity access in rural Uganda.

  • Design and Control of an Off-Grid Solar System for a Rural House in Pakistan

    Asif Ur Rehman, M. Tariq Iqbal · 2020

    Researchers designed and modeled an off-grid solar photovoltaic system for a rural Pakistani household requiring 40 kWh monthly. The system uses 560 watts of solar panels, battery storage, and a 1 kW inverter to meet year-round electrical needs. Computer simulation using local solar irradiance, temperature, and humidity data validated the design. The paper also presents control methods and data-logging approaches for the system.

  • Design and economy of renewable energy sources to supply isolated loads at rural and remote areas of Egypt

    A. Gado, A.A. El-Zeftawy · 2009 · IET Conference Publications

    This paper develops a model to design and evaluate renewable energy systems for isolated rural loads in Egypt, focusing on solar photovoltaic and wind energy for irrigation pumping. The model incorporates meteorological data, system performance, storage capacity, and economic parameters to compare three alternative configurations. Applied to a remote Egyptian site, the model identifies the most economically viable renewable energy option for rural electrification.

  • Increasing Efficiency of Power Supply System for Small Manufactures in Rural Regions using Renewable Energy Resources

    Nadezhda Kunicina, Alīna Galkina, Anastasija Zhiravecka, Yelena Chaiko, Leonīds Ribickis · 2009 · Elektronika ir Elektrotechnika

    Small rural manufacturers face rising electricity costs and maintenance expenses. The paper proposes using wind turbines to power these enterprises in areas with sufficient wind resources (above 5 m/s at 10m height). A voltage regulator with transformer connection stabilizes motor operation and reduces energy consumption, offering a practical renewable energy solution for rural industrial efficiency.

  • The spread of innovations within formal and informal farmers groups: Evidence from rural communi- ties of semi-arid Eastern Africa

    Dietrich Darr, Jürgen Pretzsch · 2006

    Cohesive and active farmers groups accelerate the spread of agroforestry innovations in semi-arid Eastern Africa. The study surveyed 200 households each in Kenya and Ethiopia, finding that group cohesiveness, activity level, and member motivation all strengthen technology adoption among farmers. Social networks within groups drive knowledge diffusion more effectively than top-down extension approaches alone.

  • Performance Evaluation of a Small Scale Ammonia-Water Absorption Cooling System for Off-Grid Rural Homes: A Numerical and Experimental Study

    Mai Bani Younes, Yousef Altork, Nabeel Abu Shaban · 2024 · International Journal of Heat and Technology

    Researchers tested a small-scale ammonia-water absorption cooling system designed for rural homes without reliable electricity. They evaluated two configurations using solar energy sources and found that higher evaporator and generator temperatures improved performance. The system achieved a coefficient of performance of 0.63 under optimal conditions, with efficiency gains of 7-7.5% when adding a heat exchanger. The results demonstrate this technology's viability for off-grid cooling in electricity-challenged areas.

  • Maximizing Solar Integration: Enhancing Off-grid Rural Energy Storage in Zambia

    M. Chambalile, Bin Su, X. Phiri, J. Huan · 2024 · Journal of Engineering Research and Reports

    This study examines photovoltaic adoption for rural electrification in Zambia, where solar potential remains largely untapped. The research identifies major barriers to PV integration including high costs, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient training. The authors demonstrate through case studies that solar systems can effectively power irrigation and rural electrification, yet significant challenges require targeted policies, financial support, and community engagement to achieve widespread adoption.

  • Design Considerations for Reducing Battery Storage in Off-Grid, Stand-Alone, Photovoltaic-Powered Cold Storage in Rural Applications

    Johan Meyer, Suné von Solms · 2022 · Energies

    This paper examines how to design off-grid solar-powered cold storage units for rural areas while minimizing battery size. Using a case study from rural South Africa, the authors identify key design factors including photovoltaic panel orientation, container positioning, and electrical component sizing. Their mathematical models and field data show how these design choices reduce cooling demands in hot climates, making solar cold storage more feasible and sustainable for improving food security and rural livelihoods.

  • Design and Control of a PV-FC-BESS-Based Hybrid Renewable Energy System Working in LabVIEW Environment for Short/Long-Duration Irrigation Support in Remote Rural Areas for Paddy Fields

    Kumaril Buts, Lillie Dewan, M. P. R. Prasad · 2021 · Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems

    This paper presents a hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic panels, fuel cells, and battery storage to replace diesel pumps for irrigation in remote paddy fields. The system generates 0.4 kW of single-phase power and operates reliably under varying solar and load conditions, supporting rice production while reducing carbon emissions. Control systems were developed and tested in LabVIEW.

  • Digitalizing rural entrepreneurship: towards a model of Pangalengan digital agropolitan development

    Medina Savira, Fikri Zul Fahmi · 2020 · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science

    Rural communities in Pangalengan, Indonesia possess agricultural potential but lack the skills to use digital technologies for value-added production and marketing. This study develops a framework to build digital literacy and entrepreneurial capacity among agribusiness operators, drawing lessons from Kintamani, Bali, where coffee farmers successfully used digital tools and the internet to improve production knowledge and market reach.

  • Fortified Sorghum as a Potential for Food Security in Rural Areas by Adaptation of Technology and Innovation in Sudan

    El Rasheed Ahmed Salim, Widad Abd El Aziz Ahmed, Mazahib Adam Mohamed, Mohammed Al Taib ALSiddig, Sara Yousif Hamed · 2017

    This paper proposes fortifying sorghum with soybean and wheat to improve food security and nutrition in rural Sudan. The authors develop local processing technologies to produce fortified sorghum products tailored for different populations—adults, children, infants, and pregnant women. They demonstrate through literature review and testing that rural soybean production is feasible and that simple fortification methods can enhance the nutritional value of traditional Sudanese sorghum-based foods.

  • Merging Indigenous and Modern Knowledge in Agricultural Development

    Nurdiah Husnah, Mukti Ali, Darmawan Salman, Pawennari Hijjang, Fadjry Djufry, A. Amidah Amrawaty · 2015 · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología

    Merging indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural technology accelerates rural development in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Farmers adopt modern practices more readily when technologies align with local customs and culture. The paper argues that sustainable agricultural innovation in remote areas requires integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary systems, fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing that generates locally appropriate innovations and policies.

  • Technological Innovation Drivers in Rural Small Food Industries in Iran

    Shohreh Soltani, Hossein Azadi, Frank Witlox · 2012 · Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing

    Rural small food industries in Iran's Tehran province show low levels of technological innovation. A survey of 111 managers across 60 firms found that managers doubt technological changes benefit their businesses. Production capacity, firm age, formal R&D investment, and fixed capital are the main factors driving technological innovation. The study provides recommendations for managers and policymakers to boost innovation in this sector.

  • International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development Technological and Institutional Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development Reproduction Rate of Kacang and Peranakan Etawah Goats under Village Production Systems in Indonesia

    Akhmad Sodiq, Soedito Adjisoedarmo, E. S. Tawfik · 2003

    This study evaluated reproduction rates of two goat breeds—Kacang and Peranakan Etawah—raised by smallholder farmers in Central Java, Indonesia. Researchers collected data from 362 does over 20 months to measure kids weaned per doe per year and identify factors affecting productivity. Kacang goats produced 2.95 kids per doe annually versus 1.76 for Peranakan Etawah. Reproduction rates increased with parity, birth type, and litter weight at weaning, providing farmers with information to improve local goat production using available resources.

  • Bridging the divide: how agricultural technological innovation narrows the urban–rural income gap in China

    Ruofan Liao, Yuheng Wei, Yu Bai, Jianxu Liu · 2025 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Agricultural technological innovation, measured by patent applications, significantly narrows urban-rural income gaps in China. Using panel data from 280 Chinese cities (2008-2021), the study finds that innovation reduces income disparities through employment restructuring, improved factor allocation, and enhanced production efficiency. Effects are stronger in eastern and western regions, higher-level cities, and areas with better intellectual property protection and information access. The impact strengthens as urbanization and education levels increase.

  • Mediating agricultural entrepreneurship through embracing innovative technology: a tale from small rural enterprises in an emerging economy

    Navjot Sandhu, Javed Hussain, Jonathan M. Scott · 2024 · International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research

    Small marginal farmers in an emerging economy show willingness to adopt innovative technologies but face barriers including lack of technological education, training, and funding. Fear of losing traditional practices and threats from intermediaries discourage adoption. A digital marketplace model can reduce information gaps and costs while improving supply chain efficiency and profit margins for small farmers.

  • Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry: a holistic approach to improve indigenous chicken production focusing on resilience to Newcastle disease

    Huaijun Zhou, Isabelle Baltenweck, Jack C. M. Dekkers, Rodrigo A. Gallardo, Boniface B. Kayang, T. Ross Kelly, Peter L. M. Msoffe, Amandus P. Muhairwa, James Richard Mushi, A. Naazie, Hope Richard Otsyina, Emily Ouma, Susan J. Lamont · 2024 · World s Poultry Science Journal

    Researchers developed a genetic selection platform to breed indigenous African chickens resistant to Newcastle disease, a major threat to small-scale poultry production. They identified genetic markers and genes conferring resistance through controlled virus challenges, characterized circulating virus strains in Ghana and Tanzania, and assessed farmer demand for improved birds. Results show farmers value both disease resistance and productivity traits like egg production and growth rate.

  • How rurality influences interactive innovation processes: lessons learnt from 15 case studies in 12 countries

    Paul G. Schmidt, José M. Díaz-Puente, Maddalena Bettoni · 2022 · European Planning Studies

    Rural regions innovate differently based on their distance from urban centers. Analyzing 15 case studies across Europe, the authors found that remote rural areas rely on external ideas and established networks, with individual entrepreneurs driving innovation despite thin support systems and limited private funding. NGOs and producer organizations become critical support mechanisms in the most isolated regions, while the private sector can compensate for weak agricultural knowledge systems.

  • Sources of Attracting Investments in Technological Innovation Projects to Ensure the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas

    G. SERIKBAEVA GAUKHAR, Bolatbek Bektanov, Almira Bekturganova · 2019 · Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism

    This study identifies funding sources for a rural innovation project using unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor pastures in Kazakhstan's Almaty Region. The researchers analyzed investment options through expert surveys and statistical analysis. Bank loans and leasing emerged as the most promising funding mechanisms for this agricultural technology initiative.

  • A Quantile Regression Analysis of Contributing Factors Influencing Agribusiness Growth and Entrepreneurship Development: Evidence from Rural China

    Owusu Samuel Mensah, Chen Jian-lin, Ji You Jun · 2019 · Asian Business Research Journal

    This study examines factors driving agribusiness growth and entrepreneurship in rural China using quantile regression analysis. The research finds that government policies, rural education, research and development investment, legal frameworks, family household development, and intellectual property protection all significantly correlate with agribusiness expansion. Rural investments show positive relationships with both agribusiness growth and entrepreneurial development, with effects varying across different quantile levels.

  • Viability of renewable energies and industrialization of rural areas using high-performance concrete

    Daltro Garcia Pinatti, Rosa Ana Conte, Carolina Azevedo Braz, Thiago Hirosse Silva, Felipe da Costa Aparecido · 2018 · Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal

    High-performance concrete enables construction of solar thermal collectors and water retention structures that integrate renewable energy sources in tropical rural areas. The system combines solar heating with biomass-fired boilers, increases biomass production on degraded land, and generates biogas from agricultural waste. This integrated approach provides reliable electricity, thermal energy, and fuel while supporting livestock production and attracting industrial development to rural regions.

  • Enhancing Synergy Effects Between The Electrification Of Agricultural Machines And Renewable Energy Deployment With Semi-Stationary Energy Storage In Rural Grids

    M. Stöhr, Bastian Hackenberg · 2018 · Energy Procedia

    Electrified agricultural machines and renewable energy deployment both strain rural electrical grids, but combining them creates synergies. Solar power generation often aligns with peak demand from electric farm equipment. Semi-stationary energy storage systems can balance these flows, reduce grid extension needs, enable higher renewable penetration, and provide grid services. The analysis shows such storage becomes profitable when providing primary balancing power for at least 10 weeks annually.

  • Potential assessment of establishing a renewable energy plant in a rural agricultural area

    Ming-Chien Su, Nien-Hsin Kao, Wen-Jar Huang · 2012 · Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

    Researchers assessed the feasibility of building a renewable energy plant in a rural Taiwanese township that generates substantial agricultural waste from pig farms. Using GIS mapping and energy modeling, they found that biogas from manure combined with solar panels could viably produce electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and treating waste. The study identifies the most suitable location and demonstrates strong economic and environmental potential under Taiwan's green energy policies.

  • Does Urban Innovation Promote Rural Entrepreneurship? Quasi-Natural Experimental Evidence from Microdata on New Agricultural Subjects

    Linfeng Li, Yang Liu, Wensi Luo, Xin Jiang · 2024 · Sustainability

    Urban innovation policies in Chinese cities significantly boost rural entrepreneurship among new agricultural businesses, with effects strengthening over time. The impact operates through increased technology investment, improved credit access, and faster technological adoption. However, effects vary by city size and type: small and medium cities benefit most, while large cities show inhibited growth. Agricultural cooperatives and agribusinesses gain substantially, but family farms see no significant improvement.

  • Advancing Rural Building Extraction via Diverse Dataset Construction and Model Innovation with Attention and Context Learning

    Mingyang Yu, Fangliang Zhou, Haiqing Xu, Shuai Xu · 2023 · Applied Sciences

    Researchers developed AGSC-Net, a deep learning model for automatically extracting rural buildings from satellite imagery. They created a dataset of rural buildings across nine Chinese regions to address the scarcity of training data. The model uses attention mechanisms and context learning to identify buildings despite regional variations in construction styles. AGSC-Net outperformed existing methods and enables better rural planning and disaster assessment.

  • L’Agriculture biologique, une innovation territoriale au service du développement rural : le cas du Gers

    Charlène Arnaud, Pierre Triboulet · 2022 · Revue d’Économie Régionale & Urbaine

    Organic agriculture in the Gers department of France demonstrates how rural areas drive innovation through territorial anchoring. The study finds strong institutional and economic support for organic farming development, positioning it as intelligent specialization that diversifies the existing agricultural system. However, competing visions of organic agriculture among stakeholders may hinder its further development as a territorial innovation.

  • Innovations in Agricultural Credit Disbursement and Payment Systems for Financial Inclusion in Rural India

    Arghyadeep Das, Neela Madhav Patnaik · 2020 · International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

    India has implemented several innovative credit and payment systems to improve agricultural financing and financial inclusion. Kisan Credit Cards, Self-Help Group bank linkages, Joint Liability Groups, and Farmer Producer Organizations have expanded institutional credit access, with most showing strong recent performance. Card-based and mobile payment systems have increased transparency. Farmer adoption of these innovations varies by age, education, farm size, and land holdings.

  • Renewable energy from biomass cookstoves for off grid rural areas.

    Risha Mal, Rajendra Prasad, Virendra Kumar Vijay · 2014 · International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (IPCBEE)

    This paper addresses cooking challenges in off-grid rural India by proposing improved biomass cookstoves powered by thermoelectric generators. Traditional cookstoves suffer from low efficiency and toxic emissions. The authors design a system that captures waste heat from the stove to generate electricity via a thermoelectric generator, powering a fan that improves combustion efficiency. The generated power also supports lighting and mobile phone charging, making the solution practical for rural households without grid electricity access.

  • La Innovación y la transferencia de tecnologías en la Estación Experimental "Indio Hatuey": 50 años propiciando el desarrollo del sector rural cubano (Parte I) Innovation and technology transference at the Experimental Station "Indio Hatuey": 50 years propitiating development in the Cuban rural sector (Part I)

    Taymer Miranda, Hilda Machado, José Alfredo Castellanos Suárez, Tania Sánchez, L. Lamela, J. Iglesias, A. Suset, A. Pérez, Milagros Milera, G. Martín, Maybe Campo, O López, L. Simón · 2011 · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología

    Cuba's Indio Hatuey Experimental Station spent 50 years developing and transferring agricultural technologies to rural farmers. The station initially focused on forage conservation to address seasonal feed shortages, then shifted to silvopastoral systems in the 1990s during economic crisis. Despite technological innovation, adoption rates remained low. The station redesigned its approach, treating technology transfer as part of rural territorial development rather than isolated innovation, conducting research in six municipalities with locally relevant results.

  • Agritourism as a catalyst for sustainable rural development: Innovations, challenges, and policy perspectives in the post-COVID-19 era

    Danupon Sangnak, Aunchistha Poo-Udom, Panchamaphorn Tamnanwan, Theerapong Kongduang, Suwimol Chanthothai · 2025 · Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development

    This study examines agritourism in Thailand, identifying how farms have adapted post-COVID through diversification, technology adoption, and sustainability focus. Key innovations include immersive learning experiences, precision farming, hydroponics, and cultural tourism models. The research finds that policy frameworks, infrastructure investment, and community empowerment are essential for success. Recommendations include targeted subsidies, capacity-building, and regulatory harmonization to overcome financial and infrastructure barriers.

  • Application of GIS in Introducing Community-Based Biogas Plants from Dairy Farm Waste: Potential of Renewable Energy for Rural Areas in Bangladesh

    Kohinur Aktar, Helmut Yabar, Takeshi Mizunoya, Md. Monirul Islam · 2024 · Geomatics

    This study uses GIS mapping and spatial analysis to identify optimal locations for community-based biogas plants in Bangladesh that convert dairy farm waste into renewable energy. Five feasible sites were identified that could collectively generate 200.60 GWh of electricity annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 104.26 Gg/year CO2eq. The approach integrates geographical, social, economic, and environmental factors to create a practical framework for sustainable waste management and rural energy production.

  • Off-grid photovoltaic-powered capacitive deionization for groundwater desalination in rural Africa

    Yu‐Ting Hsieh, Chen-Shiuan Fan, Sofia Ya Hsuan Liou, Chia‐Hung Hou · 2024 · Water Reuse

    Researchers developed and tested an off-grid water purification system combining solar panels with capacitive deionization technology for rural Uganda. The system successfully desalinated groundwater to meet drinking water standards while operating entirely on solar power, achieving over 60% salt removal and low energy consumption. This innovation provides a practical, modular solution for households lacking access to centralized water and electricity infrastructure.

  • Replicating the suitability rule and economic theory in pursuit of microfinance inclusion of women micro-agribusinesses in rural financial markets

    George Okello Candiya Bongomin, Frederick Semukono, Pierre Yourougou, Rebecca Balinda · 2024 · Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

    Microfinance banks in rural Uganda can improve women micro-agribusiness survival by 29 percentage points when they offer financial products tailored to borrowers' economic conditions. Customized loan products enable poor women farmers to generate sufficient income for timely repayment and business operations. Microfinance institutions should adopt personalized pricing models and product design strategies to reduce loan defaults and increase financial inclusion among rural agricultural entrepreneurs.

  • Grass Hopper Optimization Algorithm for Off-Grid Rural Electrification of an Integrated Renewable Energy System

    Polamarasetty P Kumar, Ramakrishna S S Nuvvula, Vasupalli Manoj · 2022 · E3S Web of Conferences

    This paper develops an optimization algorithm to size integrated renewable energy systems for off-grid rural electrification. The Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm determines optimal combinations of solar panels, wind turbines, biomass generators, and battery storage to minimize power supply failures in remote microgrids. Testing shows the algorithm outperforms existing optimization methods in finding cost-effective system configurations.

  • Optimization of a Micro-grid with Solar PV, Wind Energy and Battery Storage Hybrid System for an agro-based off-grid rural landscape

    Fundiswa Mthethwa, Chandima Gomes, David G. Dorrell · 2021 · 2021 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica

    This paper optimizes a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar PV, wind turbines, and battery storage for off-grid rural agricultural communities. Using HOMER Pro software, the authors determine the most cost-effective sizing of components to reliably power both residential loads and irrigation systems in remote areas, addressing the gap between variable renewable supply and agricultural demand.

  • Documenting the agriculture based indigenous traditional knowledge in Manipur State of North Eastern India

    2021 · Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

    Researchers surveyed eight districts across Manipur in northeastern India to document indigenous agricultural knowledge practices. They identified and validated 15 distinct traditional knowledge systems used by farmers through interviews and triangulation methods. The study argues that combining indigenous practices with modern agricultural approaches—called technology blending—can create new innovations while preserving traditional knowledge before it disappears.

  • Innovation an Eco Friendly Technology: Tanning System using Semi Chrome and Improved Indigenous Tannins (Acacia Nilotica Pods)

    Haj Ali Alim A, Gasm elseed GA, Ahmed AE · 2019 · Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedicine

    Researchers in Sudan developed an eco-friendly leather tanning method using semi-chrome tanning combined with indigenous plant materials—Acacia nilotica pods (Garad) and Neem bark. Testing showed the resulting leather matched or exceeded traditional tanned leather in tensile strength, tear resistance, and thermal stability. Blending these local plant tannins significantly improved leather quality while reducing environmental impact.

  • Profitable small-scale renewable energy systems in agrifood industry and rural areas: demonstration in the wine sector

    José L. Bernal‐Agustín, Rodolfo Dufo‐López, Javier Carroquino, Jesús Sergio Artal Sevil, José A. Domínguez‐Navarro, Ángel A. Bayod-Rújula, Jesús Yago-Loscos · 2017 · Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal

    This EU-funded project demonstrates small-scale renewable energy systems for rural wine production, installing photovoltaic prototypes in vineyard fields and wineries. The systems reduce CO2 emissions from rural energy consumption, enable clean energy for irrigation in areas without grid access, and eliminate noise, waste, and visual impacts from traditional electrical infrastructure. The approach addresses both climate change mitigation and agricultural adaptation.

  • Animal Health Management perspectives of rural livestock farmers in Southwest Nigeria: The place of community based Animal Health Workers

    O.S. Idowu, OO Babalobi · 2011 · Nigerian Veterinary Journal

    Rural livestock farmers in southwest Nigeria rely on community-based animal health workers, indigenous healers, and Fulani pastoralist healers because modern veterinarians are expensive, unreliable, and inaccessible. Farmers rate modern practitioners as more effective but prefer local healers for availability and affordability. The study confirms that community-based animal health workers can effectively address the major livestock health problems farmers face, including disease and production losses.

  • Innovations in the Indigenous Textile Weaving Firms in Southwestern Nigeria

    Stephen Adegbite, Matthew Olugbemiga Ilori, Helen Olubunmi Aderemi · 2011 · International Journal of Business and Management

    This study surveyed 300 small-scale textile weaving firms in southwestern Nigeria to examine technology innovations and their drivers. Most firms reported product innovations, while few adopted process or organizational changes. Male weavers predominantly used horizontal looms and females used vertical looms, with 96% relying on manual production. The research identified critical barriers: 58% lacked technical skills, 87% had no technical education, and 59% faced funding shortages. These deficits constrain firms' ability to adopt modern techniques and innovate.

  • ODL for Agricultural Development and Rural Poverty Reduction: A Comparative Analysis of Innovation and Best Practice in Asia and the Pacific

    Scott McLean, Alexander G. Flor, Malcolm Hazelman · 2006 · The Fourth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF4).

    Open and distance learning (ODL) programs can effectively support agricultural development and rural poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. Analysis of five case studies from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands identified key success factors: strong motivation, cultural sensitivity, adequate infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, and sound teaching methods. Successful programs emphasize collaboration, public-private partnerships, technology use, gender sensitivity, and sustainability.

  • Mapping and Spatial Analysis to Expand Rural Broadband Access

    John C. Kostelnick, Jonathan B. Thayn, Koushik Sinha · 2024 · Papers in Applied Geography

    Rural broadband access remains limited despite its importance for economic development and precision farming. This paper presents GIS and remote sensing methods to identify where broadband expansion would have the greatest agricultural impact and to locate vertical infrastructure assets that could support network expansion. Applied to Illinois counties, the approach quantifies crop production potential in unserved areas and automates mapping of suitable tower locations using LiDAR data to guide broadband investment decisions.

  • ICT adoption, commercial orientation and productivity: Understanding the digital divide in Rural China

    Jian Zhang, Ashok K. Mishra · 2024 · Smart Agricultural Technology

    Chinese smallholders who adopt information and communication technologies—smartphones and internet-connected computers—increase their commercial farm orientation and boost productivity significantly. Land productivity rises 21.3% and labor productivity 28.2% with ICT adoption. Commercial orientation itself improves labor productivity by 35.9%. Young farmers and small-scale operators benefit most. The study recommends policymakers invest in ICT training, digital infrastructure, and support for commercial smallholder production.

  • Demonstration of the potential use of off-grid renewable energy in agricultural production in rural Uganda

    Agnes Mirembe, Ronah Nakiirya, Monica K. Kansiime · 2024 · Open Research Europe

    Rural Ugandan farmers have widely adopted off-grid renewable energy technologies—particularly solar—for agricultural production, with women showing higher adoption rates. Solar powers irrigation and crop drying, while biogas and charcoal briquettes support diverse farming activities. Farmers report time savings, improved health, and income gains, though high upfront costs and limited awareness remain barriers. Scaling requires coordinated support from government, NGOs, and private sectors to fund technology acquisition and build local capacity.

  • Bridging the rural divide: The impact of broadband grants on US agriculture

    Minhae Kim, Jayash Paudel · 2025 · European Review of Agricultural Economics

    The Community Connect Grants Program, which funds broadband infrastructure in rural US communities since 2002, increased crop productivity by 9.3 percent within three years of receiving grants. Low-income areas saw even larger gains, ranging from 6.3 to 13.8 percent. The study demonstrates that expanding high-speed broadband in rural regions directly boosts agricultural productivity.

  • Off-Grid Renewable Energy Solutions for Agro-Rural Community Development in Nigeria

    Nkolika O. Nwazor, Julius N. Aguni, Remigius O. Okeke · 2025 · Advances in science and technology

    Nigeria faces severe energy access deficits despite abundant renewable resources. This study identifies off-grid renewable energy solutions—solar, biomass, hydro, and wind technologies—as cost-effective alternatives that can significantly enhance rural electrification and development in Nigerian agricultural communities.

  • How does science and technology finance affect the agricultural green development: an interpretation from the perspective of rural human capital and agricultural industrial agglomeration

    Sheng Yao, Guosong Wu, Zhang Shu · 2025 · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

    Science and technology financing significantly promotes agricultural green development in China through rural human capital improvements, though agricultural industrial agglomeration partially masks this effect. The relationship is non-linear: marginal effects increase with higher science and technology finance levels but decrease when mediated through rural human capital or industrial agglomeration. Regional differences are minimal.

  • The roles of innovations for village development in rural-urban linkages in West Java Province

    Dahri Tanjung, Agit Kriswantriyono, Yeti Lies Purnamadewi, Didik Suhardjito, Yulia Puspadewi Wulandari · 2024 · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science

    Village development in West Java depends on innovations in agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries. Rural communities successfully adopt innovations when connected to urban knowledge networks and resources. Key barriers include limited human capital, financing, and network access. Innovations that boost productivity, product quality, value addition, and digital marketing drive village economic growth.

  • Indigenous Innovations: Propelling Drones with SYNCREL Motor

    Prabhu Sundaramoorthy, Partha Aswanth Kaperla, Chandravardhan Thummala, Sreekanth Valmiki, Punitha Devireddy, Arun Vijayakumar · 2024

    Researchers modeled and analyzed a synchronous reluctance motor designed for drone applications using finite element analysis. The 24V motor achieved 1.25 Nm rated torque and operated at 6000 RPM with a maximum temperature of 59°C. The study examined performance characteristics including torque, inductance, current patterns, heat distribution, and harmonic behavior, comparing structural responses across different harmonic orders.

  • Análise aplicada a sistemas fotovoltaicos off-grid em processos industriais na zona rural

    Fernando Carvalho Assunção da Silva, Fernando Nunes Belchior, Marcelo Nunes Fonseca · 2023 · Revista de Gestão e Secretariado (Management and Administrative Professional Review)

    Rural industrial organizations in Brazil face frequent power supply interruptions due to inadequate grid infrastructure investment, causing production losses. This paper analyzes the technical and financial viability of off-grid photovoltaic systems as an alternative energy solution. The study demonstrates that solar photovoltaic systems can effectively replace conventional diesel generators, providing a reliable, efficient, and renewable energy source for rural industrial operations.

  • AI-advanced MPPT for optimized hybrid solar-wind energy harvesting in off-grid rural electrification: Fabrication and performance modeling

    Val Hyginus Udoka Eze · 2025 · KIU journal of science engineering and technology

    Hybrid solar-wind systems can reliably power remote rural areas, but their intermittent nature reduces efficiency. This review examines AI-driven maximum power point tracking techniques—artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic control, and reinforcement learning—that optimize energy extraction in real time. Each approach has trade-offs in accuracy, computational demands, and training requirements. Practical implementation requires careful hardware selection and controller design. Simulation and testing confirm these AI methods significantly improve power extraction and system reliability for off-grid rural electrification.

  • Numerical performance assessment of an innovative PV-driven air-conditioning system based on hydraulic vapour-compression concept for off-grid rural houses

    Merzaka Dahmani, Fouad Khaldi, Driss Stitou, Hamza Semmari · 2025 · International Journal of Ambient Energy

    This paper evaluates a photovoltaic-powered air-conditioning system using hydraulic vapor-compression technology designed for off-grid rural homes. The researchers assess the system's numerical performance, demonstrating how solar energy can provide cooling to remote rural areas without grid connection. The innovation combines renewable energy generation with efficient cooling technology to address rural electrification and climate control challenges.

  • SOCIETY 5.0 AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AND INNOVATION: A NEW PARADIGM FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

    Cariša Bešić, Dragan Ćoćkalo, Mihalj Bakator, Sanja Stanisavljev, Srđan Bogetić · 2024 · Ekonomika poljoprivrede

    Society 5.0 integrates advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and robotics into agriculture to balance economic growth with social benefits. The paper analyzes how this technological shift transforms agricultural practices and business models for rural development. It introduces the Agricultural Business and Rural Development Potential index to forecast three scenarios—optimistic, conservative, and pessimistic—for agricultural innovation and rural outcomes.

  • Integration of renewable energy-powered cold storage solutions for reducing post-harvest food waste in rural agricultural areas

    Oluwaseun Francis Owolabi, Dupe Stella Ogundipe, Peter Makinde · 2024 · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews

    Researchers developed a renewable energy-powered cold storage system combining solar and wind power with smart sensors and AI for rural farms. Field trials in the UK and US showed the system reduced post-harvest food waste by 43.5%, extended produce shelf-life by 300%, and increased farmer income by 43%. It cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to diesel systems and achieved strong economic returns and farmer adoption rates.

  • Modeling of an Off-Grid Stand Alone Solar PV with Battery Backup System for an Isolated Rural Area

    Md. Ismail Hossain, Riadul Islam, Shirin Begum, Nasif Hannan, Md. Tanvir Rahman, Abu Shufian · 2024

    This paper designs and tests an off-grid solar system with battery storage for remote rural areas using MATLAB simulation. The system combines a solar array, battery unit, and advanced battery management to deliver stable power across seven operating modes. It achieves over 90% efficiency and maintains steady voltage output, with real-time monitoring enabling quick mode transitions under 200 milliseconds. Maximum power point tracking methods boost efficiency by up to 25% despite changing sunlight conditions.

  • Knowledge-Based Approaches to Adaptive Agriculture: An Ethnoecological Case Study of Indigenous Communities in Climate Change Adaptation

    Yohanes Kamakaula, Obadja A. Fenetiruma · 2024 · Agro Bali Agricultural Journal

    Indigenous vegetable farmers in Dieng, Java integrate traditional ethnoecological knowledge with adaptive farming practices to build agricultural resilience against climate change. Community leaders, elders, and government support through subsidies, loans, and policies protecting customary land rights drive successful adoption of these indigenous practices. The findings suggest these approaches have potential for broader implementation in similar regions.

  • Optimal capacity configuration of PV water pumping system for off-grid rural communities

    Basma Abulkheir, Eid Gouda, A. A. Hegazi, Amir Abdel Menaem · 2023

    This paper develops a techno-economic method to optimally size photovoltaic water pumping systems for off-grid rural communities. The approach determines the best combination of solar panel capacity and water storage tank volume while accounting for solar radiation variability and system reliability. Applied to a village in Egypt's Western Desert, the method balances lifecycle costs against water supply reliability, offering practical solutions for rural areas lacking electrical grid access.

  • Agriculture Teachers’ Perceptions on the Inclusion of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Secondary School Agriculture Curriculum, Nakuru County, Kenya

    Monica Chepngetich Samoei · 2023 · Education Quarterly Reviews

    Agriculture teachers in Nakuru County, Kenya recognize the value of indigenous technical knowledge in farming. Over 50% of teachers are aware of indigenous crop and livestock practices and view them as cheap, reliable, and enriching. Most teachers support including this knowledge in secondary school agriculture curriculum because it equips students with practical, diverse farming skills. Some teachers resist inclusion, citing curriculum overcrowding and outdated practices.

  • Indigenous Innovation in Orthopedic Robotics: Making Joint Replacement Affordable in India

    Kunal Aneja, Ponnanna Karineravanda Machaiah, Ashok Shyam · 2026 · Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports

    Robotic joint replacement surgery improves precision and recovery but remains inaccessible in India due to high costs and limited training. Indigenous robotic platforms engineered locally can reduce expenses while maintaining accuracy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals and adapting to local anatomical and economic conditions. Achieving equitable access requires collaboration between clinicians, industry, insurers, and policymakers to transform robotic surgery from a premium service into scalable standard care.

  • Leveraging ICT for Knowledge-Driven Agripreneurial Innovations: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Rural Economies

    Mukul Bhatnagar, Sanjay Taneja, Ercan Özen, Sabina Sehajpal · 2025 · e-mentor

    This study examines how information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, knowledge of sustainable practices, and ICT literacy influence farmers' adoption of sustainable agricultural innovations. Using structural equation modeling on survey data, the researchers found that all three factors significantly drive adoption, with knowledge acquisition for sustainable practices having the strongest effect, followed by ICT infrastructure access and ICT literacy.

  • Field evaluation of a hand-powered reverse osmosis system for sustainable water purification in off-grid rural India

    Kenji Takeuchi, Armando D. Martinez-Iniesta, Juan L. Fajardo-Diaz, Masatsugu Fujishige, Keita Otsuka, Jun Maeda, Yuya Ogino, Gen Igari, Manabu Yokouchi, Koji Nagata, Ambreen Shaikh, George Richards, Morinobu Endo · 2025 · Results in Engineering

    Researchers developed and tested a hand-powered reverse osmosis water purification system in rural India that operates without electricity. Field trials over six months in West Bengal and Rajasthan showed the system rejected 88–94% of dissolved solids while using half the energy of commercial alternatives. Community surveys confirmed users accepted the technology and valued the improved water quality, demonstrating viability for off-grid rural areas lacking infrastructure.

  • Financing Climate Resilience: NABARD’s Role in Sustainable Rural Development in India

    Sudharson CHHETRI · 2025 · International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

    NABARD, India's agricultural development bank and Green Climate Fund implementing entity, mobilizes climate finance to strengthen rural resilience. The paper examines NABARD's funding mechanisms and projects addressing climate adaptation and mitigation in Indian agriculture, which faces threats from monsoon dependence, low irrigation, fragmented farms, and weak infrastructure. These initiatives support sustainable rural development and environmental sustainability.

  • Innovation as a factor in successful rural development

    Svetlana Golovina, Ekaterina Abilova, С. А. Головихин, Alfiya Kuznetsova · 2024 · BIO Web of Conferences

    Agricultural development in rural areas requires technological, social, and organizational innovations to ensure food security and deliver essential services. The study identifies digital innovation, climate adaptation, and community engagement as critical for rural prosperity amid geopolitical and environmental challenges. All three innovation types—technological, social, and organizational—prove essential for sustainable rural development and local management.

  • Willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting in rural India

    Pleasa Serin Abraham, Haripriya Gundimeda, Jayendran Venkateshwaran, Chetan Singh Solanki · 2024 · Asian Development Policy Review

    Rural Indian households increase their willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting products after using solar study lamps. The study surveyed 663 households and found that exposure to solar technology boosts confidence and adoption intent. Key factors driving willingness to pay include current kerosene spending, electricity reliability, household assets, awareness of kerosene health risks, and solar product specifications.

  • Research on the current situation of rural poverty alleviation and future development innovation in the era of big data

    Yujie Yang, Tingting Li, Hongyu Zhu · 2023 · Industrial Engineering and Innovation Management

    Big data technology can accelerate rural poverty alleviation by improving agricultural production, increasing sales, and reducing costs. The paper argues that integrating big data with agriculture—by introducing market information, improved planting methods, and talent to rural areas—offers an effective pathway for rural development and poverty reduction.

  • A Smart Innovation Development of Agriculture Based Irrigation Systems for Rural Heritages

    Beemkumar Nagappan, T. Ramachandran · 2023

    Smart irrigation systems are critical for rural agriculture, delivering water reliably and preventing soil erosion while improving crop yields. However, these systems face challenges including high installation and maintenance costs, water loss, and over-irrigation risks. The paper recommends farmers adopt water conservation practices like drip irrigation and water recycling, research efficient systems suited to local conditions, and monitor systems carefully to address problems.

  • Techno-economic feasibility of photovoltaic, BESS, diesel and hybrid electrification for off-grid rural systems in Algeria

    Salvatore Fabozzi, Giovanna Adinolfi, Maria Valenti, Giorgio Graditi, S. De Iuliis · 2023

    This paper evaluates hybrid energy systems combining photovoltaic panels, battery storage, and diesel generators for three off-grid rural communities in Algeria. The authors optimize system sizing to minimize fossil fuel consumption and costs, then model hourly performance across seasons and calculate investment payback periods. Sensitivity analysis shows how diesel price fluctuations affect economic viability of the hybrid approach.

  • Assessing the feasibility of off-grid photovoltaic systems for rural electrification

    Murat İspir, Muharrem Hilmi Aksoy · 2023 · International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies

    Researchers modeled an off-grid photovoltaic system for a rural residence in Konya, Turkey, designed to meet daily energy consumption of 39,974 Wh. A 9.45 kWp system with optimized angles fulfilled 90.8% of annual energy requirements. Summer production exceeded demand and fully charged batteries, while winter production fell short. The system demonstrates technical feasibility for rural electrification in areas without grid access, though seasonal variations significantly affect performance.

  • Sustainable Agricultural Education and Career Aspirations: (Re)engaging Cambodia’s Rural Youth in Agricultural Innovation

    Samantha Lindgren, Ghaida S. Alrawashdeh · 2026 · Journal of Education for Sustainable Development

    Rural high school students in Cambodia who participated in sustainable agricultural education programs focusing on farming innovations showed increased interest in agricultural careers. The study found that exposure to modern, innovative approaches to farming—including sustainable mechanization—made students view agriculture as a viable career path and recognize education's importance in the sector, countering global trends of youth leaving farming.

  • SunVolt: A Sustainable Solar-Powered Battery Charger In Rural Off-Grid Communities

    Rodolfo L. Rabia, Ashley Nicole L. Tizon, Arvey Faith B. Paquibot, Ritchen G. Ibañez, Samuel P. Tabuena, Regine R. Ruallo · 2026 · Open MIND

    Researchers designed and tested SunVolt, a solar-powered battery charging system for rural off-grid communities. The system uses Arduino microcontroller technology to manage solar panels, batteries, and sensors that monitor energy conversion in real time. Testing showed SunVolt effectively stores solar energy, prevents overcharging, and reliably supports household and agricultural activities while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and expensive grid electricity.

  • Institutional Finance and Its Role in The Development of Agribusiness Enterprises: A Study of Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka

    Mohan Kumar D · 2026 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    Institutional finance is critical for agribusiness enterprises in rural areas to adopt modern technology and improve productivity. This study of Bengaluru Rural District found that while institutional financial institutions address agribusiness funding needs, procedural delays, collateral requirements, and lack of awareness hinder efficient credit use. The research recommends improving financial literacy, streamlining loan processes, and providing institutional support.

  • Exploring the Development of Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent in Guangxi under the Rural Revitalization Strategy

    仁焕 李 · 2025 · Advances in Education

    Guangxi's agricultural talent development faces critical challenges including brain drain, structural imbalances, and weak training systems. The paper proposes solutions through improved talent cultivation frameworks, better recruitment policies, stronger incentive mechanisms, and closer industry-university-research partnerships to support rural revitalization.

  • Research on Agricultural Economic Management Innovation and Sustainable Development Paths in Rural Areas under the Rural Revitalization Strategy

    Hezuo Chu · 2025 · World Economy and Management research

    Rural areas face critical challenges transitioning from traditional to modern, high-quality agricultural economies. This paper identifies core obstacles—labor migration, slow technology adoption, and narrow industry structures—and analyzes how agricultural economic management drives improvements in production efficiency, market expansion, and sustainability. The authors propose implementation pathways through institutional innovation, technological advancement, and industry integration to address rural development bottlenecks and support rural revitalization.

  • High Quality Development of County-Level Rural E-Commerce: Exploration of Collaborative Innovation Path in Pingyi County

    谱 葛 · 2025 · E-Commerce Letters

    Pingyi County in Shandong Province developed high-quality rural e-commerce by combining characteristic industrial clusters with e-commerce public services through collaborative innovation. Government policy and funding, enterprise-led product innovation, and social organization support created deep synergy. The county faces challenges in technological innovation, logistics costs, talent shortages, and supply chain coordination. Solutions include dedicated R&D funding, cold chain logistics expansion, school-enterprise partnerships, and data-sharing platforms to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration.

  • Advancing Gender-Responsive AI in Higher Education: A Participatory Rural Appraisal of Traditional and Modern Food Processing Innovations in Uganda

    Wilberforce Okongo, Wilson Okaka · 2025 · East African Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

    This study examines how gender-responsive AI in higher education can advance sustainable food systems in Uganda by bridging traditional and modern food processing practices. Research reveals that rural women, who dominate traditional food systems, face barriers to accessing AI-driven innovations due to socio-economic disparities, limited digital literacy, and poor infrastructure. The authors propose universities embed gender-responsive AI into participatory curricula, develop culturally relevant low-cost tools, and establish cross-sector partnerships to create inclusive technologies that amplify women's expertise while integrating modern efficiencies toward achieving food security and gender equality.

  • Research on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Model of Local Agricultural Colleges under the Background of Rural Revitalization: A Case Study of Anhui Agricultural University

    Weiwei Wang, Zhiping Zhang, Mengjie Wu, Tiancai Han · 2025 · International Education Forum

    Anhui Agricultural University developed an innovation and entrepreneurship education model combining five-level platforms, four-dimensional systems, and three-party collaboration to train agricultural talent for rural revitalization. The model addresses key gaps in agricultural education through maker spaces, industry partnerships, and competition-driven learning, effectively connecting classroom instruction to practical agricultural modernization needs.

  • Sustainable Agriculture Development in Rural Regions: The Combination of Green Innovation, Green Supply Chains, and Farmer Education

    Aneela Qadir, Li Guangming, Muhammad Arshad, Huiqin Zhao, Wang Haiyan · 2025 · Sustainable Development

    Green innovation, digital technology, and farmer education work together to advance sustainable agriculture in rural areas. A study of 466 farmers in China found that green innovation adoption and efficient green supply chains reduce resource use and emissions. Farmer education strengthens these effects by enhancing how farmers use technology. The research shows these elements form an integrated system that policymakers can coordinate to support rural development aligned with sustainable development goals.

  • Empowering rural communities through corncob-based feed innovation for sustainable agriculture in special purpose forest area (KHDTK) Ngrawoh Village, Blora, Central Java, Indonesia

    Yogi Sidik Prasojo, Bambang Suwignyo, Widiyatno Widiyatno, Bayu Prasetyo, Mustafa Kamal, Ghulam Miftahussalam, Rohmat Pujipurnomo, Diafan Kurnia Jati, Purwondo · 2025 · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science

    A rural community in Central Java, Indonesia developed WanaFeed, a livestock feed product from processed corncob waste, addressing both environmental degradation and expensive feed costs. Supported by foundations and universities, the initiative established a production facility, trained farmers, and implemented digital marketing. Within two years, the program converted 70% of village corncob waste into feed, produced over 12 tons monthly, reduced feed costs, created jobs, and improved sustainable waste management practices.

  • Community-Centred Sericulture Innovation for Strengthening Rural Development and Home-Based Self-Employment

    Laxmi V. Ambhorkar · 2025 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    This research develops community-driven sericulture models that integrate mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk-based enterprises to generate rural employment and household income. The study examines how home-based sericulture with low-cost technologies, eco-friendly practices, and zero-waste approaches can empower women, reduce seasonal migration, and strengthen rural livelihoods through cooperative marketing and digital sales platforms.

  • Rural Energy Access and Agricultural Productivity in South Africa

    Opeyemi Nathaniel Oladunjoye, Mpho Chaka · 2025 · International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy

    South Africa expanded electricity access from 34% in 1991 to 85% in 2018, but rural areas lagged behind urban areas. Using a Cobb-Douglas production function, this study examined how rural energy access affects agricultural productivity. The findings show that rural energy access surprisingly had a negative influence on agricultural productivity, while urban energy access promoted it. Labor participation, capital investment, and rainfall emerged as stronger drivers of agricultural productivity.

  • Novel Dynamic Inverter Control Mechanism for Reliable Solar-PV Energy Access in Weak Rural Grids

    Gajendra Singh Chawda, Wencong Su, Mengqi Wang · 2025

    Researchers developed a decentralized solar photovoltaic system for low-income rural communities with weak electrical grids. The 5 kW system uses novel control mechanisms to track maximum power output under changing sunlight and stabilize voltage during grid disturbances. It meets power quality standards and achieves over 96% efficiency, reducing dependence on diesel generators and centralized grids while providing reliable electricity for households and agriculture.

  • Sistema fotovoltaico off-grid com baterias em zona rural – estudo de caso

    Fernando Carvalho Assunção da Silva, Fernando Nunes Belchior, Marcelo Nunes Fonseca · 2025 · OBSERVATÓRIO DE LA ECONOMÍA LATINOAMERICANA

    Rural producers in Goiás, Brazil face significant losses from power outages that spoil stored food and kill livestock. This case study compares three energy systems for a rural property: grid electricity with backup generator, grid with off-grid solar, and grid with off-grid solar plus batteries. Financial analysis using NPV, IRR, and levelized cost of electricity shows that solar with battery storage delivers the best long-term viability despite requiring nine times higher initial investment than traditional grid-plus-generator systems.

  • Performance Optimization of Biomass-Fuelled Thermoelectric Cookstoves for Off-Grid Rural Electrification

    Lankesh Kumar. K · 2025 · International Scientific Journal of Engineering and Management

    Researchers designed and optimized a portable biomass-fueled cookstove that generates electricity through thermoelectric technology. Testing various heat sink designs and adding phase-change material insulation, the stove produced 3-7 volts of direct current sufficient to power LED lights and communication devices. The system offers reliable off-grid electricity for remote and disaster-prone rural areas lacking grid infrastructure.

  • Development of a solar photovoltaic-biogas hybrid microgrid for off-grid rural communities in Uganda

    Emmanuel Wokulira Miyingo, David Sunday Tusubira, Roseline Akol, Sheila Mugala, Davis Kayiza Kawooya · 2025 · SAIEE Africa Research Journal

    Rural Uganda lacks electricity access for over 80% of inhabitants, forcing reliance on biomass and primitive stoves while generating substantial agricultural waste. This study designed and piloted a solar photovoltaic-biogas hybrid microgrid combining abundant solar resources with animal waste. Financial analysis proved the hybrid system viable with positive returns, while solar alone was not. A pilot serving seven users launched successfully in April 2024 with enthusiastic community response, demonstrating the system's potential to simultaneously address energy poverty and waste management across off-grid Ugandan communities.

  • Development of a Water Impulse Turbine for Pico-Hydro Energy Generation in Off-Grid Rural Areas

    Ahmad Aiman Johaimi, Khairul Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Farriz Basar, Nurul Ashikin Mohd Rais, Kamaruzzaman Sopian · 2025 · Journal of Power and Energy Engineering

    Researchers designed and tested a water impulse turbine for pico-hydro power generation in off-grid rural areas. The Pelton turbine operates under ultra-low head conditions using flowing streams and rivers. Testing with varying pipe sizes, bucket configurations, and flow rates showed the system achieved maximum efficiency of 88.14% at 89.8 RPM. Pico-hydro offers a low-cost, clean alternative to expensive grid extension in remote forested regions.

  • Energy survey and MATLAB/Simulink Simulation of 24VDC lighting systems for off-grid rural houses in Papua New Guinea

    Sylvester Tirones, Yue Hu · 2025 · Engineering Science & Technology Journal

    This paper designs and simulates a 24V DC lighting system for off-grid rural households in Papua New Guinea using solar PV and battery storage with a DC-DC boost converter. Testing shows the system maintains stable 24V output with 92% peak efficiency and successfully handles varying battery voltage and load changes. Lighting dominates evening demand (78%, 6pm-11pm). The authors provide a practical reference design and component-sizing guidance for deploying solar-based electrification in PNG's rural areas.

  • Powering tomorrow’s farms: A roadmap for hydrogen energy systems in off-grid rural agricultural decarbonization

    Jacobo Puga Sanchez, Saeed Manshadi · 2025 · Energy Reports

    This paper develops a practical roadmap for implementing hydrogen energy systems on off-grid farms to reduce agricultural emissions. It compares hydrogen systems against renewable energy and diesel alternatives, examines costs and logistics of hydrogen transport, analyzes power electronics integration, explores hydrogen use in farm vehicles, and proposes a simplified system design to help farmers adopt the technology. The work targets researchers, engineers, and policymakers working on sustainable agriculture.

  • Building a CNN Based Pest Detection System for Off Grid Hydroponic Farming in Rural South Africa

    Yusra Adnan, Taryn Wilson, Sarina Till · 2025

    Researchers developed an AI-powered pest detection system for off-grid hydroponic farming in rural South Africa. Using a convolutional neural network trained on common pests like spider mites and aphids, the system runs locally on a Raspberry Pi without internet connectivity. The technology successfully automates pest detection in resource-constrained settings, reducing manual crop inspections and improving food security for subsistence farmers facing climate challenges and limited agricultural resources.

  • Cost–Benefit and Performance Outlook for Off-Grid Solar Solutions in Rural South Cianjur

    Aryo De Wibowo Muhammad Sidik, Nur Hasan Kurniawan, Sitti Hikmawatty, Erwin Rasyid, Denny Suriandhi, Purwanto, Sudar Fauzi, Aang Rahmatulla · 2025

    Off-grid solar power systems offer a viable solution for rural electrification in South Cianjur, Indonesia. Using HOMER Pro modeling, researchers analyzed technical configurations and economic metrics including net present cost, levelized electricity cost, payback period, and return on investment. The analysis confirms that off-grid solar is both sustainable and affordable for remote communities, despite interest rate impacts, and demonstrates potential for scaling to other underserved regions.

  • Village-Scale Off-Grid Solar Microgrids: Advancing Rural Electrification Through Distributed Generation and Storage

    Marcellin Jay C. Panes · 2025

    This paper designs and evaluates village-scale solar microgrids using distributed generation and storage to provide reliable electricity to rural communities. The system achieves 96.7% efficiency with minimal voltage loss and produces competitive electricity costs. The technology delivers measurable socio-economic benefits including improved healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, offering a practical solution for rural electrification.

  • Comparative Methodologies for Off-Grid Energy System Diagnostics: A Quasi-Experimental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Rural Ghana

    Kwame Kumi Asare, Ama Mensah, Kofi Ankomah · 2025 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    Remote monitoring diagnostics for off-grid solar systems in rural Ghana detected 34% more critical failures per pound spent than technician-led checks, while community-led reporting produced unreliable data despite lower costs. The study compared three diagnostic approaches across 45 communities using quasi-experimental methods. Remote monitoring proved most cost-effective for identifying major faults, though policymakers should combine it with simplified community feedback for comprehensive system assessment.

  • Methodological Evaluation of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in South Africa: A Panel-Data Estimation of Efficiency Gains in Rural Agriculture

    Thandeka Nkosi · 2025 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

    Off-grid solar photovoltaic systems significantly boost technical efficiency in South African smallholder farming by 18.2 percentage points. Using panel-data econometric methods with stochastic frontier analysis, the study isolates the causal effect of PV adoption on farm productivity, finding the largest gains in irrigation and post-harvest processing. The research demonstrates that off-grid solar functions as a capital-enhancing input and recommends integrating targeted PV subsidies into agricultural support programs.

  • Harnessing Sarawak’s Indigenous resources: innovations in product development

    Hun Pin Chua, David Nicholas, A.R. Zuraida · 2025 · Food Research

    Sarawak's tropical rainforests contain over 100 indigenous fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices with significant untapped economic potential. MARDI Sarawak developed value-added products from resources like dabai, terung asam, and wild pepper—including herbal drinks, condiments, and premixed powders—to generate sustainable income for rural communities. The paper demonstrates how strategic product development from indigenous crops can drive economic growth in the agri-food sector.

  • Africa's Indigenous Automotive Innovation: A Focus on Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and the Future of Electric Vehicle Marketing

    Nnamdi O. Madichie, Anayo D. Nkamnebe · 2025 · Journal of Sustainable Marketing

    Indigenous African automotive manufacturers like Nigeria's Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing are driving electric vehicle innovation despite infrastructure and cost challenges. The study shows that entrepreneurship, local systems, and government policies shape industry growth. Success requires aligned policies, education, and industrial strategies to build sustainable, globally competitive enterprises.

  • Adaptability of Artificial Intelligence to Indigenous Knowledge of Agricultural Practices by Local Farmers in North Central, Nigeria

    S. A. Busari, H. S. Banuso, Abdulrauf Tosho · 2025 · International Journal of Natural Science and Engineering

    Local farmers in North Central Nigeria hold positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence in agriculture, but successful adoption requires culturally sensitive approaches that respect indigenous knowledge systems. The study recommends collaborative design involving technologists, anthropologists, and farmers, with government support for farmer participation in AI implementation and ongoing monitoring to ensure solutions align with local values and enhance rather than replace traditional practices.

  • Knowledge of the tribal farmers on indigenous agricultural practices in paddy cultivation in the Pachaimalai hills of Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu

    Murugan Mukilan, Dipak Kumar Bose · 2025 · International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

    Tribal farmers in Tamil Nadu's Pachaimalai hills use indigenous agricultural practices for paddy cultivation that prove low-cost, reliable, and effective. The study documents their traditional knowledge of seed germination, storage, and pest management, including use of a traditional container called 'kudhir' to protect stored grain. These practices address disease management without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, offering sustainable alternatives to contemporary agricultural technologies.

  • Exploring Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sustainable Agricultural Extension Practices

    Dance Tangkesalu · 2025 · Formosa Journal of Science and Technology

    Local knowledge systems significantly enhance sustainable agricultural extension practices. Traditional practices like season-based planting, soil management, and water conservation remain effective for production sustainability. Integrating indigenous wisdom into extension learning materials improves adoption rates and agribusiness outcomes. Combining local knowledge with modern extension approaches creates more effective, participatory, and context-appropriate agricultural extension models.

Media stories — 46

  • Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture receives extension, expands enrollment

    Virginia Tech News

    A Virginia Tech-led initiative providing financial incentives and technical support to help farmers adopt climate-smart practices received a one-year extension through 2027 from the USDA. The $80 million program has enrolled 1,800 farms across 475,000 acres in four states since 2023. The extension enables continued enrollment, expanded livestock producer support, and comprehensive measurement of environmental and economic outcomes.

  • Rethinking Rural and Enterprise Broadband: Why Static Public IP Capabilities Matter for Africa's Wireless Networks

    Intelligent CIO · 2026-02-17

    Fixed wireless, satellite, and cellular networks are bridging Africa's uneven fibre coverage gap. A new edge-based architecture from Cambium Networks assigns static public IPv4 addresses over encrypted tunnels to remote sites, enabling enterprise-grade security, VPN access, and direct service hosting for rural businesses and healthcare facilities without carrier-grade network address translation limitations.

  • Innovation in India's Rural Economy

    Bain & Company

    India's rural economy, which generates nearly half the nation's GDP and employs 350 million people, is undergoing rapid digital transformation. Smartphone penetration and internet access have surged 30% annually over five years, while data costs plummeted 65%. Agricultural technology startups attracted $800 million in investment between 2017 and 2020. Digital payment platforms and microfinance innovations are expanding credit access, with agri-credit growing 10% annually. New business models addressing supply chain inefficiencies position the sector for significant growth.

  • Rural India's AI workforce: From farms to data labeling

    Taipei Times · 2026-02-04

    Rural Indian workers, particularly women from tribal and conservative backgrounds, are combining farming with night shifts labeling data for artificial intelligence systems. An estimated 200,000 annotators in villages and small towns now perform essential machine-learning work remotely, earning $275–$550 monthly while gaining financial independence and challenging social attitudes toward female employment.

  • India's AI Revolution in Rural Development

    Drishti IAS · 2026-02-28

    India is deploying artificial intelligence across rural governance, agriculture, healthcare, and education to improve service delivery and livelihoods. Tools like SabhaSaar for panchayat meetings, eGramSwaraj for local administration, and Kisan e-Mitra for farmers support decentralized decision-making. The IndiaAI Mission and multilingual platforms like BHASHINI address digital access barriers, though challenges remain: infrastructure deficits, algorithmic bias, and job displacement risks.

  • The Next Generation of Agtech in Brazil

    Americas Quarterly

    Agrosmart, a Brazilian agtech startup founded in 2014, uses artificial intelligence and sensor technology to help over 100,000 farmers across nine countries optimize irrigation, planting, and crop care decisions. The company's app monitors 48 million hectares and provides real-time weather forecasts and soil data. As Latin America's agtech market grows toward $10.4 billion by 2033, Agrosmart exemplifies how integrated data platforms address climate unpredictability in tropical agriculture.

  • How AI is helping improve heart health in rural Australia

    Google Blog

    Google is partnering with Australian health organizations to deploy AI technology that identifies hidden heart disease risks in remote communities, where residents are 60% more likely to die from heart disease than urban dwellers. The initiative uses Google's Population Health AI to analyze clinical and geographic data, enabling targeted health screenings and interventions tailored to specific communities rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

  • Agricultural Technology Ecosystems in East Africa: Taking Stock – Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda

    Knowledge for Policy (European Commission)

    This report examines agricultural technology ecosystems across Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, assessing the current state of agtech adoption and innovation in East Africa. It provides a regional overview of how farmers and agribusinesses access and implement new technologies to improve productivity and sustainability in the region.

  • Poverty Eradication in Guatemala

    Borgen Magazine

    Guatemala tackles poverty affecting 55% of its population through agricultural technology, digital education, mental health AI platforms, clean water innovations, and solar energy access. USAID's Feed the Future program trains small farmers in modern techniques, reaching 36,800 producers in 2021. Complementary initiatives deploy mobile learning labs in indigenous communities, AI-powered mental health services, pedal-powered water systems, and prepaid solar energy to drive inclusive economic growth.

  • From Fields to the Future: £21.5m Drives UK Farm Innovation

    Big Up Britain · 2026-02-01

    The UK Government awarded £21.5 million to 15 agricultural innovation projects across England through the Farming Innovation Programme. Projects include precision-bred crops like vitamin D-enriched tomatoes, low-emissions fertilisers for dairy farms, climate-resilient hemp varieties, and methane reduction technologies. The funding aims to help farms cut emissions, boost productivity, and strengthen resilience while supporting long-term food security.

  • Innovation Critical to Sustaining Jobs and Growth in Central and Eastern Europe

    World Bank Group · 2026-03-12

    Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania could boost labor productivity by 10–15 percent through wider adoption of digital technologies and AI tools, according to a World Bank report. The region must shift from trade-driven growth to innovation-led productivity gains. Smaller firms lag in digital adoption, and R&D spending remains below EU averages, limiting competitiveness and job creation.

  • It's time to give agriculture the attention it deserves

    Emerging Europe

    Central and Eastern Europe's agriculture sector, accounting for 2–5% of GDP and employing millions, remains underinvested and undervalued compared to tech and manufacturing. The region hosts emerging agri-tech innovators like Poland's SatAgro and Lithuania's Agrokoncernas, while venture capital investment reached €3 billion in 2023. Modernizing agriculture through technology, land consolidation, and sustainability practices could boost productivity, create rural jobs, and strengthen Europe's food security.

  • Central and Eastern Europe join forces to advance sustainable bioeconomies through the BIOEAST initiative

    Rural Pact

    Eleven Central and Eastern European countries launched BIOEAST to build sustainable, knowledge-based bioeconomies in rural areas. The initiative develops national bioeconomy strategies, strengthens research capacity, and creates value-added chains across agriculture, forestry, energy and food systems. Working groups and digital platforms connect governments, researchers and local actors to drive rural innovation and job creation.

  • Asia's fintech boom widens gap in financial inclusion

    Payment Expert · 2026-04-23

    Asia's rapid fintech expansion—driven by AI super-apps, tokenised deposits, and advanced payment systems—is leaving rural communities and older populations behind. While China and Japan lead in innovation and Thailand's PromptPay reaches 92 million users, many remain unbanked and distrustful of digital systems. Experts argue that simpler solutions, education, and localisation are essential to achieve genuine financial inclusion.

  • Drones and AI transform agriculture in rural China

    CGTN · 2026-04-23

    China deploys drones and artificial intelligence across rural regions to modernize agriculture. In Hubei's mountainous citrus orchards, over 700 drones improve logistics and farm management. In Xinjiang's cotton fields, AI systems enable 75% unmanned operations and boost yields to 7,800 kilograms per hectare. These technologies reduce costs, improve efficiency, create rural jobs, and help farmers access distant markets.

  • Drones and Artificial Intelligence Leading Agricultural Innovation

    Auburn University Wire · 2026-04-26

    USDA and Auburn University researchers are developing drone and AI technologies to transform agricultural operations across row crops, pastures, and specialty crops. The collaborative research focuses on improving material delivery systems, sensor capabilities, and autonomous navigation while testing practical applications like cover crop seeding, pest monitoring, and harvest timing to help Alabama farmers make better management decisions.

  • Spray drones expand beyond pesticide application on U.S. farms

    Agronews · 2026-04-26

    Drone use on U.S. farms is expanding beyond spraying to include crop-health scouting, infrastructure inspections, and parts delivery. Falling equipment costs and improving sensor technology make multispectral imaging affordable for more producers. Regulatory compliance and operator training remain key barriers, but advancing autonomy and connectivity enable new income streams and multi-drone coordination.

  • EAVISION to Showcase Autonomous Drone Solutions for Complex Farming at Agrishow 2026

    Barchart

    EAVISION will demonstrate its J150 autonomous drone system at Agrishow 2026 in Brazil, addressing farming challenges in complex terrain. The drone adjusts to uneven landscapes in real time, maintaining consistent pesticide application across dense crop canopies while reducing drift and waste. The system also handles seed and fertilizer spreading, supporting more efficient operations in regions where terrain restricts traditional machinery.

  • Africa needs innovation-led growth powered by data and tech

    African Business

    African governments must shift from input-driven growth to innovation-led development powered by data and frontier technologies to create quality jobs. The continent needs comprehensive skills development in STEM and digital literacy, industrial policies integrating emerging technologies across agriculture and manufacturing, strategic investment in data infrastructure, and new financing models for tech ventures. Countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Egypt demonstrate this approach works when education, industrial policy, and digital strategy align.

  • Robotics build path from rural Kenya to world stage

    TechXplore · 2026-02-01

    A Kenyan educator runs robotics clubs in rural Laikipia county, training 200 students in engineering and problem-solving. One team competed at the World Robotics Olympiad in Singapore, designing robots for space missions and agricultural applications. The program, funded by a US nonprofit, aims to develop critical thinking skills and encourage Kenyan youth to create rather than consume technology.

  • Tech Trends in Kenya in 2026

    Safaricom

    Kenya is adopting six major technology trends in 2026: generative AI (with 42% of internet users using ChatGPT), digital finance embedded in everyday apps achieving 93% mobile money penetration, AI-powered agritech tools advising farmers via SMS and WhatsApp, emerging robotics in education and service sectors, green technology powering data centers with renewable energy, and personalized data recaps on social platforms. These innovations reshape how Kenyans work, farm, and access financial services.

  • Kenya Unveils Draft Agricultural Data and Digital Policy to Transform Farming Sector

    Tech African News · 2026-03-26

    Kenya released a comprehensive draft policy to transform agriculture through integrated digital systems and data governance. The framework establishes the Kenya Agricultural Digital Information Centre to coordinate programmes and manage sector-wide data. It promotes advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and drones while prioritizing farmer-centric services, financial inclusion, and digital literacy for smallholder farmers, women, and marginalized communities.

  • Nigeria Steps Up Rural Electrification

    Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

    Nigeria's Rural Electrification Agency announced major progress in expanding electricity access to unserved communities. The government is deploying 1,350 mini-grids through a $750 million renewable energy project to reach 17.5 million people. Over 900 mini-grids are already rolling out nationwide. Nigeria completed a national electrification mapping exercise identifying 150,000 communities and their power status, enabling tailored solutions for each area.

  • African Development Bank Group awards $16.6 million grant to IITA to scale agricultural technologies in Africa

    African Development Bank · 2026-02-18

    The African Development Bank awarded $16.6 million to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to launch the third phase of its Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Program. The initiative scales climate-resilient farming practices across Africa, having already reached 25 million farmers and increased crop yields up to 69 percent. The new phase targets 14 million additional farmers across 37 countries through improved seed systems and digital tools.

  • From rural Zambia to Cape Town: the simple innovation that's revolutionising small-scale farming

    African Farming · 2026-04-14

    The Burro, a human-powered cargo system designed in rural Zambia, helps small-scale farmers and waste workers transport heavy loads across difficult terrain without vehicles. Originally developed for agriculture, the tool now supports waste collection and recycling in Cape Town while enabling farmers to generate income through informal rental systems. Its simple, durable design proves effective across both rural and urban environments.

  • UJ hemp brick innovation signals a new era for sustainable rural housing in South Africa

    Saturday Star · 2026-03-04

    Researchers at the University of Johannesburg have developed a hemp-based brick designed to address South Africa's rural housing crisis. The carbon-negative material offers thermal efficiency, fire resistance, and mold protection while creating jobs in hemp cultivation and sustainable construction. The innovation, developed with Canna-B-Africa and government partners, is undergoing certification to meet national building standards.

  • In South Africa's Mpumalanga fields, a quiet revolution is underway — and women farmers are leading it

    African Development Bank

    Twenty-five women farmers in South Africa's Mpumalanga province have transformed their operations through a targeted agricultural and business training programme funded by the African Development Bank and partners. Equipped with digital tools, mentorship, and financial literacy training, these farmers now supply major retailers, school feeding schemes, and luxury lodges, creating 66 new jobs and demonstrating how structured support enables rural women to access formal markets and build sustainable enterprises.

  • Vietnam: Technology Driving Smart Rural Transformation

    OpenGov Asia

    Vietnam is deploying digital technology to transform rural communities into smart, liveable areas. Pilot communes like Giao Ninh have established digital government services, smart classrooms, intelligent camera networks, and remote healthcare platforms. The government aims for 80% of communes to meet new-style rural standards by 2030, integrating technology with agriculture, local commerce, and sustainable development while preserving cultural identity.

  • Scaling Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Connecting Farmers to Markets, Jobs and Opportunity

    World Bank · 2026-04-07

    The Philippines Rural Development Project transformed agricultural value chains by shifting from input subsidies to market-driven approaches. Over a decade, the program built climate-resilient rural roads, strengthened farmer cooperatives for higher-value production, and used data-driven investment planning. Results included 67% income growth for 1.33 million beneficiaries, 2,436 km of farm-to-market roads reducing travel time by 41%, and enterprise support reaching 150,000 individuals with 122% output increases.

  • Better Yields, Better Jobs: New Initiative to Benefit 5 Million Filipino Farmers

    World Bank · 2026-03-27

    The World Bank approved $1 billion in funding for the Philippines Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project, targeting five million farmers. The initiative modernizes rice farming through climate-smart practices, promotes crop diversification, and introduces digital voucher systems for farm inputs. It aims to boost productivity, create rural jobs, enhance food security, and build climate resilience across the Philippine agrifood sector.

  • In Brazil, regenerative farming advances but deforestation still pressures ecosystems

    Mongabay · 2026-03-01

    Brazil's agribusiness sector drives over 90% of deforestation through cattle ranching and soy production. The REVERTE program and similar initiatives aim to restore 40 million hectares of degraded pastureland by 2030 using regenerative farming techniques. However, experts warn that without stronger forest governance and binding private-sector commitments, productivity gains may simply enable further agricultural expansion rather than reduce pressure on the Amazon and Cerrado ecosystems.

  • What Brazil Can Teach the World About Agricultural Innovation & Sustainability

    AgTech Navigator · 2026-04-20

    Brazil's agricultural sector drives economic growth through free-market policies, investment, and innovation in biologicals, AI, and sustainable practices. The country exported $169.2 billion in agricultural goods in 2025. Brazilian agtech startups are expanding rapidly, with biologicals becoming a billion-dollar market. Trade deals like EU-Mercosur will boost market access while Brazilian farmers assert their sustainability credentials.

  • Brazil's ag sector responds to very tough moment with innovation

    AgTechNavigator · 2026-02-17

    Brazil's agriculture sector faces severe economic pressures including high interest rates and low commodity prices, with 8.3% of farmers delinquent on payments. Rather than retreat, the sector diversified export markets and expanded into new regions, growing beef exports 39.9% in 2025. Brazilian agriculture also drives innovation in biofuels and bio-methane production, converting agricultural residues into sustainable energy and animal feed.

  • China set plans for agricultural modernization, rural revitalization

    CGTN · 2026-02-03

    China released its 2026 central policy document prioritizing agricultural modernization and rural revitalization. The plan emphasizes boosting farm productivity, supporting farmer incomes through price and subsidy policies, developing technology-driven agriculture, and integrating AI, drones, and robotics into farming. It also focuses on rural infrastructure, preventing poverty relapse, and expanding rural consumption to improve farmers' quality of life.

  • How China advances sustainable and balanced rural revitalization

    CGTN · 2026-02-24

    China is modernizing rural areas through agricultural technology adoption and regional clustering strategies. Solar power, livestock farming, and drone use are boosting village incomes while addressing urban-rural divides. The 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes regular poverty prevention measures and attracting educated young people back to farming through improved living conditions and business opportunities.

  • How China boosts rural specialty industries for rural revitalization

    CGTN · 2026-02-12

    China is modernizing rural agriculture through specialized regional industries tailored to local conditions. Sensor-controlled greenhouses, medicinal herb cultivation, tea plantations, and AI-enabled strawberry factories exemplify technology-driven approaches. The 15th Five-Year Plan prioritizes technology integration, eco-friendly practices, and brand development to transform agriculture into a modern pillar sector while raising farmer incomes.

  • China Maps Out Rural Modernization Priorities for 2026-2030 Five-Year Plan

    Global Times · 2025-12-16

    China's central rural work conference outlined priorities for 2026, emphasizing agricultural modernization, rural revitalization, and integrated urban-rural development. The government will focus on grain security, technological breakthroughs in agriculture, digital innovation, seed industry development, and farmer income growth. These policies signal a shift toward technology-driven, efficient agricultural production as China enters its 15th Five-Year Plan period.

  • High tech in the fields

    Deutschland.de

    German companies and research institutions are deploying driverless machinery, artificial intelligence, sensors, and drones to transform agriculture. Technologies include precision farming software, autonomous robots for weeding, genome editing for crop resilience, and smart livestock monitoring systems. These innovations aim to increase efficiency, reduce chemical inputs, and improve sustainability across farming operations.

  • Spain celebrates a decade of rural and agricultural innovation thanks to the work of Operational Groups

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain) · 2025-04-22

    Spain honored ten years of agricultural innovation through Operational Groups—collaborative networks tackling rural challenges. Five groups showcased projects spanning digital tomato cultivation, sustainable olive farming, wine bottle recycling, and carbon sequestration in livestock. Spain leads the EU with 20% of community-funded innovation projects. The government announced €46 million in new grants for 2025.

  • The Digital Transformation of Agriculture in Indonesia

    Brookings Institution

    Indonesia's agriculture sector, the least digitized in the country, faces food security challenges that digital technologies can address. AgriTech startups are adopting mobile connectivity, AI, IoT, and blockchain to improve smallholder farmer productivity and incomes through advisory services, digital marketplaces, and supply chain traceability. Establishing innovation hubs with public-private partnerships can scale these solutions and strengthen resilience.

  • Smart Agriculture in 2026: Soil Sensors, Robotics and the Economics of Connectivity

    IoT Business News · 2025-12-05

    By 2026, soil sensors, robotics, and precision data platforms will become standard farm operations rather than pilot projects. Continuous soil monitoring now measures nutrients and carbon sequestration, while autonomous robots handle labour-intensive tasks. Success depends on affordable, reliable connectivity—combining LPWAN, private 5G, and satellite IoT—bundled as integrated services rather than standalone products.

  • Precision Agriculture and AI: A Climate Solution or Corporate Consolidation?

    Inside Climate News · 2026-02-28

    Precision agriculture—using AI, satellites, and data analytics to optimize farming—has grown into an $30 billion global market with promises of resource conservation. However, researchers and advocacy groups now question whether it delivers environmental benefits, noting pesticide and fertilizer use have actually increased since its adoption. Critics warn that Big Tech and Big Ag consolidation reduces farmer autonomy and favors industrial monocultures over sustainable practices.

  • The farmer isn't disappearing — they're moving up the stack': How AI is reshaping the role of modern agriculture

    TechRadar Pro

    Agricultural robotics and AI are addressing labor shortages in farming by automating repetitive and hazardous tasks rather than replacing workers entirely. Companies like Grain Weevil and Birdseye Robotics are developing task-specific robots for grain storage, meat processing, and poultry monitoring. Falling hardware costs and accumulated farm data have made these solutions commercially viable, allowing farmers to focus on higher-value responsibilities while machines handle dangerous or labor-intensive work.

  • Farm Bill 2026: Big Tech's AI and Precision Agriculture Subsidy Could Be a Trojan Horse for Corporate Control of Farming

    Fortune · 2026-03-14

    The 2026 Farm Bill includes a provision offering farmers 90% cost reimbursement for adopting AI and precision agriculture technologies through EQIP, exceeding the normal 75% cap. However, private tech companies—not the USDA—would set standards for these technologies. Critics argue this funnels taxpayer dollars to big tech while increasing corporate control over farming, echoing concerns about proprietary equipment and seed dependency that have long constrained farmer autonomy.

  • Rural Women Entrepreneurs Success Stories: Assam, Rajasthan, Kerala

    The Better India

    Five Indian women entrepreneurs built thriving rural businesses without venture capital, turning agricultural waste into fertilizer, converting farms to organic production, launching food processing ventures, connecting pastoralists to national markets, and scaling dairy operations. Their ventures generate multi-crore revenues while training thousands of community members, demonstrating that rural entrepreneurship succeeds through resourcefulness, local knowledge, and determination rather than external funding.

  • Finternet, Ava Labs partner to test blockchain lending for farm assets

    YourStory · 2026-02-01

    Finternet Labs and Ava Labs are collaborating to develop blockchain-based lending systems for Indian farmers and agricultural businesses. The pilot will enable farmers to digitally represent farm assets like grain and use them as collateral for loans, reducing paperwork and speeding up credit access. The companies plan to work with regulators to adapt the technology to India's legal environment.

Organizations — 15

  • Center for Rural Affairs

    Nonprofit · United States

    Nebraska-based nonprofit working on rural policy, small farms, beginning farmer programs, and rural community development across the US Great Plains and Midwest. Founded 1973.

  • EU CAP Network

    Network · European Union

    European Union platform connecting agriculture and rural development practitioners across member states under the Common Agricultural Policy. Successor to the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD).

  • The James Hutton Institute

    University · United Kingdom

    Scottish research institute combining strengths in crops, soils, and land use, with deep work on rural economies and northern peripheral and remote rural regions.

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    Government · Italy

    The FAO's Agroecology division promotes a holistic approach that integrates ecological and social principles into sustainable food systems. It develops frameworks like the 10 Elements of Agroecology to help countries transition toward sustainable agrifood systems that optimize interactions between plants, animals, humans, and the environment. The organization operates the Agroecology Knowledge Hub and facilitates communities of practice that bring together practitioners to exchange knowledge and co-develop locally adapted solutions for family farming and agroecological transitions.

  • World Bank Group

    Government · United States

    The World Bank Group is the largest funder of farming and agribusiness in developing countries, providing knowledge, investment, and technology to strengthen food systems and agricultural productivity. The organization works across 45+ countries to improve food and nutrition security, supporting over 200 million people and aiming to reach 327 million by 2030. Through initiatives like AgriConnect and Food Systems 2030, it helps countries transform their agricultural sectors into engines of economic growth while addressing infrastructure gaps, policy constraints, and climate resilience.

  • Wageningen University & Research

    University · Netherlands

    Wageningen University & Research combines academic research and education with practical application across agriculture, food systems, biodiversity, and environmental management. The institution conducts research on sustainable food production, climate adaptation in agriculture, water and land management, and circular economy approaches relevant to rural contexts. WUR integrates natural and social sciences to develop solutions that address rural sustainability challenges and can be rapidly implemented in practice.

  • CEDA

    Nonprofit · United States

    CEDA operates the Rural Business Innovation Lab (RBIL), a cohort-based entrepreneurial development program serving rural entrepreneurs in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The program provides eight months of personalized coaching, peer networking, and professional resources to help businesses scale in sectors including agriculture, agtech, sustainability, construction, and climate economy. RBIL has supported 34 businesses over three years in accessing capital, creating rural jobs, and building resilience in underserved communities.

  • Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators

    Nonprofit · United States

    The Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program operates two innovation pipelines—AgCelerate Oklahoma and Activate Oklahoma—to support rural entrepreneurs and agricultural innovators in communities with populations under 50,000. The program provides business curriculum, mentorship, and equity investment opportunities to help rural Oklahomans develop and commercialize innovations across agriculture and other industries. Through partnerships with state and national organizations, the accelerators connect innovators with business development resources and funding decision-makers to drive economic growth in rural Oklahoma.

  • Innovate UK

    Government · United Kingdom

    Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency that provides funding, expert support, and connections to help innovative businesses start, scale, and remain in the country. The organization backs deep-tech businesses across priority sectors, including agricultural innovation, with programs like grants for farming, growing, and forestry businesses to develop project proposals and venture builder support for early-stage deep-tech spin-outs.

  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Government · Canada

    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is the federal department responsible for developing policies and programs that support farming and agriculture businesses across the country. The department works with provincial governments and partner agencies to advance agricultural innovation and food systems. It maintains a Canadian Agriculture Library to support research and innovation in agricultural and food sciences.

  • IFAD

    Government · Italy

    IFAD is an international financial institution that invests in rural people across 92 countries to transform agriculture, rural economies, and food systems. The organization finances programmes that build resilience, empower rural communities, and protect the environment, with particular focus on small-scale farmers and rural youth employment. IFAD works to address poverty and hunger through inclusive rural finance, climate adaptation support, and partnerships that create economic growth in rural areas.

  • CGIAR

    Network · France

    CGIAR is the world's largest publicly funded agricultural research network working to advance food and nutrition security globally. The organization conducts research and innovation across agrifood systems, partnering with institutions like IITA and AfricaRice to develop agricultural solutions. CGIAR's work emphasizes transforming food systems through science and strategic research collaborations, with particular focus on African agriculture and smallholder farmer productivity.

  • IDB Invest

    Government · United States

    The private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, financing private companies and projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. Investments in rural innovation focus on agribusiness digital transformation, agricultural value chains, rural energy access, and small-and-medium enterprise finance in underserved regions.

  • African Development Bank Group

    Government · Côte d'Ivoire

    Multilateral development finance institution serving Africa, owned by 81 member countries. The Bank's Feed Africa strategy and rural infrastructure programs invest in agricultural transformation, rural electrification, and digital connectivity across the continent, with particular focus on smallholder farmers and agricultural value chain development.

  • Cornell Cooperative Extension

    University · United States

    The land-grant university extension service of New York State, connecting Cornell research to communities through educational programs in agriculture, food and nutrition, environmental conservation, and youth/family development. The cooperative extension model — pioneered by U.S. land-grant universities — is foundational to bringing university expertise to rural communities.

Events — 2

  • 5th Rural Development Conference (RDC2026)

    2026-11-01 · Thailand

    The 5th Rural Development Conference brings together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss rural development, agriculture, economic transformation, and sustainable livelihoods. This international, interdisciplinary event features oral presentations, poster sessions, virtual presentations, and roundtable discussions on topics spanning agriculture, rural policy, vocational training, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. RDC2026 bridges academic research with real-world practice, fostering collaboration and meaningful exchange among a globally diverse community of participants.

  • AGRITECHNICA 2027

    2027-11-14 · Germany

    AGRITECHNICA is the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, bringing together nearly 3,000 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the globe. The 2027 edition will showcase innovative, networked agricultural systems that use digital technologies to increase efficiency, sustainability, and productivity in farming. The event features the AGRITECHNICA Innovation Award, recognizing breakthrough products that significantly improve agricultural processes, and serves as a critical platform for agtech innovation and rural entrepreneurship.

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