A Systematic Review of Digital Transformation in Agriculture: Technologies, Impacts, and Future Pathways

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review examines the role of digital technologies in transforming agricultural systems globally, with particular attention to adoption gaps between developed and developing economies.

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 125 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 were identified through systematic search of Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar and subjected to qualitative thematic synthesis.

Findings: IoT-enabled precision irrigation reduces water use by 20–30%; AI-based pest detection cuts pesticide application by 30–40% and improves yields by 10–20%; blockchain integration raises smallholder incomes by 20–30%. Adoption reaches over 45% of large farms in developed economies but only 12–15% among smallholders in developing countries, driven by cost, infrastructure, and digital literacy barriers.

Conclusion: Inclusive digital transformation requires frugal technology design, hybrid knowledge systems, strengthened policy ecosystems, and interdisciplinary research aligned to the needs of smallholder farmers.

Keywords: digital farming; precision agriculture; Internet of Things; artificial intelligence; blockchain; technology adoption; smallholder farmers; systematic review

JEL codes: O13 — Agriculture and Natural Resources, Environment, Other Primary Products; Q16 — R&D, Technological Change; Q18 — Agricultural Policy, Food Policy; O33 — Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; C83 — Survey Methods