Factors influencing agricultural digital transformation: A systematic review of environmental, technological, and individual dimensions
Document Type
Research-Article
Journal Name
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Keywords
Digital agriculture, Digital technology, Digital transformation, Influencing factors, Literature review, Smart agriculture
Abstract
As a core driver and key pathway for advancing sustainable development in global agriculture, the factors influencing agricultural digital transformation exhibit complex and multidimensional characteristics. However, existing research often lacks systematic integration and a dynamic evolutionary perspective, especially concerning multi-level factors. To achieve sustainable agricultural development goals and address gaps in existing research, this study uses a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, drawing on 620 samples from the Web of Science and other databases from 2010 to 2024, and develops an analytical framework centered on “external environment, technology ecology, and individual behaviors”. This framework enables a systematic identification and summary of the mechanisms and influencing factors in agriculture's digital transformation. The findings reveal that this transformation is primarily driven by environmental, technological, and individual factors. Spatially, in developed regions, digital transformation is technology-driven and environmentally collaborative, with individual factors being crucial for achieving profound transformation. In less developed regions, technology, environment, and individual factors serve as fundamental thresholds, decisive barriers, and core elements. These dimensions form an interactive and coupled system, characterized by synergistic interactions between technology and the environment, adaptation mechanisms between the environment and the individual, and intertwining effects between the individual and technology. Finally, this study identifies critical research gaps and proposes future directions, including the development of culturally sensitive evaluation frameworks, exploration of deep integration pathways for the factors, and the promotion of cross-domain methodological innovations. It provides a comprehensive theoretical lens and practical insights for developing differentiated and sustainable agricultural digitalization strategies. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.