Short answer
Develop digital knowledge-sharing platforms that actively engage all relevant stakeholders and are designed with an understanding of the interconnected social and technical systems at play.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Agricultural and Food Economics (2025)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Sample
- 81 articles
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Digital platforms significantly improve the efficiency, scale, and variety of knowledge exchange within the agri-food sector by integrating technical and social subsystems. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Agricultural and Food Economics. Using Systematic literature review with 81 articles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Develop digital knowledge-sharing platforms that actively engage all relevant stakeholders and are designed with an understanding of the interconnected social and technical systems at play.
Digitalization Enhances Knowledge Transfer Efficiency in Agri-Food Systems
Digital platforms significantly improve the efficiency, scale, and variety of knowledge exchange within the agri-food sector by integrating technical and social subsystems.
Agricultural and Food Economics · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Digital technologies improve the efficiency, scale, and variety of knowledge transfers in the agri-food sector.
- 02Stakeholder participation is essential for integrating technological and social subsystems, leading to more effective knowledge exchange.
- 03Digitalization strategies need to integrate socioeconomic frameworks and innovation for sustainable development.
Application
Design takeaway
Develop digital knowledge-sharing platforms that actively engage all relevant stakeholders and are designed with an understanding of the interconnected social and technical systems at play.
How to apply
When designing a digital platform for agricultural knowledge sharing, ensure it includes features for user interaction, feedback, and community building, alongside robust data management capabilities.
Project actions
- 01When researching a design problem, consider how digital tools can facilitate the exchange of information between different user groups.
- 02Explore how social interaction can be integrated into digital design solutions to enhance their impact.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive systematic literature review methodology.
- +Application of sociotechnical systems theory provides a robust analytical framework.
Limitations
The effectiveness of digital knowledge transfer can be influenced by factors not fully captured in the literature, such as digital literacy levels of users and the specific infrastructure available.
Reliability & validity
The systematic review methodology, following PRISMA guidelines, enhances the reliability and validity of the findings by ensuring a rigorous and reproducible selection and analysis process. The use of multiple databases also strengthens the comprehensiveness of the review.
Think critically
How might the 'digital divide' impact the effectiveness of these digital knowledge transfer systems, and what design considerations can mitigate this?
Design Principles
"Integrate technical solutions with social engagement strategies to maximize the effectiveness of knowledge transfer."
Understanding how digital tools facilitate knowledge transfer is crucial for fostering innovation and collaboration across complex supply chains. This insight helps designers and researchers develop more effective digital solutions that bridge gaps between stakeholders and promote sustainable practices.
What This Means for Your Design
Using computers and the internet to share information in farming and food businesses makes it quicker and easier to spread knowledge, especially when everyone involved works together.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the role of digital technologies in improving communication and knowledge sharing within your design project's context.
- 2.Use the sociotechnical systems theory as a framework to analyze the interactions between users and technology in your design.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The digitalization of knowledge transfer in the agri-food sector, as evidenced by Ahmadi et al. (2025), demonstrates that digital platforms significantly enhance the efficiency, scale, and variety of information exchange. This is achieved by effectively integrating technical subsystems (digital tools) with social subsystems (stakeholder participation), underscoring the importance of a sociotechnical approach in designing effective knowledge-sharing solutions.
Source
Agricultural and Food Economics
Unpacking the impacts of digitalization of knowledge transfer in agri-food sector, through sociotechnical systems theory: a systematic literature review
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about digitalization enhances knowledge transfer efficiency in agri-food systems?
- Develop digital knowledge-sharing platforms that actively engage all relevant stakeholders and are designed with an understanding of the interconnected social and technical systems at play. Evidence: Agricultural and Food Economics (2025).
- Why does "Digitalization Enhances Knowledge Transfer Efficiency in Agri-Food Systems" matter for design?
- Understanding how digital tools facilitate knowledge transfer is crucial for fostering innovation and collaboration across complex supply chains. This insight helps designers and researchers develop more effective digital solutions that bridge gaps between stakeholders and promote sustainable practices.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Develop digital knowledge-sharing platforms that actively engage all relevant stakeholders and are designed with an understanding of the interconnected social and technical systems at play.
- What were the main findings?
- Digital technologies improve the efficiency, scale, and variety of knowledge transfers in the agri-food sector.. Stakeholder participation is essential for integrating technological and social subsystems, leading to more effective knowledge exchange.. Digitalization strategies need to integrate socioeconomic frameworks and innovation for sustainable development.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review with 81 articles.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Agricultural and Food Economics.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a digital platform for agricultural knowledge sharing, ensure it includes features for user interaction, feedback, and community building, alongside robust data management capabilities.
- What are the limitations?
- The review primarily focuses on existing literature, and the effectiveness of digital platforms can vary significantly based on specific contexts and implementation strategies.