Innovation in agri-food systems – A systematic mapping of the literature (1997-2017)

This study systematically explores, analyses, reports on and synthesises research on the topic of sectoral innovation systems related to agriculture and agri-food in OECD countries. It is based on systematic mapping of the literature (academic papers published in scientific journals) in the period 1997-2017. The aim is to show the state of current knowledge on sectoral innovation systems in agri-food, in order to identify knowledge gaps and future areas for research and provide methodological and theoretical perspectives. Abstracts for a total of 320 papers were analysed, using a qualitative approach. Key elements of agricultural innovation systems identified were organised into 8 main themes/topics: agents, basic technologies, knowledge and learning processes, mechanisms of interaction, institutions, end-users, system transition and contextual variables. Areas identified as requiring research included making the sector more consumer- and market-oriented, increasing interactions outside conventional system boundaries, including the consumer perspective and societal changes, and determining the role of gender in innovation in agri-food systems.

All the items included in the mapping were given a unique identification number. The data file (excel) shows the list of items included in the mapping and items removed in the latest stage of the screening process, together with a note on the reason for exclusion. Items only pertaining to innovation at firm level, without special attention to sectoral systems or AKIS, were excluded from the mapping in the screening process and not given an identification number. The items selected for the mapping were entered into the Excel sheet that constitutes the final database and analysed following a protocol. Based on availability of information in the abstracts, the following characteristics were noted: Period of study; country or countries of study; data type (qualitative, quantitative, mixed); data source (qualitative or quantitative); firm size; number of firms in the study; food product/category (e.g. agriculture, organic food, vegetables, wheat, dairy; food industry); research method (e.g. case study, econometric, survey); key elements and outcomes studied; theory/framework applied; and additional notes (not always applied). Key elements in the items included were recorded, based on the abstracts. The key elements, subject or main findings were then summarised in a qualitative interpretation based on the abstracts, which is presented in the second dataset.

本研究针对经济合作与发展组织（OECD）国家农业及农业食品领域的部门创新系统（sectoral innovation systems）相关主题，系统开展了研究探索、分析梳理、综述报告与综合整合工作。本研究基于对1997-2017年间发表于科学期刊的学术文献进行系统性文献映射（systematic mapping of the literature）。研究旨在阐明当前农业食品领域部门创新系统的知识现状，以识别知识缺口与未来研究方向，并提供方法论与理论视角。本研究采用定性研究方法，共对320篇学术文献的摘要开展了分析。
研究识别出的农业创新系统核心要素被归纳为8大主题/议题：创新主体（agents）、基础技术（basic technologies）、知识与学习过程（knowledge and learning processes）、互动机制（mechanisms of interaction）、制度（institutions）、终端用户（end-users）、系统转型（system transition）与情境变量（contextual variables）。研究识别出的待拓展研究方向包括：推动农业食品领域更贴近消费者与市场导向、强化传统系统边界外的互动、纳入消费者视角与社会变迁维度，以及探究性别在农业食品系统创新中的作用。
本次文献映射纳入的所有条目均被赋予唯一识别编号。数据文件（Excel）收录了本次文献映射纳入的条目清单，以及最新筛选阶段剔除的条目清单，并附带剔除原因说明。在筛选过程中，仅关注企业层面创新、未专门关注部门创新系统或农业知识与创新系统（AKIS，Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems）的条目被排除，且未被赋予识别编号。本次文献映射筛选出的条目被录入构成最终数据库的Excel表格，并按照研究方案开展分析。基于摘要中的信息可得性，本研究记录了以下特征：研究时段、研究所属国家或地区、数据类型（定性、定量、混合）、数据来源（定性或定量）、企业规模、研究涉及的企业数量、食品品类或类别（如农业、有机食品、蔬菜、小麦、乳制品；食品工业）、研究方法（如案例研究、计量经济学分析、调研）、研究关注的核心要素与结果、应用的理论或框架，以及补充说明（并非所有条目均包含此项）。
基于文献摘要，研究记录了纳入条目中的核心要素。随后，基于文献摘要对核心要素、研究主题或主要发现开展定性解读与总结，并形成第二份数据集予以呈现。