Technological Adoption Framework for Mitigating Food Insecurity in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: A Bibliometric Approach

Abstract

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) depend heavily on imported food. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food supply chains and further plunged SIDS into food and nutritional insecurity. To ensure sustainable development and food security, the dependence on external markets for food must be significantly reduced. It has been recognised that integrating appropriate technology into regional farming systems can bolster production. To this end, 3260 articles (published between 2010 and 2020) relating to technology and its adoption in agriculture, obtained from the Web of Science database, were systematically reviewed using a meta-analysis approach. Bibliometric analysis identified three data clusters (soil and agronomic research, remote sensing and imagery, and technology in agriculture) and a trend of moving toward the latter clusters in developed countries. Whereas content analysis highlighted developing country preferences for climate-smart and conservation agriculture technologies and practices, training, government subvention, change agents, and access to capital and credit as important determinants to technology adoption. These findings and specific conditions in SIDS were synthesised into a framework for the adoption of technology in Caribbean agricultural systems. The framework recognises the size and economic disparities in SIDS and suggests the adoption of high and medium-cost ubiquitous technologies in the Caribbean continental and larger island states. Conservation, climate-smart, and indigenous agricultural practices and technologies can be broadly integrated into regional agriculture production systems for increased food security, climate resilience, and sustainability.