Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the global food sector: A systematic literature review to examine small farmers engagement in contract farming

Abstract Contract farming, a common strategy among multinational companies in the global food sector, can help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, it largely depends on whether or not small farmers can participate in contract farming programs, which has been a major issue globally. Our main objective in this systematic literature review is to identify the factors that drive small farmer participation in contract farming. We analyze 97 peer‐reviewed journal articles published between 1977 and 2017. Our review finds that farmer demographic characteristics, farm structure, farmer characteristics, and farmer attitudes influence participation in contract farming although causal mechanisms remain ambiguous. We therefore suggest the need for more comprehensive methodologies to examine small farmer participation in contract farming. In the meantime, global food sector companies must consider these factors as they develop plans toward achieving SDGs.