A Socio-Technical Framework for Internet of Things (Iot) Adoption in Urban Farming: Malaysia

Urban farming represents a essential strategy for improving food security, sustainability and resource management efficiency in rapidly urbanising countries such as Malaysia. Accelerating urbanisation and the implementation of digital transformation initiatives in smart agriculture technologies changes the agricultures landscape. The Internet of Things (IoT) has notably enhanced the efficiency, sustainability and productivity of urban farming systems, particularly in hydroponic and vertical farming. However, IoT implementation in urban farming remains limited due to budgetary constraints, insufficient digital literacy, infrastructural constraints, technical complexity, legislative barriers, and resistance to behavioural change. Existing research has focused on technology implementation and system performance, with limited analysis of the interplay among technological, behavioural, infrastructural, and institutional elements. Although the socio-technical aspects of technology adoption have been widely examined in the broader agricultural context, a comprehensive framework specifically addressing IoT adoption in Malaysian urban farming remains lacking. Therefore, this research proposes an integrated socio-technical framework based on Socio-Technical Systems Theory (STS) with technological and non-technological determinants to describe the adoption of IoT in Malaysian urban farming. A qualitative literature-based method was employed by synthesising findings from selected studies on smart agriculture, hydroponics, vertical farming, IoT technologies, and technology adoption. The findings indicate that IoT technologies enhance the efficiency, sustainability, productivity, and resource management of urban farming systems. Still, these benefits can only be fully realised with support from economic readiness, government support, technical competency, good infrastructure and positive user behaviour. The proposed framework integrates technological, infrastructural, policy, behaviour, and economic into a socio-technical framework for the Malaysian context. In addition, it provides practical guidance for policymakers, educators, practitioners, and urban communities to sustain urban farming and strengthen national food security initiatives.