Promoting innovations in agriculture: Living labs in the development of rural areas

Living Labs (LLs) has become a cutting-edge approach to research and innovation across several domains, including agriculture. Research on using novel techniques for agricultural development in practice is lacking. This knowledge gap significantly hampers current research efforts. This study investigates the valuable functionality of agricultural LLs to alleviate the dearth of thorough research. A systematic literature review of 18 academic articles on LLs implemented in the agricultural sector was performed. Our findings show significant geographical distribution, thematic orientation, and organizational structure variation across these LLs. Two essential elements comprise the dimensions on which agricultural LLs are based: the innovation process and the actors involved. Examining these elements allows for a deeper understanding of the various methods used in agricultural LLs and provides a theoretical framework for contextualizing them within current research. The study concludes by revealing promising directions for future research. It emphasizes the importance of examining the interdependent interactions among actors participating in LLs projects. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of implementing flexible approaches that can accommodate the distinct features of every agricultural setting to facilitate a sustainable transition.