Innovation in social studies of agricultural processes

evolution and emphasis on Latin America

Abstract

Innovation thinking in agricultural social studies has gone through different stages during the last half century. The analyzes have been enriched from a narrow vision based on the farmer conceived as a technology adopter towards integral approaches that interweave social and technical dimensions in systemic processes. This review examines social science contributions addressing innovation, in general, and the dynamics of agricultural innovation, in particular. The Latin American region is taken as a scenario of interest suggesting that, at present, agricultural innovation requires a policy orientation in line with the transition towards sustainable agriculture and the reduction of inequalities in different rural territories.