Won K. Song, Eric Bird, Gerald William McNerney, Kevin Richardson
As the global food system faces critical challenges, integrating eco-technologies into sustainable agriculture is paramount. This paper reevaluates the transition toward eco-friendly farming practices and a sustainable economy, utilizing a novel, multidimensional categorization framework as a tool for critical analysis. A systematic analysis of 227 peer-reviewed articles and industry reports from 2018 to 2023 is conducted, categorizing diverse technologies by function, including data collection, analytics, and operational automation. The primary purpose of this categorization is to uncover what it reveals about the field. The analysis reveals a strong emphasis on technological efficiency and productivity, but more importantly, it highlights a significant and systemic gap: the lack of a human-centric approach. Specifically, the review reveals a persistent research silo between terrestrial agriculture and the blue economy, which this paper’s unified framework bridges to optimize the management of sustainable marine resources. Furthermore, the analysis identifies emerging technological risks, such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities and e-waste, which are rarely analyzed in terms of their direct impact on the human workforce. This gap is vital for sustainable and equitable food production and is often overlooked in current literature. The integration of human well-being, skill development, and ethical considerations is posited not merely as a social responsibility but as a strategic imperative for the long-term success of sustainable agriculture. This review, therefore, provides a valuable resource for researchers, developers, and policymakers, guiding future innovations toward a more balanced and holistic paradigm that prioritizes the “human-in-the-loop” alongside technological advancements.