Reconceptualizing Functional Components of Agriculture: From Static System Models to Complex Adaptive Frameworks in the Era of Agriculture 4.0

The classical conceptual model of agricultural functional components, which divides the system into the domains of Farming, Agri-Support, and Agri-Milieu, is no longer adequate for representing the realities of contemporary agri-food systems. The modern agricultural landscape has been fundamentally reshaped by dual disruptions: the digital revolution (Agriculture 4.0), which positions data as a strategic asset, and the ecological imperative (Climate-Smart Agriculture/CSA), which demands resilience and sustainability. This study argues that the static and mechanistic model creates a significant conceptual gap because it fails to capture dynamic interactions, feedback loops, and emergent properties of current systems. Through a critical deconstruction of the classical model and a synthesis of the literature on Agriculture 4.0 and CSA, this article proposes a paradigm shift. The goal is to move from a siloes functional component model toward a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) framework. The CAS framework views agriculture as a dynamic network of interacting agents, where digital technology functions as an instrumental means to achieve sustainability objectives. Adopting the CAS lens carries profound implications, requiring a shift from top-down policymaking to adaptive governance and transforming the role of practitioners from mere producers to complexity managers an essential step for building food systems that are productive, resilient, and sustainable.

Modern Agriculture, Agriculture 4.0, Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

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