Paper short abstract:

This article introduces a paradigm in agricultural economics that integrates localization and STS. It highlights a gap between current research trends and educational content, advocating for this integration to enhance policy effectiveness and address sustainability challenges in agriculture.

Paper long abstract:

This article presents an additional paradigm in agricultural economics, focusing on the integration of localization and Science and Technology Studies (STS) alongside traditional global approaches to address the multifaceted sustainability challenges in agriculture. It highlights the limitations of traditional macro-level analyses, particularly in addressing localized, region-specific issues such as small-scale farming practices, ecological challenges, and cultural dimensions. The paper advocates for a localized approach, emphasizing the need to tailor agricultural policies and practices to specific regional characteristics to enhance their sustainability. Additionally, it proposes the incorporation of STS, offering a critical examination of the interactions between science, technology, and societal structures, and emphasizing the importance of broader societal considerations in agricultural development. The article identifies a significant gap between emerging research trends that advocate for this integrated approach and the prevailing content in contemporary educational resources. It suggests that bridging this gap is essential for the formal recognition and incorporation of these perspectives into the academic and practical realms of agricultural economics. The proposed integration of localization and STS is argued to provide a more comprehensive, effective, and context-sensitive approach to policy formulation and implementation, essential for tackling the complex sustainability challenges in the agricultural sector.