Adoption of Bio-Based Inputs in Crop Production Systems: A Scoping Review of Survey-Based Socio-Economic Evidence

Bio-based inputs are increasingly promoted as alternatives or complements to conventional agricultural inputs, yet evidence on their adoption remains fragmented across product categories, behavioural outcomes, and farming contexts. This scoping review mapped survey-based and socio-economic evidence on how farmers perceive, evaluate, and use bio-based inputs in crop production systems. Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for English-language peer-reviewed survey-based socio-economic studies involving farmers or agricultural input-use decision makers; 1904 records were initially identified; 448 articles were ultimately included. Data were charted using a structured extraction framework and synthesised across four questions addressing perceptions, willingness to adopt or pay, translation into trial or actual use and post-adoption outcomes, and advisory, market, institutional, and policy conditions. Findings reveal tension between perceived sustainability benefits and concerns over agronomic reliability, cost, risk, quality, and compatibility. Willingness was conditional, and favourable attitudes or intentions did not necessarily translate into actual use, highlighting an attitude–adoption gap. The synthesis suggests a context-dependent pathway comprising comparative appraisal, conditional willingness, practical feasibility, and progression towards trial or actual use. Post-adoption evidence remained limited in this exploratory, search-dependent mapping. Overall, adoption emerged as a context-dependent and system-enabled process rather than a direct consequence of favourable attitudes.