Agroecology and resilience of smallholder food security: a systematic review

Dagunga, Gilbert; Ayamga, Michael; Laube, Wolfram; Ansah, Isaac Gershon Kodwo; Kornher, Lukas; Kotu, Bekele Hundie

doi:10.3389/fsufs.2023.1267630

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…According to Dagunga et al ( 5 ), promoting agroecology in smallholder farming communities faces both challenges and opportunities. Some of the opportunities for promoting agroecology, include the potential for increased productivity, improved soil health, and enhanced biodiversity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linking farmers’ perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia

Souissi,

Dhehibi,

Oumer

et al. 2024

Front. Nutr.

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Global food systems face sustainability challenges like undernourishment, inequity, resource degradation, and pollution. Food production and consumption drive environmental change with greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and land-system shifts. The climate change crisis has intensified concerns about the ecological impact of these systems. Sustainable food networks, such as community-supported agriculture, are promoting sustainable production and consumption through short supply chains. International bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are also spearheading initiatives for more equitable and sustainable food systems. In Tunisia, where dryland areas predominate, the ongoing implementation of the Agroecology Initiative provides the context for this study, which explores the drivers and barriers of agroecological transformation in this challenging environment. The research focuses on stakeholder engagement, with a gender perspective to explore farmer perceptions. The study, conducted in the northwest of Tunisia in 2022–2023, involved focus groups, workshops, surveys, and questionnaires with various stakeholders. Findings highlight farmer organizations’ potential in promoting sustainable farming, with clear goals, diversified systems, and collaborations. However, challenges such as input scarcity, water shortage, low income, and marketing must be addressed. Results also indicate that over 90% of farmers who received assistance with agroecological practices reported a change in their ideas and practices. Fifty seven percent of the workshops participants identified the olive oil value chain as having the greatest potential for agroecological transformation, but it faces constraints such as climate, lack of policy incentives, training, funding, and difficulty in adopting technical innovations. Women’s inclusion in agriculture, environmental, social, and economic challenges were also highlighted. Despite these obstacles, key drivers for agroecological transition were identified. These include the compatibility of many agroecological practices with existing farmer capabilities, their cultural and economic benefits, and the positive outcomes for environmental sustainability and health. The study advocates for a socio-technical systems analysis to address the root causes hindering Tunisia’s agroecological transformation. A participatory approach is crucial to understanding priorities and developing a sustainable and resilient food system. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of considering diverse farmer perspectives and tailoring strategies to support this critical transition effectively.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, there may be cultural and social barriers to the adoption of agroecological practices ( 6 ). Previous research also highlights the importance of participatory approaches and knowledge sharing in promoting agroecology among smallholder farmers ( 5 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking farmers’ perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia

Souissi,

Dhehibi,

Oumer

et al. 2024

Front. Nutr.

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The sustainability challenges of fresh food supply chains: an integrative framework

de Castro Moura Duarte,

Picanço Rodrigues,

Bonome Message Costa

2024

Environ Dev Sustain

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Fresh food supply chains (FFSC) are pivotal in food and agricultural systems, with effective management crucial for addressing hunger and poverty globally and contributing to various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing consumer demand for safer, eco-friendly, and sustainably produced fresh products has highlighted the importance of sustainability in FFSC. This growing focus poses challenges for academics and practitioners dedicated to sustainable development and meeting evolving consumer expectations. FFSC management is notably complex due to unique factors such as varying perishability, seasonal production, and the need for adherence to safety and quality standards, amidst complex and diverse networks. Despite its critical role, a structured approach to navigating FFSC sustainability challenges is lacking. Our research undertakes a thorough two-stage examination of current scholarly work to identify key factors affecting FFSC sustainability. Initially, we reviewed 182 papers on broader FFSC management to gauge the field's research landscape, guiding a focused review. Subsequently, a detailed analysis of 39 papers specifically on FFSC sustainability led to the development of a comprehensive framework, comprising FFSC characteristics, entities, management practices, and enabling factors. This framework aims to enhance understanding and guide efforts by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers towards fostering sustainability in FFSC, thereby supporting the achievement of SDGs.

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Building a solid foundation: advancing evidence synthesis in agri-food systems science

Ellssel,

Küstner,

Kaczorowska-Dolowy

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Enhancing the reliability of literature reviews and evidence synthesis is crucial for advancing the transformation of agriculture and food (agri-food) systems as well as for informed decisions and policy making. In this perspective, we argue that evidence syntheses in the field of agri-food systems research often suffer from a suite of methodological limitations that substantially increase the risk of bias, i.e., publication and selection bias, resulting in unreliable and potentially flawed conclusions and, consequently, poor decisions (e.g., policy direction, investment, research foci). We assessed 926 articles from the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Database of Evidence Reviews (CEEDER) and recent examples from agri-food systems research to support our reasoning. The analysis of articles from CEEDER (n = 926) specifically indicates poor quality (Red) in measures to minimize subjectivity during critical appraisal (98% of all reviews), application of the eligibility criteria (97%), cross-checking of extracted data by more than one reviewer (97%), critical appraisal of studies (88%), establishment of an a priori method/protocol (86%), and transparent reporting of eligibility decisions (65%). Additionally, deficiencies (Amber) were found in most articles (>50%) regarding the investigation and discussion of variability in study findings (89%), comprehensiveness of the search (78%), definition of eligibility criteria (72%), search approach (64%), reporting of extracted data for each study (59%), consideration and discussion of the limitations of the synthesis (56%), documentation of data extraction (54%) and regarding the statistical approach (52%). To enhance the quality of evidence synthesis in agri-food science, review authors should use tried-and-tested methodologies and publish peer-reviewed a priori protocols. Training in evidence synthesis methods should be scaled, with universities playing a crucial role. It is the shared duty of research authors, training providers, supervisors, reviewers, and editors to ensure that rigorous and robust evidence syntheses are made available to decision-makers. We argue that all these actors should be cognizant of these common mistakes to avoid publishing unreliable syntheses. Only by thinking as a community can we ensure that reliable evidence is provided to support appropriate decision-making in agri-food systems science.

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Agroecology and resilience of smallholder food security: a systematic review

Cited by 4 publications

References 59 publications

Linking farmers’ perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia

Linking farmers’ perceptions and management decision toward sustainable agroecological transition: evidence from rural Tunisia

The sustainability challenges of fresh food supply chains: an integrative framework

Building a solid foundation: advancing evidence synthesis in agri-food systems science

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