IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p1805-d1595942.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture: Conceptual Challenges and Opportunities—A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Karla Terán-Samaniego

    (Postdoctoral Stays, Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Jesús Martín Robles-Parra

    (Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Irasema Vargas-Arispuro

    (Food Science Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Miguel Ángel Martínez-Téllez

    (Plant-Based Food Technology Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • María Cristina Garza-Lagler

    (Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • David Félix-Gurrlola

    (PhD Program in Regional Development, Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Mayra Lucía Maycotte-de la Peña

    (Postdoctoral Stays, Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Julio César Tafolla-Arellano

    (Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Basic Sciences Department, Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University, Calzada Antonio Narro, Buenavista, No. 1923, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila, Mexico)

  • Jorge Alan García-Figueroa

    (PhD Program in Regional Development, Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

  • Pablo César Espinoza-López

    (Postdoctoral Stays, Department of Economics, Regional Development Coordination, Research Center for Food and Development (Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C./CIAD), Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas, No. 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico)

Abstract

The transition of agriculture towards sustainability faces significant obstacles, such as increased demand for food, food insecurity, climate variability, biodiversity loss, and food waste, among others. Moreover, agricultural activities must address ethical practices within sustainable development. The literature frequently mentions two approaches to meet these challenges: agroecology and sustainable agriculture. This study aims to delineate the conceptual boundaries of agroecology and sustainable agriculture while elucidating their interconnection. It seeks to clarify the scope and limitations inherent in these agricultural practices, which is critical given the centrality of sustainable agriculture in agrarian studies. By establishing these boundaries, the research outlines the methodologies to identify the relevant variables and indicators required for effective stakeholder engagement within agricultural systems. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA method. The databases searched were Science Direct, Scopus, Nature, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were (i) written in English or Spanish, (ii) published in a peer-reviewed academic journal, and (iii) related to the conceptualization of agroecology and sustainable agriculture. Publications were selected following the method’s identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion guidelines. The main distinctions between the concepts are the scale and the scope. Agroecology reveals limitations to achieving impacts on food security and agriculture’s challenges in a large-scale system better suited for rural communities and small farms seeking locally adapted solutions. On the other hand, the literature reveals that it is crucial to adopt a multi-scale systems approach to meet the growing food demands of the global population, for which sustainable agriculture may be more effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Karla Terán-Samaniego & Jesús Martín Robles-Parra & Irasema Vargas-Arispuro & Miguel Ángel Martínez-Téllez & María Cristina Garza-Lagler & David Félix-Gurrlola & Mayra Lucía Maycotte-de la Peña & Juli, 2025. "Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture: Conceptual Challenges and Opportunities—A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1805-:d:1595942
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1805/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1805/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ryan Galt & Damian Parr & Julia Van Soelen Kim & Jessica Beckett & Maggie Lickter & Heidi Ballard, 2013. "Transformative food systems education in a land-grant college of agriculture: the importance of learner-centered inquiries," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(1), pages 129-142, March.
    2. Dicle Dönmez & Musab A. Isak & Tolga İzgü & Özhan Şimşek, 2024. "Green Horizons: Navigating the Future of Agriculture through Sustainable Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Aguilera, Eduardo & Díaz-Gaona, Cipriano & García-Laureano, Raquel & Reyes-Palomo, Carolina & Guzmán, Gloria I. & Ortolani, Livia & Sánchez-Rodríguez, Manuel & Rodríguez-Estévez, Vicente, 2020. "Agroecology for adaptation to climate change and resource depletion in the Mediterranean region. A review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    4. Ana Filipa Fonseca & Fabíola Polita & Lívia Madureira, 2024. "How Agroecological Transition Frameworks Are Reshaping Agroecology: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blazquez-Soriano, Amparo & Ramos-Sandoval, Rosmery, 2022. "Information transfer as a tool to improve the resilience of farmers against the effects of climate change: The case of the Peruvian National Agrarian Innovation System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    2. Begoña García Castellanos & Benjamín García García & José García García, 2023. "Economic and Environmental Effects of Replacing Inorganic Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers in Three Rainfed Crops in a Semi-Arid Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Samane Ghazali & Hossein Azadi & Kristina Janečková & Petr Sklenička & Alishir Kurban & Sedef Cakir, 2021. "Indigenous knowledge about climate change and sustainability of nomadic livelihoods: understanding adaptability coping strategies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16744-16768, November.
    4. Manuel González-Rosado & Luis Parras-Alcántara & Jesús Aguilera-Huertas & Beatriz Lozano-García, 2021. "Building an Agroecological Process towards Agricultural Sustainability: A Case Study from Southern Spain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Zagaria, Cecilia & Schulp, Catharina J.E. & Malek, Žiga & Verburg, Peter H., 2023. "Potential for land and water management adaptations in Mediterranean croplands under climate change," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    6. Ioan Prigoreanu & Bianca Antonela Ungureanu & George Ungureanu & Gabriela Ignat, 2024. "Analysis of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policies in Agriculture in the EU Regarding the European Green Deal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-31, December.
    7. Dardonville, Manon & Legrand, Baptiste & Clivot, Hugues & Bernardin, Claire & Bockstaller, Christian & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Assessment of ecosystem services and natural capital dynamics in agroecosystems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    8. Chrysanthi Charatsari & Evagelos D. Lioutas & Afroditi Papadaki-Klavdianou & Alex Koutsouris & Anastasios Michailidis, 2022. "Experiential, Social, Connectivist, or Transformative Learning? Farm Advisors and the Construction of Agroecological Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    9. Christopher D. Murakami & Mary K. Hendrickson & Marcelle A. Siegel, 2017. "Sociocultural tensions and wicked problems in sustainable agriculture education," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(3), pages 591-606, September.
    10. Elsadig Omer & Dora Szlatenyi & Sándor Csenki & Jomana Alrwashdeh & Ivan Czako & Vince Láng, 2024. "Farming Practice Variability and Its Implications for Soil Health in Agriculture: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-27, November.
    11. Roc Padró & Enric Tello, 2022. "Exploring Agroecology Transition Scenarios: A Pfaundler’s Spectrum Assessment on the Relocation of Agri-Food Flows," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-13, May.
    12. Eder, Andreas & Salhofer, Klaus & Quddoos, Abdul, 2024. "The impact of cereal crop diversification on farm labor productivity under changing climatic conditions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    13. Christy Anderson Brekken & Hikaru Hanawa Peterson & Robert P. King & David Conner, 2018. "Writing a Recipe for Teaching Sustainable Food Systems: Lessons from Three University Courses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, June.
    14. Carolina Reyes-Palomo & Cipriano Díaz-Gaona & Santos Sanz-Fernández & Isabel Muñoz-Cobos & Eduardo Aguilera & Vicente Rodríguez-Estévez, 2024. "Carbon Footprint of an Extensively Raised, Low-Productivity Sheep Population," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.
    15. De Leijster, V. & Verburg, R.W. & Santos, M.J. & Wassen, M.J. & Martínez-Mena, M. & de Vente, J. & Verweij, P.A., 2020. "Almond farm profitability under agroecological management in south-eastern Spain: Accounting for externalities and opportunity costs," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    16. Claudia de Brito Quadros Gonçalves & Madalena Maria Schlindwein & Gabrielli do Carmo Martinelli, 2021. "Agroforestry Systems: A Systematic Review Focusing on Traditional Indigenous Practices, Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Viability, and the Role of Women," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    17. Verkuil, Loes A. & Verburg, Peter H. & Levers, Christian & Stratton, Anne Elise & Schulp, Catharina J.E., 2024. "Bright spots of agroecology in the Netherlands: A spatial analysis of agroecological practices and income stability," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    18. Low, Guy & Dalhaus, Tobias & Meuwissen, Miranda P.M., 2023. "Mixed farming and agroforestry systems: A systematic review on value chain implications," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    19. Debora Puglia & Daniela Pezzolla & Giovanni Gigliotti & Luigi Torre & Maria Luce Bartucca & Daniele Del Buono, 2021. "The Opportunity of Valorizing Agricultural Waste, Through Its Conversion into Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, and Biopolymers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, March.
    20. Beatriz Vizuete & Elisa Oteros-Rozas & Marina García-Llorente, 2024. "Role of the neo-rural phenomenon and the new peasantry in agroecological transitions: a literature review," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(3), pages 1277-1297, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1805-:d:1595942. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.