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

Karla Terán-Samaniego, Jesús Martín Robles-Parra (jrobles@ciad.mx), Irasema Vargas-Arispuro, Miguel Ángel Martínez-Téllez (norawa@ciad.mx), María Cristina Garza-Lagler, David Félix-Gurrlola, Mayra Lucía Maycotte- de la Peña, Julio César Tafolla-Arellano, Jorge Alan García-Figueroa and Pablo César Espinoza-López
Additional contact information
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

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-21

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.

Keywords: agroecology; sustainable agriculture; sustainable development; agricultural systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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