{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,25]],"date-time":"2026-07-25T20:06:54Z","timestamp":1785010014882,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,19]],"date-time":"2025-04-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745020800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002322","name":"Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N\u00edvel Superior","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["123456"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["123456"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002322","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Global food systems face mounting pressure from intersecting crises of food insecurity, malnutrition (affecting over 2.8 billion people), and climate change, necessitating transformative solutions. Agroforestry systems (AFS), integrating trees with crops and\/or livestock, offer a promising pathway by synergistically enhancing food production, ecological stability, and public health outcomes. However, realizing this potential is hindered by gaps in understanding the complex interactions and trade-offs between these domains, limiting policy and practice effectiveness. This comprehensive review aimed to synthesize current evidence on how agroforestry integrates food security, public health, and environmental sustainability and to identify critical research gaps that limit its widespread adoption and optimization. Following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol, a systematic literature search was conducted across Web of Science and Scopus, with thematic analysis using VosViewer and quantitative synthesis of key metrics. The review confirms agroforestry\u2019s multifaceted benefits, including enhanced dietary diversity, improved micronutrient intake (e.g., 18% reduction in vitamin A deficiency), significant carbon sequestration (0.5\u20132 Mg C\/ha\/year), soil health improvements (50\u201370% less erosion), income generation (+40%), and climate resilience (2\u20135 \u00b0C cooling). Key gaps identified include the need for longitudinal health studies, better quantification of climate\u2013health interactions and non-material benefits, policy\u2013health integration strategies, and analyses of economic\u2013nutritional trade-offs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22040645","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,20]],"date-time":"2025-04-20T20:31:36Z","timestamp":1745181096000},"page":"645","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Agroforestry for Food Security and Public Health: A Comprehensive Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6841-526X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniel Roberto","family":"Jung","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista, S\u00e3o Paulo 04026-002, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2430-6138","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Oduvaldo","family":"Vendrametto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Program in Production Engineering, Universidade Paulista, S\u00e3o Paulo 04026-002, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2023). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023: Urbanization, Agrifood Systems Transformation and Healthy Diets Across the Rural-Urban Continuum, FAO."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2022). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing Food and Agricultural Policies to Make Healthy Diets More Affordable, FAO."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vermeulen, S.J., Zougmor\u00e9, R.B., Wollenberg, E.K., Thornton, P.K., Nelson, G.C., Kristjanson, P.M., Kinyangi, J., Jarvis, A., Ghimire, M., and Khanal, A. (2024). Agroforestry systems in Nepal: Enhancing food security and rural livelihoods\u2014A comprehensive review. Food Energy Secur., 13.","DOI":"10.1002\/fes3.524"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gfs.2018.06.001","article-title":"The effect of climate change across food systems: Implications for nutrition outcomes","volume":"18","author":"Fanzo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Glob. Food Secur."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cosust.2011.12.004","article-title":"Climate change, agriculture and food security: A global partnership to link research and action for low-income agricultural producers and consumers","volume":"4","author":"Hansen","year":"2012","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Dagar, J.C., Gupta, S.R., and Sileshi, G.W. (2023). Potential of Agroforestry Systems for Food Security, Climate Change Mitigation, Landscape Restoration and Disaster Risk Reduction in Nepal. Agroforestry for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture in Asia and Africa, Springer."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-009-9229-7","article-title":"Agroforestry for ecosystem services and environmental benefits: An overview","volume":"76","author":"Jose","year":"2009","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1023\/B:AGFO.0000005222.68054.38","article-title":"Agroforestry research and development in southern Africa during the 1990s: Review and challenges ahead","volume":"59","author":"Kwesiga","year":"2003","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"HLPE (2020). Food Security and Nutrition: Building a Global Narrative Towards 2030, A Report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1186\/s13750-018-0136-0","article-title":"Evidence for the impacts of agroforestry on agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in high-income countries: A systematic map protocol","volume":"7","author":"Brown","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ. Evid."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2125","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-020-00535-0","article-title":"Contribution of agroforestry trees for climate change adaptation: Narratives from smallholder farmers in Isiolo, Kenya","volume":"94","author":"Quandt","year":"2020","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sudomo, A., Leksono, B., Tata, H.L., Rahayu, A.A.D., Umroni, A., Rianawati, H., Setyayudi, A., and Utomo, M.M.B. (2023). Can Agroforestry Contribute to Food and Livelihood Security for Indonesia\u2019s Smallholders in the Climate Change Era?. Agriculture, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture13101896"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"392","DOI":"10.1080\/09669582.2020.1770769","article-title":"Indigenous food sovereignty and tourism: The Chakra Route in the Amazon region of Ecuador","volume":"29","author":"Loring","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Sustain. Tour."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1065","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-021-00632-8","article-title":"Agroforestry contributions to smallholder farmer food security in Indonesia","volume":"95","author":"Duffy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"O1","DOI":"10.1111\/ijcs.12695","article-title":"Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR-4-SLR)","volume":"45","author":"Paul","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Consum. Stud."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5113","DOI":"10.1007\/s11192-021-03948-5","article-title":"The journal coverage of Web of Science, Scopus and Dimensions: A comparative analysis","volume":"126","author":"Singh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scientometrics"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"534","DOI":"10.1080\/07294360.2013.841651","article-title":"The benefits of publishing systematic quantitative literature reviews for PhD candidates and other early-career researchers","volume":"33","author":"Pickering","year":"2014","journal-title":"High. Educ. Res. Dev."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-023-00806-6","article-title":"Agroforestry improves food security and reduces income variability in semi-arid tropics of central India","volume":"97","author":"Singh","year":"2023","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"462","DOI":"10.1002\/pan3.10297","article-title":"The role of agroforestry in restoring Brazil\u2019s Atlantic Forest: Opportunities and challenges for smallholder farmers","volume":"4","author":"Mills","year":"2022","journal-title":"People Nat."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-019-00435-y","article-title":"Enhancement of resilience to climate variability and change through agroforestry practices in smallholder farming systems in Cameroon","volume":"94","author":"Nyong","year":"2020","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.974","article-title":"Agrobiodiversity loss and livelihood vulnerability as a consequence of converting from traditional farming systems to rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna, China","volume":"21","author":"Fu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mayorga, I., Vargas de Mendon\u00e7a, J.L., Hajian-Forooshani, Z., Lugo-Perez, J., and Perfecto, I. (2022). Trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and food production in coffee agroforestry. Front. For. Glob. Change, 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/ffgc.2022.690164"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s11104-008-9547-y","article-title":"Meta-analysis of maize yield response to woody and herbaceous legumes in sub-Saharan Africa","volume":"307","author":"Sileshi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Plant Soil"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cosust.2013.11.030","article-title":"Knowledge gaps and research needs concerning agroforestry\u2019s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals in Africa","volume":"6","author":"Mbow","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Environ. Sustain."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) (2021). UNEP FI 2021 Annual Overview, UNEP FI. Available online: https:\/\/www.unepfi.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/UNEP-FI-2021-Annual-Overview.pdf."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8247","DOI":"10.1007\/s10668-019-00564-5","article-title":"The (un)broken promise of agroforestry: A case study of improved fallows in Zambia","volume":"22","author":"Jacobson","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. Dev. Sustain."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wsif.2017.10.006","article-title":"Land tenure and forest rights of rural and indigenous women in Latin America: Empirical evidence","volume":"65","author":"Bose","year":"2017","journal-title":"Women\u2019s Stud. Int. Forum"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"1079","article-title":"Addressing land insecurity and cultural views in agroforestry promotion","volume":"95","author":"Bruck","year":"2021","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"United Nations International Children\u2019s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) (2022). UNICEF Annual Report 2022, UNICEF. Available online: https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/media\/141001\/file\/UNICEF%20Annual%20Report%202022%20EN.pdf."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Imoro, Z.A., Imoro, A.Z., Duwiejuah, A.B., and Abukari, A. (2021). Harnessing Indigenous Technologies for Sustainable Management of Land, Water, and Food Resources Amidst Climate Change. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fsufs.2021.691603"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.1515\/opag-2020-0071","article-title":"Adoption of agricultural practices with climate smart agriculture potentials and food security among farm households in northern Nigeria","volume":"5","author":"Oyawole","year":"2020","journal-title":"Open Agric."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2022). Global Report 2022, UNHCR. Available online: https:\/\/reporting.unhcr.org\/global-report-2022."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ahmad, S., Xu, H., and Ekanayake, E.M.B.P. (2023). Socio-economic determinants and perceptions of smallholder farmers towards agroforestry adoption in Northern Irrigated Plain, Pakistan. Land, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/land12040813"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Velasco-Mu\u00f1oz, J.F., Mendoza, J.M.F., Aznar-S\u00e1nchez, J.A., and Gallego-Schmid, A. (2021). Circular economy implementation in the agricultural sector: Definition, strategies and indicators. Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 170.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2021.105618"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2707","DOI":"10.1002\/jsfa.4666","article-title":"Factors affecting food security and contribution of modern technology in food sustainability","volume":"91","author":"Premanandh","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Sci. Food Agric."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (2022). Global Connectivity Report 2022, ITU. Available online: https:\/\/www.itu.int\/hub\/publication\/d-ind-global-01-2022\/."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1080\/1389224X.2014.913984","article-title":"Scaling-up Sustainable Land Management Practices through the Concept of the Rural Resource Centre: Reconciling Farmers\u2019 Interests with Research Agendas","volume":"20","author":"Bertin","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Agric. Educ. Ext."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tsufac, A.R., Awazi, N.P., and Yerima, B.P.K. (2021). Characterization of agroforestry systems and their effectiveness in soil fertility enhancement in the south-west region of Cameroon. Curr. Res. Environ. Sustain., 3.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crsust.2020.100024"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Luna, M., and Barcellos-Paula, L. (2024). Structured equations to assess the socio-economic and business factors influencing the financial sustainability of traditional Amazonian Chakra in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Sustainability, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/su16062480"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Soto-Pinto, L., Escobar Colmenares, S., Ben\u00edtez Kanter, M., L\u00f3pez Cruz, A., Estrada Lugo, E., Herrera Hern\u00e1ndez, B., and Jim\u00e9nez-Soto, E. (2021). Contributions of Agroforestry Systems to Food Provisioning of Peasant Households: Conflicts and Synergies in Chiapas, Mexico. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fsufs.2021.756611"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jemal, O.M., Callo-Concha, D., and van Noordwijk, M. (2021). Coffee Agroforestry and the Food and Nutrition Security of Small Farmers of South-Western Ethiopia. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fsufs.2021.608868"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ghosh-Jerath, S., Kapoor, R., Ghosh, U., Singh, A., Downs, S., and Fanzo, J. (2021). Pathways of Climate Change Impact on Agroforestry, Food Consumption Pattern, and Dietary Diversity Among Indigenous Subsistence Farmers of Sauria Paharia Tribal Community of India: A Mixed Methods Study. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 5.","DOI":"10.3389\/fsufs.2021.667297"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"91","article-title":"Food forests: Their services and sustainability","volume":"10","author":"Albrecht","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Agric. Food Syst. Community Dev."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1347","DOI":"10.1007\/s10457-023-00858-8","article-title":"Nuts and berries from agroforestry systems in temperate regions can form the foundation for a healthier human diet and improved outcomes from diet-related diseases","volume":"97","author":"Lovell","year":"2023","journal-title":"Agroforest. Syst."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gon\u00e7alves, C.D.B.Q., Schlindwein, M.M., and Martinelli, G.D.C. (2021). Agroforestry Systems: A Systematic Review Focusing on Traditional Indigenous Practices, Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Viability, and the Role of Women. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su132011397"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/22\/4\/645\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:17:52Z","timestamp":1760030272000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/22\/4\/645"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,19]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph22040645"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph22040645","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,19]]}}}