From Farm Ecology to Food System Outcomes: How Agroecology Influences Nutrition, Rural Livelihoods, and Social Equity

Global food systems face intertwined challenges of environmental degradation, malnutrition, rural poverty, and social inequity. Conventional agricultural models have increased production but often at the cost of biodiversity loss, soil depletion, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. At the same time, millions of smallholder farmers remain economically insecure, and many populations lack access to diverse, nutritious diets. Agroecology offers an alternative approach by applying ecological principles to farming systems while strengthening social and economic dimensions of sustainability.Agroecological practices such as crop diversification, agroforestry, integrated systems, and sustainable soil and pest management enhance ecosystem services that include soil nutrient retention, pollination, water regulation, and climate resilience. While these ecological benefits are increasingly documented, less is known about how they translate into broader food system outcomes. This research topic will examine the pathways linking farm ecology to dietary diversity, livelihood resilience, and social equity. By integrating ecological, economic, and social analysis, this Research Topic aims to clarify whether and how agroecological systems contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems. This Research Topic welcomes contributions at the interface of agriculture, environment, and economy that address how agroecology and ecosystem services shape diets, livelihoods, and equity in sustainable food systems. We welcome original research articles and reviews that provide mechanistic insights and/or propose actionable strategies that bridge agroecological transition/intensification with human outcomes and environmental benefits. Relevant themes include, but are not limited to:Diversification pathways: rotations, intercrops, agroforestry, integrated crop–livestock systems, and landscape mosaics—and how they influence marketable outputs and diets.Cropping systems: conservation agriculture, cover crops, integrated soil fertility management, and how they influence on-farm biodiversity, soil health, greenhouse gases emissionsHow on-farm biodiversity, soil health, and ecological functions influence crop diversity, nutrient availability, and food qualityDiversified farming systems and their contributions to dietary diversity and nutrition (including wild/foraged foods and underutilized crops)Farm ecology, climate shocks, and livelihood resilience (risk reduction, stability of yields/income, adaptive capacity)Ecosystem services that support livelihoods (pollination, pest regulation, water regulation, soil fertility) and how they translate into household outcomesTrade-offs and synergies among production, nutrition, labor, gender dynamics, and income across different farming contextsMethods linking ecology and livelihoods (participatory research, mixed methods, farm household surveys, landscape analysis, systems modeling)Value chains, markets, and food environments are shaping how ecological gains convert into diet and livelihood benefitsPolicy and program design that enables agroecological transitions while supporting nutrition and equitable livelihoods Topic editors: Tobi Moriaque AKPLO, Joseph Onyango Gweyi, Arcadius Martinien Agassin Ahogle, Erick Otieno Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79117/from-farm-ecology-to-food-system-outcomes-how-agroecology-influences-nutrition-rural-livelihoods-and-social-equity