Transforming Land Systems and Livelihoods for Global Food Security: Expert Perspectives

Land systems are central to achieving global food security, sustaining livelihoods, and addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. Across regions, increasing pressures from population growth, urban expansion, resource scarcity, and conflict are reshaping land use patterns and livelihood strategies, often exacerbating vulnerabilities among smallholder farmers and rural communities.At the same time, emerging innovations ranging from climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions to digital technologies and climate finance offer new opportunities to transform land systems in ways that are more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.However, translating these opportunities into impact requires integrated, forward-looking perspectives that bridge science, policy, and practice.This Research Topic aims to bring together leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to contribute concise, high-impact Perspective articles that advance thinking on how land systems can be sustainably transformed to enhance livelihoods and achieve global food security.We particularly seek contributions that provide:• Innovative and thought-provoking perspectives • Critical synthesis of emerging evidence • Actionable insights for policy and investment • Interdisciplinary approaches to complex land–food–livelihood systems The collection will consist of 12-15 Perspective articles organized around four interrelated thematic pillars: Foundations of Land Systems Transformation; Livelihoods, Inclusion, and Resilience; Innovation and Sustainability Pathways; and Finance, Metrics, and Governance. Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes: • Land systems transformation in the Anthropocene • Land tenure, governance, and inclusive development • Climate-smart agriculture and livelihood resilience • Food systems transformation and rural employment • Nature-based solutions and land restoration • Digital agriculture, data, and land governance • Gender, youth, and social inclusion in land systems • Climate finance and investment in sustainable land use • Agroecology and sustainable intensification • Land systems in fragile and conflict-affected settings • Urbanization, land use change, and food security • Metrics, monitoring, and accountability in land and food systems This Research Topic is a closed call for Perspective articles only. Submissions of other article types will not be considered for inclusion and will be transferred out of the collection. In line with Frontiers guidelines, a Perspective article should present a clear and well-argued viewpoint on a specific area of investigation. It should be evidence-based and forward-looking, outlining current advances, key challenges, emerging opportunities, and future directions, while also offering relevant policy insights or recommendations where appropriate. Perspective articles should clearly state the authors’ position, accurately represent and cite the work of others, and may include original data alongside informed opinion and personal insight. Authors are encouraged to consult the Perspective section in the article type guidelines when preparing their submission. Topic editors: Ademola Braimoh Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79953/transforming-land-systems-and-livelihoods-for-global-food-security-expert-perspectives