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Abstract Beef and dairy production from cattle farming operate under two main systems: feedlot and pasture based systems, both of which are potentially associated with deforestation due to feed-crop cultivation and pasture expansion. Poor pasture management and ongoing land conversion further exacerbate environmental degradation, posing a significant global conservation challenge. Agricultural innovations such as silvopastoral systems (SPS) emerge as a sustainable alternative to mitigate the negative effects of conventional livestock farming. Despite documented benefits, the adoption of these systems remains low. This study presents a combined bibliometric analysis and systematic review of international research on the adoption of SPS. The review utilized the Scopus database and employed the PRISMA methodology, resulting in a total of 58 documents selected and analyzed. The study identified the main countries in terms of publications on SPS adoption as: the United States, Germany, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, whereas the location of most SPS studies were from Colombia and USA, Brazil and Mexico, and Panama. The results show that less complex systems such as SPS with scattered trees, riparian buffers, and live fences present the highest average adoption rates (> 50%) due to lower management intensity. Adoption rates varied by region, with higher uptake in tropical climates where ecological conditions and policy incentives support implementation. Key factors influencing adoption included payment for environmental services, government subsidies, and labor demands, with high costs and limited knowledge acting as barriers. Understanding region-specific drivers is essential, highlighting the need for further research to address existing gaps in a local level.
Kerkoff et al. (Tue,) studied this question.