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Conservation agriculture (CA) is a leading strategy for promoting soil health, food production, and ecological sustainability. Yet, food security in the tropics remains elusive, constrained by persistent soil degradation. This systematic review of 474 studies evaluates the state, gaps, and prospects of CA and soil health research across the tropics. Brazil accounted for 40% of the research output, driven by strong institutional support and public investment. Only 17% of studies integrated chemical, physical, and biological soil health indicators, and even fewer applied structured soil health indices. Most research focused on the top 0–20 cm of Oxisols, Alfisols, and Ultisols, limiting the evidence of CA for long-term sustainability. CA systems were dominated by maize and soybean, with low inclusion of root and tuber crops essential for tropical food security. Scaling the Brazilian CA model through South -South cooperation offers a pathway to more resilient and equitable food systems in the tropics. Brazil leads global tropical conservation agriculture with 40% of research output, driven by strong institutional support and public investment, showing science-based conservation agriculture can strengthen soil health and food security, based on a systematic review of 474 peer reviewed articles
Ologunde et al. (Thu,) studied this question.