A Systematic Review of Degrowth Food‐Systems, Framework Conceptualisation and Thematic Tensions

Degrowth food‐systems offer ways to address inequity, poor health, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss arising from globally dominant industrial food‐systems. In this study, a systematic review of degrowth food‐system research literature was conducted in the Web of Science on 7 February 2025 to identify descriptions of degrowth food‐system attributes within research literature, develop a degrowth food‐system conceptual model based on identified thematic trends and identify priorities for future research based on an examination of thematic tensions emergent within the results. Records were eligible for review if they contained descriptions of degrowth food‐system attributes according to food‐system attributes present in a food‐system framework synthesised from academic and United Nations sources. In total, 64 research articles and book chapters were included for review, identifying 589 descriptions of degrowth food‐systems. The results were thematically synthesised to identify recurrent patterns, revealing the centrality of localised production and consumption practices to degrowth food‐systems, rooted in ecological and social care. Despite recurrent thematic patterns in the literature, future research can advance degrowth transition pathways by resolving tensions relating to the feasibility and modes of localised food provisioning, integrate more diverse cultural perspectives, establish stronger empirical foundations underpinning perspectives on ‘organic agriculture’, infrastructure, innovation and technology and examine the role of capitalist institutions in advancing degrowth transitions.