A systematic review of sustainable pathways for balancing food production and environmental sustainability in Ethiopian agriculture

Between 2010 and 2026, Ethiopia faced the dual challenge of increasing agricultural production to meet growing food demand while safeguarding the natural resources that underpin long-term agricultural sustainability. Thus, the objectives of this review were to examine the interactions between food production and environmental sustainability in Ethiopian agriculture. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, evidence was synthesized from 130 peer-reviewed empirical studies and supporting grey literature identified through comprehensive searches of Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using an adapted Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The evidence indicates that agricultural expansion and conventional farming practices have contributed to widespread environmental degradation through soil erosion, nutrient depletion, deforestation, land degradation, and inefficient water use, threatening long-term agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience. The review consistently identifies Climate-Smart Agriculture, agroforestry, sustainable intensification, and improved water management as the most effective pathways for enhancing agricultural productivity while improving soil health, water-use efficiency, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. However, their implementation remains constrained by socioeconomic limitations, weak institutional and extension support systems, insecure land tenure arrangements, knowledge gaps, population pressure, and climate-related risks. The review also identifies opportunities associated with supportive national policies, indigenous farming knowledge, climate financing mechanisms, and digital innovations. Nevertheless, the findings should be interpreted with caution because the review included only English-language studies conducted in Ethiopia and was limited by the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies. Thus, the review suggests that balancing food production and environmental sustainability in Ethiopia requires integrated and context-specific approaches that simultaneously address productivity needs and ecological sustainability.