Urban and peri-urban agriculture in the Global South: Nexus and policies to reduce territorial inequalities and improve social welfare

In the Global South, rapid urbanization intensifies pressures on natural resources, food security, and social equity, progressively displacing agriculture toward vulnerable peri-urban areas. Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) has emerged as a strategic approach not only for food production but also for strengthening social cohesion, climate resilience, and territorial integration. Despite growing relevance, the literature lacks systematic understanding of how Nexus frameworks are operationalized in UPA research and how they inform inclusive policy design. This study aims to systematically review UPA-Nexus research to identify emerging trends, regional patterns, governance arrangements, and policy pathways for reducing territorial inequalities in the Global South. Following the PRISMA protocol, a systematic literature review was conducted in the Scopus database (2017–2024) using Boolean operators related to UPA and Nexus frameworks. Of 92 identified documents, 49 met inclusion criteria (peer-reviewed, open-access, English-language, explicit UPA-Nexus focus). Data were systematically extracted on Nexus categories, territorial scope, governance arrangements, implementation scale, and reported outcomes. An inductive thematic analysis identified patterns and gaps across the reviewed literature. The review reveals three major contributions. First, we identify 17 distinct Nexus categories—demonstrating substantial conceptual diversification beyond the traditional Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus, with emerging frameworks incorporating health, waste, climate, and social dimensions. Second, comparative analysis shows a marked regional divergence: Global North research emphasizes technological efficiency, optimization, and participatory innovation, while Global South literature addresses structural constraints, subsistence strategies, and institutional fragmentation, with studies concentrated in Africa, Asia, and Iran. Third, the analysis identifies critical governance gaps: despite policy recognition, implementation remains fragmented, with regulatory instruments ranking most effective yet predominantly locally focused, limiting territorial integration. UPA-Nexus approaches can reduce territorial inequalities when supported by enabling institutional frameworks, participatory governance, and context-sensitive policies. The review advances a conceptual framework integrating Nexus configurations, territorial dynamics, and institutional arrangements to inform integrated policy design. Findings highlight the need for strengthened institutional coordination, secure land tenure, and inclusive governance mechanisms to realize UPA's potential for advancing the SDGs in the Global South.