Local food production could link food security and invasive plant control in Galapagos

Context Balancing food security and biodiversity conservation is a major challenge in the Galapagos Islands, where agriculture overlaps with vulnerable native ecosystems. Objective We evaluated the potential of local agricultural production in Santa Cruz, Galapagos, to increase food self-sufficiency while conserving native vegetation under future population growth, and assessed the effects of land use change on invasive plant cover. Methods We developed the Galapagos Land Use (GAL-LU) model, a farm-level multi-objective optimization model integrating agricultural production, nutrient self-sufficiency, farm income, land-use allocation, and invasive plant dynamics. The model combined biophysical, economic, nutritional, and land-cover data for 182 farms in Santa Cruz. Scenarios were evaluated under projected population growth from 2022 to 2100 and different nutritional targets. Results and conclusions Under current yields and a high population growth, most nutrient requirements could be met without further native vegetation loss. Iron and polyunsaturated fatty acid sufficiency reached about 67%, while all other nutrients achieved or exceeded 100% of recommended intake levels. Achieving these targets increased cropland area by 2137 ha (47%), pasture area by 560 ha (60%), and silvopasture area by 581 ha (111%). Invasive plant cover declined by approximately 1140 ha (33%), including reductions of Cedrela odorata (−545 ha; −40%) and Psidium guajava (−528; −31%). More balanced diets required larger cropland expansion than energy-focused diets, indicating synergies between local food production, invasive plant control, and native ecosystem conservation. Significance This study presents the first integrated optimization framework linking food self-sufficiency, farm income, and invasive plant control in an island food system.