Exploring India's agroecology landscape for sustainable and transformative agricultural food systems: a systematic literature network analysis

This study employs a systematic literature network analysis to examine India's agroecology (AE) landscape and its potential to transform agricultural food systems toward sustainability. Although researchers emphasize the relevance of AE, this review reveals persistent challenges, including ecological degradation from input-intensive practices, the exclusion of smallholders and women from access to resources, and limited institutional support for agroecological transitions. While AE offers a holistic framework for resilience, its integration into mainstream policy and research remains fragmented. The key themes include environmental sustainability gaps, socioeconomic vulnerabilities and undervalued indigenous knowledge. Future research should prioritize localized agroecological models, interdisciplinary approaches and participatory methods that empower farmers as co-creators of knowledge. To strengthen policy directions toward sustainable agricultural food systems, policies must embed AE into national strategies, reorient subsidies toward ecosystem services, and strengthen community-based institutions. By aligning ecological integrity with social justice, India can achieve transformative agricultural systems that secure livelihoods, empower vulnerable communities and sustain ecosystems for future generations.