Challenges and potential pathways towards sustainable agriculture crop production: A systematic review to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Abstract

Food insecurity will pose a grave global concern due to biodiversity imbalances, ecosystem degradation, and threats to human survival. However, implementing enhanced practices to address issues like droughts, floods, advancements in fertilizer and pesticide use technology and soil management can increase food production, thereby improving food security. As the global population rises, ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture practices has become imperative to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). This research endeavours to add to the discourse surrounding the obstacles and possibilities in shifting towards sustainable agriculture globally, exploring the roles of SDGs and traditional farming practices. This systematic review (SR) examines the challenges faced by contemporary agricultural systems and soil management in achieving sustainability, with a focus on crop production. We reviewed scientific peer-reviewed literature and global data to reflect the vision of agriculture sustainability and sustainable soil management to achieve food security, focusing on policy intervention and probable pathways for different sectors to reach their objectives, the challenges related to sustainable pathways, and possible approaches to attaining climatic hazard and improving agricultural efficiency. The review identifies and evaluates potential pathways and innovations that offer promising solutions for transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. These pathways include agroecological approaches, sustainable intensification, precision farming technologies, integrated pest management, conservation agriculture (CA), soil management, and sustainable water management practices. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of policy interventions, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge dissemination in fostering the adoption of sustainable practices across diverse agricultural landscapes. This SR aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges agricultural systems face. It offers a comprehensive overview of viable pathways for achieving sustainable crop production. The findings underscore the urgent need for a holistic and integrated approach that aligns with the SDGs, fostering resilience, environmental stewardship, and equitable development within the global agricultural sector.