Summary
This global systematic review evaluated 40 agricultural and land management practices against four interconnected land challenges: climate mitigation, adaptation, food security, and combating land degradation. Nine practices delivered medium-to-large benefits across all four challenges, whilst most could be implemented without dedicated land conversion. However, seven options risked land competition at scale, necessitating safeguards to prevent negative impacts on natural systems and food security.
UK applicability
The identified practices and their co-benefits are likely applicable to UK farming systems, though implementation barriers, regulatory frameworks, and climate context may differ from global assessments. UK policymakers could use this framework to evaluate whether domestic agricultural transition pathways address these four land challenges simultaneously.
Key measures
Number of practices delivering benefits across land challenges; mitigation potential (Gt CO₂ eq/year); adaptation potential (number of people benefiting); land competition risk assessment
Outcomes reported
The study assessed 40 land management and food production practices for their potential to simultaneously address climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, food security, and land degradation/desertification. It quantified the number of practices delivering medium-to-large benefits across multiple land challenges and identified potential land-use competition risks.
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