Holistic approaches to assess the sustainability of food systems in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

Food systems and their sustainability have been extensively studied in high-income countries (HICs), yet less so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), despite their importance for global food security. In this study, we conducted a systematic scoping review to describe the extent, range, and nature of peer-reviewed literature assessing the sustainability performance of food systems in LMICs. The review revealed a recent and heterogeneous literature. From this diversity, 3 archetypes of epistemological approaches emerged, classified by their purpose: observational, modeling, and transformative. All 3 approaches apply existing or tailored methods to specifically study food systems, and their objectives are to observe, model, or transform different parts of the food systems towards sustainability. Gaps in the literature include inconsistent definitions of food systems and frameworks and understudied drivers of food systems sustainability. Therefore, the development of a comprehensive and systematic inventory of frameworks and their sustainability is crucial to determine the most suitable interdisciplinary methodologies for specific contexts and generate actionable knowledge for food systems transformation.Author summary: Although food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are significantly threatened by climate change and are more vulnerable to price increases, understanding and evaluating food systems sustainability has predominantly focused on high-income countries (HICs). Thus, we reviewed the literature assessing the sustainability performance of food systems in LMICs. This body of literature is recent, diverse, and highly represented by studies employing quantitative methods. It also can be categorized into 3 different archetypes: observational, modeling, and transformative approaches, each appraising the sustainability of food systems. However, our findings highlight the need for more systematic definitions of food systems and analytical frameworks for generating actionable knowledge to guide research investments and shape policies towards more sustainable food systems.