Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research

Abstract Drought is increasingly seen as the next “pandemic,” threatening global populations and progress towards achieving zero hunger by 2030. Although drought and food security are well-researched, no studies synthesize the progress and gaps in drought-food insecurity research using the social-ec...

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Main Authors: Debashis Roy, Yollanda Chepkoech Korir, Steven A. Gillespie, Md Sarwar Hossain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Sustainable Agriculture
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00070-4
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author Debashis Roy
Yollanda Chepkoech Korir
Steven A. Gillespie
Md Sarwar Hossain
author_facet Debashis Roy
Yollanda Chepkoech Korir
Steven A. Gillespie
Md Sarwar Hossain
author_sort Debashis Roy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Drought is increasingly seen as the next “pandemic,” threatening global populations and progress towards achieving zero hunger by 2030. Although drought and food security are well-researched, no studies synthesize the progress and gaps in drought-food insecurity research using the social-ecological systems (SES) approach. Through a systematic review of 186 peer-reviewed studies in Asia and Africa, sourced from Web of Science and Scopus, we identified knowledge gaps and application of an SES approach in the drought-food insecurity nexus. Most studies focused on either social or ecological perspectives; applied quantitative approaches; did not specify drought types; emphasized food availability and access; and did not assess adaptation strategies. The key gap identified was the limited application of a holistic SES approach for achieving the zero-hunger goal. Unlike traditional approaches, our proposed conceptual framework offers a holistic lens for investigating SES components and their complex relationships, and new inquiries in the drought-food insecurity nexus.
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spelling doaj-art-12db993ffb23408a9061f2cb43f3babe2025-08-20T02:34:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Agriculture2731-92022025-05-013111210.1038/s44264-025-00070-4Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus researchDebashis Roy0Yollanda Chepkoech Korir1Steven A. Gillespie2Md Sarwar Hossain3School of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of GlasgowSchool of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of GlasgowSchool of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of GlasgowSchool of Social and Environmental Sustainability, University of GlasgowAbstract Drought is increasingly seen as the next “pandemic,” threatening global populations and progress towards achieving zero hunger by 2030. Although drought and food security are well-researched, no studies synthesize the progress and gaps in drought-food insecurity research using the social-ecological systems (SES) approach. Through a systematic review of 186 peer-reviewed studies in Asia and Africa, sourced from Web of Science and Scopus, we identified knowledge gaps and application of an SES approach in the drought-food insecurity nexus. Most studies focused on either social or ecological perspectives; applied quantitative approaches; did not specify drought types; emphasized food availability and access; and did not assess adaptation strategies. The key gap identified was the limited application of a holistic SES approach for achieving the zero-hunger goal. Unlike traditional approaches, our proposed conceptual framework offers a holistic lens for investigating SES components and their complex relationships, and new inquiries in the drought-food insecurity nexus.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00070-4
spellingShingle Debashis Roy
Yollanda Chepkoech Korir
Steven A. Gillespie
Md Sarwar Hossain
Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
npj Sustainable Agriculture
title Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
title_full Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
title_fullStr Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
title_full_unstemmed Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
title_short Social-ecological systems approach in drought-food insecurity nexus research
title_sort social ecological systems approach in drought food insecurity nexus research
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00070-4
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