Alternative Cropping Systems and Practices Tend to Improve Sustainability From a Multi‐Criteria Assessment Framework. A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Alternative cropping systems and practices (ACSPs) are increasingly promoted as strategies to enhance sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Consequently, evaluating the performance of ACSPs is necessary to determine whether they effectively contribute to sustainability across these multiple dimensions. This study assesses whether ACSPs outperform conventional cropping systems and practices (CCSPs) when evaluated through multicriteria assessment (MCA) methods. A systematic review of 72 peer‐reviewed articles comparing ACSPs and CCSPs through MCA was conducted. MCA enables the simultaneous integration of multiple sustainability dimensions and provides a framework to evaluate trade‐offs and synergies across practices and systems. The findings partially support the hypothesis that ACSPs improve overall sustainability, with 63% (out of 65) of the studies assessed finding no trade‐offs between the sustainability dimensions they examine, indicating that environmental benefits can be achieved without necessarily compromising, and sometimes enhancing, economic and social outcomes. Nonetheless, trade‐offs were common, particularly regarding economic performance. Crop diversification, especially with legumes, efficient irrigation methods, and integrated crop‐livestock systems emerged as the most promising options due to their effects across multiple dimensions. Conversely, reduced tillage, no‐till farming, and, to a lesser extent, conservation agriculture systems exhibited challenges related to yield reductions, environmental drawbacks, and management constraints. The most recurrent disadvantages across ACSPs were higher costs, greater management complexity, and insufficient technical training. These results highlight the need for policies that internalize externalities, provide economic incentives, strengthen farmer training, and promote cooperation among producers and stakeholders. Overall, the review indicates that ACSPs can enhance sustainability when implemented in an integrated and context‐specific manner, thereby contributing to goals set forth in global sustainability agendas.