Natural Farming as a Low‐Input Agroecosystem Transition: Mechanisms, Impacts, Challenges, and Global Pathways to Sustainability

Natural farming has emerged as an ecologically sustainable agricultural approach that emphasizes the use of biological processes, on‐farm resource recycling, and minimal external inputs to maintain soil fertility and crop productivity. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on natural farming systems, focusing on their conceptual foundations, global adoption trends, ecological mechanisms, agronomic performance, and socioeconomic implications. Evidence from diverse agroecosystems indicates that natural farming practices such as residue mulching, crop diversification, microbial formulations, and botanical pest management significantly enhance soil microbial activity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services. Long‐term studies demonstrate improvements in soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass, soil structure, and water‐holding capacity, which contribute to enhanced crop resilience and yield stability under climatic stress. In addition to environmental benefits, natural farming reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, leading to lower production costs and improved farm profitability, particularly in smallholder farming systems. However, challenges related to knowledge gaps, transition risks, institutional support, and market access continue to limit large‐scale adoption. Future research should focus on long‐term field experiments, soil microbiome interactions, economic valuation of ecosystem services, and supportive policy frameworks. Overall, natural farming represents a promising pathway toward climate‐resilient, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable agricultural systems.