Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainability Decision-Making: A Systematic Review of Influencing Factors Across Agri-Food System Research and Initiatives

Sustainability decision-making in agri-food systems involves contested environmental, economic, and social trade-offs, where stakeholder engagement is widely regarded as essential for credible outcomes. Yet the conditions enabling meaningful participation remain poorly consolidated. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on participatory methods and associated outcomes, the information and knowledge-exchange processes used, and factors shaping stakeholder engagement in agri-food sustainability decision-making. Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1 January 2020 and 16 February 2026 were identified through the Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar. In total, 288 records were screened and 94 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted on participatory methods, outcomes, communication, knowledge exchange, and enabling and constraining factors. Participatory processes used diverse methods and strengthened shared understanding, capacity, and influence, though consensus and satisfaction were less consistent. Communication relied heavily on technical information in expert-facilitated formats, with limited uncertainty communication or narrative framing. Willingness to participate was shaped more by structural and relational conditions than by method choice. These findings indicate that the credibility of stakeholder participation depends on conditions established well before any formal engagement, including who can take part, whether they trust the process, and whether information is accessible. Participatory processes are therefore most likely to yield legitimate and durable decisions when structural preconditions, communication, and facilitation are designed together. These findings are relevant to researchers, practitioners and policymakers who design or commission stakeholder engagement, including those developing participatory decision support tools.