This study employed a systematic literature review approach to analyze the socio-technical dynamics associated with the adoption and implementation of silvopastoral systems (SPS) worldwide. Systematic reviews enable the synthesis of scientific evidence generated from multiple studies and facilitate the identification of trends, knowledge gaps, and emerging research directions within a specific field (Broom, 2017; Jose and Dollinger, 2019). The methodological framework adopted in this study was based on a qualitative and interpretative approach, integrating findings from environmental, productive, socioeconomic, and institutional studies related to silvopastoral systems.

The literature search was conducted between January and March 2026 using six major academic databases: Google Scholar, SciELO, Redalyc, Dialnet, Latindex, and EBSCOhost. These databases were selected due to their broad coverage of agricultural, environmental, livestock, and rural development research.

The search strategy combined the following keywords and Boolean operators:

“silvopastoral systems”

“sustainable livestock production”

“silvopastoral adoption”

“livestock agroforestry”

“sustainable cattle farming”

“agroforestry livestock systems”

The terms were combined using the operators AND, OR, and NOT to maximize the retrieval of relevant scientific publications while minimizing duplication and irrelevant records.

Only peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2014 and 2026 were considered. The inclusion criteria were:

Studies focused on silvopastoral systems.

Research evaluating environmental, productive, socioeconomic, institutional, or animal welfare dimensions of SPS.

Studies reporting empirical findings, case studies, field experiments, surveys, or adoption assessments.

Articles published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The exclusion criteria included:

Conference abstracts without full-text availability.

Editorials, opinion papers, and technical notes lacking scientific evaluation.

Duplicate records retrieved from multiple databases.

Studies not directly related to silvopastoral systems.

The selection process consisted of three stages: (i) title screening, (ii) abstract screening, and (iii) full-text assessment. A total of 250 records were initially identified through database searches. After removing duplicate and non-relevant publications, 120 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final review and synthesis.

Information from the selected studies was systematically extracted and organized into a review matrix using Microsoft Excel. The following variables were recorded for each article:

Author(s)

Year of publication

Country or region of study

Research methodology

SPS characteristics

Environmental outcomes

Productive outcomes

Animal welfare indicators

Socioeconomic and institutional factors

Main conclusions

This procedure facilitated the comparison of findings across different geographical and production contexts (Huertas et al., 2021; López-Vigoa et al., 2017).

The selected literature was classified into six analytical categories derived from the objectives of the study:

Livestock productivity.

Animal welfare.

Soil quality and fertility.

Biodiversity conservation.

Climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration.

Socio-technical factors influencing adoption.

A thematic content analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns, relationships, and emerging trends across the reviewed studies. Particular attention was given to the interaction among technological innovations, institutional arrangements, knowledge networks, and farmer decision-making processes, following a socio-technical perspective of agricultural innovation (Oliva et al., 2018; Sandoval et al., 2021; Vargas-de la Mora et al., 2021; Zepeda Cancino et al., 2016).

To ensure the reliability of the evidence included in the review, all selected studies were evaluated according to their methodological rigor, clarity of objectives, relevance to the research topic, and consistency of reported findings. Studies presenting robust methodological designs and explicit evaluation criteria were prioritized during the synthesis process (Aryal et al., 2022; Torres et al., 2023).

The systematic review process followed a structured selection procedure. Initially, 250 records were identified through database searches. After duplicate removal and eligibility assessment, 120 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the final análisis.

The systematic review included 120 peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2026. The analysis revealed a sustained increase in scientific interest in silvopastoral systems during the study period. Early investigations primarily focused on ecological restoration, soil conservation, and biodiversity enhancement, whereas more recent studies increasingly addressed climate change mitigation, animal welfare, technological adoption, and socio-technical transition processes (Murgueitio et al., 2015; Jose and Dollinger, 2019; Chará et al., 2020).

The evolution of scientific research demonstrates a progressive shift from ecological approaches toward interdisciplinary analyses integrating productive, environmental, economic, institutional, and social dimensions. This trend reflects the growing recognition of SPS as multifunctional production systems capable of simultaneously addressing sustainability challenges in livestock production (Aryal et al., 2022; Chará et al., 2020; Torres et al., 2023).

Table 1. Distribution of reviewed studies by thematic category

Contributions of silvopastoral systems to livestock productivity

One of the most consistently reported findings among the reviewed studies was the positive impact of SPS on livestock productivity. The integration of trees and shrubs within grazing systems improves forage availability and quality by providing protein-rich fodder resources and enhancing nutrient cycling processes (Palma García and Anguiano Cárdenas, 2015; López-Vigoa et al., 2017).

Several studies documented increases in animal weight gain, milk production, reproductive performance, and feed conversion efficiency. The diversification of forage resources also reduces seasonal feed shortages and enhances system resilience under adverse climatic conditions (Martínez-Hernández et al., 2019; Lerma-Lasso et al., 2023; Nota et al., 2024).

Likewise, intensive silvopastoral systems have demonstrated the capacity to increase forage biomass production while improving nutritional quality through the incorporation of leguminous trees and shrubs (Murgueitio et al., 2015; Nuncio Ochoa et al., 2024). These findings suggest that SPS contribute not only to environmental sustainability but also to the economic viability of livestock operations.

Animal welfare emerged as a key benefit associated with SPS implementation. The presence of trees creates shaded environments that reduce solar radiation and thermal stress, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where high temperatures negatively affect animal performance (Huertas et al., 2021; Jose and Dollinger, 2019).

Research has demonstrated that cattle raised in silvopastoral environments exhibit lower physiological stress indicators, improved grazing behavior, and greater comfort compared with animals maintained in conventional open pastures (Améndola et al., 2016; Broom, 2017).

Recent studies have further shown that silvopastoral systems reduce heat stress across different altitudinal gradients and improve behavioral and physiological responses associated with animal welfare (Murga-Orrillo et al., 2025). Consequently, improved welfare conditions frequently translate into better productive performance and reproductive efficiency.

The reviewed literature consistently identified soil restoration as one of the most important ecosystem services provided by SPS. Tree roots improve soil structure, reduce compaction, enhance water infiltration, and increase organic matter accumulation, resulting in improved soil fertility and long-term agricultural sustainability (Díaz Lezcano et al., 2020; Apan-Salcedo et al., 2021).

Several studies reported significant increases in soil organic matter and improvements in soil physical and biological properties when compared to conventional pasture systems (Contreras-Santos et al., 2020; Saucedo-Uriarte et al., 2022).

Similarly, biodiversity conservation was frequently reported as a major environmental benefit. The structural complexity created by trees and shrubs provides habitat for birds, insects, pollinators, and soil organisms, promoting ecological connectivity and enhancing ecosystem resilience (Ramírez-Barajas et al., 2019; Chará et al., 2020).

Research conducted in tropical and subtropical environments has shown that SPS increase species richness and restore ecosystem functions that are often lost in conventional grazing systems (Trejo-Arista et al., 2023; De la Peña-Domene et al., 2022).

Climate change mitigation represented another major research theme identified in the literature. SPS contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration in aboveground biomass, root systems, and soil organic matter (Aryal et al., 2022; Contreras-Santos et al., 2023; Torres et al., 2023).

Several studies also reported reductions in enteric methane emissions due to improved forage quality and increased digestibility of diversified diets, particularly those incorporating leguminous species (Jiménez-Santiago et al., 2019; Sandoval Pelcastre et al., 2020).

Carbon stock assessments conducted in Mexico and other Latin American countries demonstrated that SPS store significantly greater quantities of carbon than conventional grazing systems, reinforcing their relevance within climate-smart livestock production strategies (Aryal et al., 2022; Torres Rivera et al., 2023).

Despite the numerous environmental and productive benefits documented across the reviewed studies, adoption rates remain relatively low in many regions. Analysis of the literature revealed that the principal constraints are not technological but socio-technical in nature.

The most frequently reported barriers included high establishment costs, limited access to credit, insufficient technical assistance, weak institutional support, and cultural resistance to changes in traditional livestock management practices (Oliva et al., 2018; Zepeda Cancino et al., 2016).

Studies conducted in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina consistently identified financial and institutional limitations as major obstacles to adoption (Apan-Salcedo et al., 2022; Borda, 2023; Vargas-de la Mora et al., 2021).

Likewise, deficiencies in extension services and the absence of long-term public policies frequently limit the diffusion of SPS among small- and medium-scale producers (Sandoval et al., 2021; Romero-Mena et al., 2024; Marroquín-Pugas et al., 2022).

These findings indicate that successful implementation depends on the development of socio-technical networks involving producers, researchers, extension agents, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Table 2. Main socio-technical barriers identified in the reviewed literature

The findings of this review indicate that silvopastoral systems constitute one of the most promising pathways toward sustainable livestock production. Their capacity to simultaneously improve productivity, animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, soil restoration, and climate change mitigation supports their role as multifunctional agricultural systems (Chará et al., 2020; Jose and Dollinger, 2019).

However, the persistence of socio-technical barriers demonstrates that technological superiority alone is insufficient to ensure widespread adoption. Future efforts should focus on strengthening extension programs, facilitating access to financing, promoting farmer-to-farmer learning networks, and developing policy instruments that support long-term sustainability transitions (Sandoval et al., 2021; Vargas-de la Mora et al., 2021; Romero-Mena et al., 2025).