Advances and challenges in using smart agroforestry and climate- modified outdoor planting techniques in the last decade: a systematic literature review

Published: 2026
Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration, Volume 11, article number 239 (2026)
ISBN/ISSN: 2365-7448

Abstract

Climate change poses increasing challenges to agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and global food security, highlighting the need for integrated and resilient land-use systems. Smart agroforestry and climate-modified outdoor planting have emerged as promising approaches that combine biotechnological innovations and smart technologies to enhance plant tolerance to environmental stressors. This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on how these approaches contribute to ecological resilience and sustainable food systems under rapidly changing climatic conditions. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, yielding 1,335 records, of which 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed literature identifies high temperature, drought, water scarcity, salinity, pollution, and light intensity as the most frequently addressed climatic constraints. Bibliometric and thematic analyses reveal a strong research focus on agroforestry-based climate smart practices, with a notable dominance of Asian case studies, partly driven by rice based agricultural systems, alongside significant gaps in Euro-Mediterranean contexts. The findings highlight fragmentation between technological, biotechnological, and ecological research strands, as well as limited long-term field validation and scalability assessments. The outcomes of this review are directly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Climate Action (SDG 13), and Life on Land (SDG 15).