Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are becoming more popular in the current time to address the complex issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and food security in agro-ecosystems. In this systematic review, we synthesize existing empirical research on NbS in agriculture, focusing on their effectiveness, implementation difficulties, and potential for upscaling. Employing a rigorous methodology aligned with PRISMA 2020 criteria, we screened 2,900 records from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We included 83 studies (65 empirical, 10 meta-analyses, and eight policy documents) after quality assessment. The analysis demonstrates that NbS practices make a considerable contribution to carbon sequestration, with reported rates ranging from 1.8 to 133 Mg C ha⁻¹, depending on the practice and setting. Substantial benefits in biodiversity, including increases in pollinator populations and soil microbial richness, are also routinely seen. Economically, NbS provides significant returns on investment, with specific practices earning over £4 for every £1 invested and short payback times. Despite these benefits, widespread adoption is limited by a considerable 60% finance gap, compounded by large agricultural subsidies that generally favor conventional approaches. This review identifies explicit geographic and thematic biases, with most studies concentrated in temperate regions and focused on carbon and biodiversity, while tropical systems, arid zones, and economic or social outcomes remain underexplored. We conclude that realizing the transformative potential of NbS requires standardized MRV systems, better valuation of non-market benefits, redirection of subsidies, and integrated policy and financing frameworks that align ecological function with long-term economic sustainability.

Growing consumer awareness and increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks have intensified the demand for sustainable and intelligent packaging solutions within the fruit and vegetable industry. Packaging serves not only as a means of preserving product freshness, extending shelf life, and reducing food waste but also as a determinant of environmental and economic performance across cold supply chain (CSC) operations. Within this context, packaging exerts a direct influence on carbon emissions, waste management efficiency, operational costs, and social acceptance, thereby positioning it as a pivotal component in sustainability-oriented supply chain strategies. However, the selection of packaging solutions remains complex, as decision-makers must reconcile environmental responsibility, economic feasibility, technical functionality, and societal expectations. To address this challenge, the importance of defining critical evaluation criteria has been investigated. A preliminary framework comprising twelve key elements has been developed through an integration of literature review, industry practices, and stakeholder consultation. This framework is intended to provide a systematic basis for the assessment of sustainable and intelligent packaging, ensuring that decision-making processes are guided by balanced and transparent considerations. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of continuous engagement of stakeholders from both the packaging and agricultural sectors, as well as on iterative refinement of the criteria through empirical validation and the incorporation of emerging knowledge. Such an approach is expected to foster the advancement of packaging systems that enhance environmental stewardship, cost-effectiveness, technological adaptability, and social relevance, thereby reinforcing the long-term resilience and performance of the CSC in the fruit and vegetable sector.

Digital literacy is an essential skill for accessing the advantages of the digital economy. This study constructs a framework for evaluating digital literacy and analyzes the impact of digital literacy on agricultural income at the household level, using survey data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2020. To address the endogeneity of digital literacy, we employ the Instrumental variable two-stage least squares (IV-2SLS) method. The results show that digital literacy has a positive effect on the agricultural income of rural households. Among the seven sub-indexes of digital literacy, utilizing mobile devices for information acquisition, watching short videos on the Internet, and engaging in WeChat communication have significant effects on household agricultural income. The disaggregated analysis shows that rural households with higher agricultural incomes and lower levels of education benefit the most. The mechanism analysis suggests that loan amount and agricultural technical efficiency positively mediate the nexus between digital literacy and agricultural income of rural households. This study offers valuable insights for governments to enhance rural household agricultural income and welfare.

Across cities in the Global South, the relocation of informal street vendors has emerged as a dominant urban policy tool in the context of rapid urbanization, often justified through narratives of modernization and spatial order. Yet, such interventions have systematically displaced informal vendors from key commercial spaces, disrupting their livelihoods and social networks. This study interrogates these dynamics through a case study of Padang, Indonesia, where street vendors were relocated from a vibrant beach corridor to a designated commercial zone. Drawing on panel data and a survival analysis framework, the study investigates the temporal dimensions of income recovery post-relocation, with a focus on how differentiated forms of government assistance—mobile carts versus fixed stalls—shape recovery trajectories. The findings are contextualized within two theoretical frameworks. First, Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach. It emphasizes substantive freedoms beyond income restoration. Second, the political economy of informality. It frames informal vendors as actors embedded in contested governance systems. The study reveals that relocation, when implemented without sensitivity to vendor agency and spatial dynamics, can exacerbate exclusion and prolong economic vulnerability. By combining empirical rigor with normative inquiry, the research offers new insights into justice-oriented urban development in secondary cities of the Global South. It contributes to debates on informal urbanism by highlighting the importance of temporality, differentiated support mechanisms, and spatial inclusion in shaping recovery outcomes. Ultimately, the study challenges conventional relocation strategies and advocates for more adaptive, participatory, and capability-enhancing policy models.

Regulating Services (RS) is one of the four ecosystem services (ES) derived from the diverse ecosystems in the Lake Hawassa Basin (LHB). These services are crucial for the local community, but ongoing anthropogenic activities are exerting negative pressure on these ecosystems, diminishing their capacity to provide RS. This study aimed to assess and map RS at the basin level and propose development options for decision-makers considering the study years of 2007, 2016 and 2024. The study utilized primary and secondary data collection and analysis, stakeholder consultations involving 60 participants, site visits, and tools such as land use land cover (LULC) classification using ArcGIS v10.1 and expert judgment matrix (EJM). The study prioritized 4 out of 11 RSs, created spatial pattern maps at the basin scale, and suggested development options to integrate into decision-making processes and sectoral policies. These recommendations aim to benefit current and future planning and management of development activities within the LHB. The study's methodology and results are vital for addressing biophysical and socioeconomic environmental problems, ensuring sustainable management of natural resources, and enhancing the well-being of the local community. The user-friendly methodology can be adopted globally, with future improvements suggested through additional methods like modeling and valuation of prioritized RS.