Methods for understanding complex food systems: A systematic review and methods map

Methods for understanding complex food systems: A systematic review and methods map | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Systematic Review Methods for understanding complex food systems: A systematic review and methods map Roosmarijn Verstraeten, Jody Harris, Alison Donnelly, Ifeoluwa Bodunde, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6472106/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Food systems have become central to achieving numerous global goals, yet the approaches by which we ascertain their outcomes are varied and evolving. To address this, we systematically reviewed and mapped methods used for understanding complex food systems, analysing the scope, characteristics, and combination of these approaches, and possible ways forward. We screened 9,684 records, and coded, mapped and analysed 125 unique records, including an Evidence and Gap Map (EGM). We find that there is a wide range of methods used to assess complex food systems. The majority of studies focused on food supply chains in high-income countries and descriptive analysis, with sustainability and environmental impact as most common topics. Studies primarily emphasized environmental and economic outcomes, with fewer studies examining food security, social equity, or nutrition and health. Interactions between food systems and human, social, and climate issues were less emphasized. Research has largely been quantitative, with varied use of qualitative and mixed methods. There was no clear correlation between the types or combination of methods used and the types or complexity of food system domains studied. We recommend considering approaches that embrace complexity, as well as testing new interdisciplinary and integrated approaches. Nutrition & Dietetics Food Science & Technology Agricultural Economics & Policy Agroecology complex food systems interdisciplinary research methods systems analysis Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files SupplementaryInformationFSmethods2409181.pdf Supplementary Information_FS methods Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6472106","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Systematic Review","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":444421685,"identity":"7d2a0c7a-c948-4f4d-abda-e69f9f7a5e71","order_by":0,"name":"Roosmarijn Verstraeten","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2793-8985","institution":"EC-Joint Research Centre","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Roosmarijn","middleName":"","lastName":"Verstraeten","suffix":""},{"id":444421686,"identity":"76aefe62-2419-47a1-879b-7a644bc220ca","order_by":1,"name":"Jody Harris","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Institute of Development Studies","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jody","middleName":"","lastName":"Harris","suffix":""},{"id":444421687,"identity":"74679a15-13fb-46f5-9d5f-32115f255fd7","order_by":2,"name":"Alison Donnelly","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2813-6485","institution":"Independent Consultant","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Alison","middleName":"","lastName":"Donnelly","suffix":""},{"id":444421688,"identity":"9bf44fbf-ea59-46bf-87c1-608d6cc097e1","order_by":3,"name":"Ifeoluwa Bodunde","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ifeoluwa","middleName":"","lastName":"Bodunde","suffix":""},{"id":444421689,"identity":"f5ea09e0-7609-42eb-88db-1493adc2c234","order_by":4,"name":"Thalia M. 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