Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals

Muhammad Awais Arshad; Babur Ali Akbar; Ahmad Jawad; Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood

doi:doi:10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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| Peer-Reviewed

Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals

Muhammad Awais Arshad

, Babur Ali Akbar

, Ahmad Jawad

, Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood^*

Published in Plant (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 28 April 2025 Accepted: 20 May 2025 Published: 18 June 2025

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Abstract

The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.

Published in	Plant (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
Page(s)	53-75
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sustainable Agriculture, UN SDGS, Food Security, Climate Change, Zero Hunger, Agricultural Productivity, Integrated Weed Management, Precision Agriculture

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Arshad, M. A., Akbar, B. A., Jawad, A., Mahmood, M. H. (2025). Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant, 13(2), 53-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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Arshad, M. A.; Akbar, B. A.; Jawad, A.; Mahmood, M. H. Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant. 2025, 13(2), 53-75. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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Arshad MA, Akbar BA, Jawad A, Mahmood MH. Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant. 2025;13(2):53-75. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13,
  author = {Muhammad Awais Arshad and Babur Ali Akbar and Ahmad Jawad and Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood},
  title = {Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals
},
  journal = {Plant},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.plant.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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T1  - Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals

AU  - Muhammad Awais Arshad
AU  - Babur Ali Akbar
AU  - Ahmad Jawad
AU  - Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood
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DO  - 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
T2  - Plant
JF  - Plant
JO  - Plant
SP  - 53
EP  - 75
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-0677
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
AB  - The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Muhammad Awais Arshad

Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

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http://orcid.org/0009-0004-4174-6391
Babur Ali Akbar

Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5117-1422
Ahmad Jawad

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Rice Program, Lahore, Pakistan

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http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7711-0861
Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood

Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7303-1500

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APA Style

Arshad, M. A., Akbar, B. A., Jawad, A., Mahmood, M. H. (2025). Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant, 13(2), 53-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Arshad, M. A.; Akbar, B. A.; Jawad, A.; Mahmood, M. H. Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant. 2025, 13(2), 53-75. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Arshad MA, Akbar BA, Jawad A, Mahmood MH. Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. Plant. 2025;13(2):53-75. doi: 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13,
  author = {Muhammad Awais Arshad and Babur Ali Akbar and Ahmad Jawad and Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood},
  title = {Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals
},
  journal = {Plant},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {53-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.plant.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Integrating Environmental Health and Food Security: The Agronomist’s Role in Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals

AU  - Muhammad Awais Arshad
AU  - Babur Ali Akbar
AU  - Ahmad Jawad
AU  - Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood
Y1  - 2025/06/18
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
T2  - Plant
JF  - Plant
JO  - Plant
SP  - 53
EP  - 75
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-0677
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.plant.20251302.13
AB  - The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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