Integrated climate‐smart agriculture in rural social enterprises: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic structured review synthesizes evidence from 38 peer‐reviewed studies using thematic synthesis to assess integrated farming systems that combine climate‐smart practices such as crop‐livestock integration and nutrient recycling within rural social enterprise structures, using the mustard seed initiative in Gatsibo District as a contextual reference. Findings confirm that crop and livestock integration, nutrient recycling particularly manure valorization and conservation agriculture significantly enhance productivity, soil fertility and climate resilience through nutrient cycling, manure valorization, income diversification and reduced external input dependence when bundled with institutional support. Consistent evidence from quasi‐experimental and econometric studies indicates that integrated systems reduce poverty and income volatility more effectively than monocropping systems. Rural social enterprises emerge as promising governance platforms that facilitate adoption through coordinated extension services, pooled financing mechanisms, collective learning processes, and improved market access. However, direct empirical studies on structured waste‐to‐fertility pathways such as composting systems, improved manure management, small‐scale biogas integration, and enterprise‐level carbon accounting remain scarce. This review advances a novel analytical framework that explicitly links climate‐smart agriculture principles, integrated farming system design, and rural social enterprise governance to strengthen scalability assessment and policy relevance.