Navigating The Food-Water-Land Nexus: A Systematic Review of System Dynamics Applications and Future Directions

Abstract

The food–water–land nexus presents complex challenges for sustainable resource management due to interconnected resource demands and environmental pressures. Although system dynamics has been widely applied to examine resource interactions, existing studies remain limited in integrating spatial heterogeneity, stakeholder behavior, and socioeconomic drivers. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate methodological approaches, policy applications, and research gaps in system dynamics modeling of the food–water–land nexus. Following the PRISMA framework, 79 documents published between 2016 and 2026 were initially identified through Scopus. After screening, 61 articles were retained, with 22 studies examined through focused thematic synthesis. The findings reveal four prominent methodological approaches: participatory modeling, hybrid integration with geographic information systems, modular modeling architectures, and probabilistic simulations. These approaches facilitate the identification of nonlinear feedbacks, resource trade-offs, and long-term policy implications. However, limited longitudinal data, insufficient spatial resolution, and inadequate representation of stakeholder behavior constrain model reliability. This review contributes a structured synthesis of methodological developments and identifies priority directions for integrating multiscale, spatially explicit, and behaviorally informed models to support adaptive and sustainable resource governance.