Meta-analyses (MAs) are needed to inform agricultural policies on sustainable farming practices (FPs). This study assesses the quality against established criteria of 570 MAs published from 2000-2023 and included in the recently published “JRC-Farming Practices Evidence Library”. We find that average MA quality significantly improved (p < 0.001) over time. However, about two-thirds of the assessments showed deficiencies in at least four areas, notably study selection and publication bias reporting. MAs related to animal husbandry, manure management, and those synthesizing modelling-derived outcomes demonstrated particularly low quality. Less than 40% of MAs provided accessible original data, limiting reproducibility and re-use. These shortcomings may hinder the full potential of MAs to support evidence-based policy. We propose recommendations to promote FAIR data sharing, enhance awareness, and encourage greater transparency in reporting, which a needed to strengthen the role of MAs in agricultural sustainability.
SCHIEVANO Andrea;
BOSCO Simona;
PEREZ-SOBA Marta;
MONTERO CASTAÑO Ana;
CATARINO Rui;
CHEN Mathilde;
TAMBURINI Giovanni;
LANDONI Beatrice;
MANTEGAZZA Otho;
REGA Carlo;
GUERRERO Irene;
BIELZA Maria;
VAN DER VELDE Marijn;
PARACCHINI Maria Luisa;
SEE Linda;
TERRES Jean-Michel;
MAKOWSKI David;
2026-07-30
Springer Nature
JRC142389
2731-9202 (online),
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-026-00148-7,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC142389,
10.1038/s44264-026-00148-7 (online),
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