Current challenges in agricultural intensification and land use change in Latin America: land sparing, land sharing, rebound effect, and leakage.

Humanity faces a double threat: burgeoning food demand from a growing population and ecological degradation fueled by agricultural expansion. Crop production can be increased through cropland expansion (more land), and crop intensification (producing more per unit of cropland). Embracing sustainable intensification on existing agricultural land rather than the unsustainable quest for ever-greater acreage has been proposed. This approach is known as land-sparing. Nevertheless, there is a risk that land sparing can lead to a rebound effect where increased yields lead to increased demand for agricultural products, which in turn drives further expansion of cropland. In addition to these challenges, there is also the risk of leakage, where land use change in an area is caused by land use change in another area. This can happen when global markets allow for the transfer of agricultural products from one region to another. With 23% of the world’s arable land, 46% of tropical forests, and 31% of freshwater, Latin America possesses unparalleled potential for revolutionizing food production. By embracing sustainable intensification and conserving natural ecosystems, the region can nourish a growing population without further deforestation, protect vital ecosystems, safeguard biodiversity mitigating climate change, and become a global leader in sustainable food production. While studies have explored land sparing, land sharing, rebound effects, and leakage in Latin America, significant regional gaps remain. Existing research often lacks integration into the causes and consequences of these phenomena in diverse local contexts and potential pathways for the effective implementation of sustainable solutions. This study employs an evidence synthesis approach (https://asreview.nl/) to comprehensively analyze the existing literature. Our goal is to identify the main drivers and consequences of crop expansion and intensification across Latin America exploring potential pathways for policy implementation that fosters sustainable food production while protecting the environment.