Causal pathways from sustainable practices to economic stability through food security: An SEM approach

Introduction: This study investigates the complex interplay between sustainable agricultural practices, food security, and economic stability through structural equation modeling (SEM). It seeks to elucidate how different farming practices impact food security and, in turn, economic stability, while considering the influence of socio-demographic and regional factors. Methods: Using SEM, we analyzed data on sustainable agricultural practices, food security metrics, and economic stability indicators. The model accounted for variables such as crop types, educational attainment, and regional factors, including geographic location and climate. Despite some concerns regarding data quality, the model fit indices demonstrated that the model performed adequately. Results: The findings reveal that food security exerts a robust positive effect on economic stability. Among sustainable agricultural practices, organic farming and conservation tillage were particularly effective in enhancing food security, while agroforestry showed less consistent results. Socio-demographic factors, such as education level and gender, as well as regional factors like climate and geographic location, significantly influenced both food security and economic stability. Conclusion: This research underscores the pivotal role of food security in promoting economic stability and highlights the advantages of adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Organic farming and conservation tillage are shown to have significant positive effects on food security, although agroforestry's impact is variable. Additionally, socio-demographic and regional factors play a critical role in shaping food security and economic outcomes. These insights are valuable for policymakers and practitioners aiming to enhance agricultural productivity and economic resilience.