Review of Agriculture and Food Integrated Assessment Models

Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) have become critical tools for analysing the complex interactions within agriculture and food systems, offering valuable insights for evidence-based policymaking. This article reviews 12 widely applied agriculture and food Integrated Assessment Models, categorizing them into four primary sub-groups: Food Security, Land Use, and Socio-economic Models; Hydrological and Water Resources Models; Land, Crop, and Food Production Models; and Food–Energy–Water Nexus Models. The review highlights their respective capabilities, including cost minimization, depth of the food–energy–water nexus analysis, integration with other domains and tools, and spatial and temporal resolution. A comparative assessment underscores each model’s unique strengths, such as resource intensity accounting in FABLE, climate-focused numerical analysis in MAgPIE and IMPACT, resource balance optimization in GCAM, and scenario-based water resource allocation in WEAP. Synergies between models and their integration with other domains, including energy and economic systems, are also explored, demonstrating their potential for producing holistic scenarios addressing climate adaptation, resource constraints and dietary transitions. The findings emphasize the significant role Integrated Assessment Models play in advancing the EU’s sustainability agenda, including the Green Deal and Common Agricultural Policy. These integrated approaches are crucial for crafting strategies that enhance food system resilience, optimize resource use, and support climate goals, positioning IAMs as indispensable instruments for shaping sustainable and equitable food systems worldwide.