Abstract

Building agriculture that can withstand climate pressures (climate-resilient agriculture (CRA)) ranks high on the policy priorities of the European Union. Because sustainability touches nearly every dimension of rural livelihoods, it also bears directly on how resilient European farming systems can become. This study drew on a quantitative meta-analysis covering 43 peer-reviewed studies published from 1990 to 2024 to pinpoint which strategies most effectively bolster resilience in Europe’s agricultural sector. Relevant studies were identified through Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct and screened against inclusion criteria centered on socio-economic and environmental sustainability. The analysis examined livelihood assets and adaptation approaches that support CRA and sustainability across three dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. Results indicated that human and financial capital play an outsized role in fostering socially sustainable agriculture, more so than social, natural, or physical assets, reflecting Europe’s status as a developed region. Social and natural assets emerge as the next most influential factors for economically viable, sustainable farming. The data further show that livelihood assets generate meaningful spatial and temporal effects on environmental sustainability throughout Europe. Accordingly, strengthening agriculture’s capacity for transformative resilience depends on sustained investment in human, financial, social, and natural capital. Given that CRA rests on a holistic approach encompassing straightforward farming practices, the findings point toward prioritizing human, social, and natural assets through inclusive education, equitable access to livelihood resources, and environmental stewardship as a combined pathway toward durable agricultural sustainability.