Bridging biodiversity and food systems: A nationwide synthesis of non-conventional food plants (PANCs) in Brazil

The increasing erosion of agrobiodiversity and the growing demand for sustainable food systems have intensified interest in non-conventional food plants (PANCs, a term originally proposed in Brazil) as strategic resources for enhancing food security, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods. In Brazil, PANCs are deeply embedded in socioecological systems and traditional knowledge. However, existing studies remain fragmented, region-specific, and lack integrative analyses at the national scale. This study aims to provide a nationwide synthesis of PANCs in Brazil, analyzing their distribution, uses, and socioecological roles across five macro-regions, and evaluating their contributions to sustainable food systems. A structured narrative review was conducted using systematic search principles across Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar, covering 2000–2024. Studies were selected using defined criteria, and 145 species were compiled. Analyses combined descriptive statistics with qualitative socioecological interpretation of ecological, cultural, and territorial dynamics. Results reveal strong regional heterogeneity. The North and Northeast regions have strong links to traditional knowledge, supporting food security and climate adaptation. Southeast and South reflect revalorization driven by markets and agroecology. Central-West highlights tensions between intensification and conservation. PANCs exhibit multifunctionality, contributing to nutrition, ecosystem services, and livelihoods, but face barriers, including limited knowledge and weak value chains. This study provides the first nationwide synthesis of non-conventional food plants (PANCs) in Brazil, bridging biodiversity and food systems through an integrated socioecological perspective. It highlights PANCs as strategic leverage points for inclusive, diversified, and climate-resilient food systems. Furthermore, the findings support their integration into public policies, including school feeding programs and institutional procurement initiatives, strengthening their role in promoting food security, rural development, and biodiversity conservation. • Maps 145 Brazilian PANCs across regions and biomes. • Links edible biodiversity to policy-relevant food-system outcomes. • Identifies policy gaps: regulation, procurement, safety, value chains. • Proposes actions to connect biodiversity with sustainable food policies. • Evidence to integrate PANCs into school meals and public procurement.