The growing global concern about food security will be exacerbated by a projected population increase of nearly 10 billion by the year 2050. Rice cultivation is central to this discussion, as it feeds more than half of the world�s population. This systematic review addresses the urgent issue of global food security with an emphasis on sustainable rice farming. Traditional rice cultivation methods pose significant environmental challenges, such as methane emissions and high carbon footprints. Despite the increasing body of work on sustainable rice farming techniques, a gap exists from the absence of consolidated reviews. This study synthesised existing literature from SCOPUS and Web of Science databases according to PRISMA guidelines. Under strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 49 of the initial 3259 studies identified were analysed. This present study established three pivotal factors influencing the adoption of sustainable practices among rice farmers: individual characteristics, community and social variables, and institutional frameworks. These elements hold crucial implications for policy formulation and provide a foundation for multidisciplinary collaboration to foster sustainable rice farming. This study fills a critical research void by delineating the key parameters that guide the adoption of sustainable practices within the rice farming community. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.