This systematic review of 353 studies evaluates the knowledge on foraging by humans, situating it in the wider context of human ecology. We highlight the strengths and weaknesses, and the micro (individual) to macro (landscape) level implications of foraging, as concerns livelihoods and social–ecological systems. Descriptive statistics of ethnobotanical studies yielded 1410 genera foraged globally. Foraging can contribute to food and nutritional security, human health and wellbeing, adaptation to global environmental change, and good governance. Research priorities include establishing baselines for species suitability, nutritional quality and biophysical tolerance, social utility, innovation, and foraging impact. Policy recommendations include integrated spatial planning and supporting devolved local economies nested within larger governance and market frameworks to enhance human and natural capital and social cohesion. Actions to foster social–ecological resilience include improving access to forageable resources and spaces, sharing information on sustainable foraging, and landscape stewardship through sustainable foraging.