Abstract Nutritional strategies are the most evident and natural methods to integrate ruminant production systems in the One health approach, aiming at the simultaneous protection of the health of humans, animals and the environment. Among these strategies, the use of forage legumes containing some bioactive compounds (mainly phenols, terpenes and alkaloids) is particularly promising as they have shown potential benefits in multiple dimensions throughout the ruminant production chain. In addition to be protein-rich resources, they have been shown to decrease nitrogen fertilization, reduce methane emissions and urinary nitrogen excretion, have anthelmintic and antioxidant activities improving health status of animals, and can improve product quality through their fatty acid profile and oxidative stability. Bioactive legumes are present both in temperate and tropical areas, but their use could be different as the compounds of interest could be of different nature and in different concentrations. Interdisciplinary and transnational research projects could provide a considerable opportunity to share knowledge in this field and to propose global innovative solutions for ruminant nutrition in the future.