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Evaluating the Sustainability Dimensions in the Food Supply Chain: Literature Review and Research Routes

Author

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  • Maria Elena Latino

    (Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Marta Menegoli

    (Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Martina De Giovanni

    (Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

Nowadays, the world is facing numerous sustainability challenges and the modern food system is called to innovate processes or products in order to remain competitive within the market, as well as answering to strategic government guidelines for a more sustainable food supply chain. This study aims to investigate what the main research routes of a sustainable food supply chain are, explored by the international scientific panorama, with a view for providing companies with a framework of the sustainability paths that can be followed, and, to researchers, gaps and future research routes to explore. A systematic review method is adopted through bibliometric analysis and results were obtained with VOSViewer software support. Descriptive and thematic analyses allowed us to discover the bibliometric characteristics of the sample, the main specific topics and the related research routes already addressed in sustainable food supply chain, the main food supply chain models studied in association with sustainability and the effort employed by academia to investigate the three sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic and social. Concluding, the research field of sustainability in the food supply chain is focused on management issues able to generate impacts on process, systems, practices, production and quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Elena Latino & Marta Menegoli & Martina De Giovanni, 2021. "Evaluating the Sustainability Dimensions in the Food Supply Chain: Literature Review and Research Routes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11816-:d:665302
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    2. Ajay Philip & Rahul R. Marathe, 2022. "A New Green Labeling Scheme for Agri-Food Supply Chains: Equilibrium and Information Sharing under Uncertainties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-34, November.

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