Assessing the Value of Sustainability in the Citrus Supply Chain

Agriculture plays a fundamental role in ensuring global food security in the context of a growing population; however, it is also responsible for the substantial consumption of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the adoption of sustainable practices represents a key strategy to improve agri-food supply chains, including the citrus sector. This study applies the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol to conduct a systematic review aimed at assessing the economic value generated by environmental, social, and economic sustainability practices along the citrus supply chain. The analysis focuses in particular on the role of sustainability certifications, examining both their potential benefits and the constraints associated with their adoption for producers and markets. Positioned at the beginning of the supply chain, producers play a pivotal role in the adoption of sustainable practices, whereas consumers, at the end, are instrumental in assigning market value to sustainability attributes through their purchasing decisions. The results highlight that, although consumer interest in ethical and environmentally friendly citrus products is increasing, this demand is often constrained by the lack of clear, standardized, and easily interpretable sustainability indicators. The review also reveals a significant imbalance in the existing literature, with economic assessments predominantly focused on environmental and production-related outcomes, while the economic value generated by social sustainability practices remains largely unexplored. Moreover, the review emphasizes the strategic role of policymakers in fostering sustainable transitions by providing economic incentives and facilitating access to finance, particularly for smallholders. Overall, the findings suggest that sustainability can generate economic value in the citrus supply chain; however, its effectiveness strongly depends on market recognition, certification credibility, supply chain organization, and institutional support.