Ensuring resilience in agri-food supply chains

Abstract Agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) are critical for global food security, but they have been facing challenging disruptions from climate change, pandemics, and geopolitical events. This review analyses how sustainability practices can enhance AFSC resilience and explore the trade-offs between sustainability initiatives and resilience strategies. The methodology for this review article involved a systematic literature search and content analysis approach to investigate the connections between sustainability and resilience in AFSCs. The systematic analysis of 28 papers reveals several key themes. A holistic and cyclical approach to sustainability and resilience in AFSCs allows practices to be adapted to changing conditions and ensures that sustainability efforts do not harm economic outcomes. Collaboration and stakeholder engagement are crucial for leveraging sustainability for resilience. Joint planning, information sharing, and customer integration can lead to better resource management and operational efficiency. Innovation, diversification, and adaptability are key to maintaining economic viability while pursuing sustainability and resilience. They can increase the value of end products, support local markets, and grow profitability in agriculture. Moreover, proposed strategies, policies, and conceptual frameworks for designing sustainable and resilient supply chains are reviewed. Focus is also drawn to the latest technologies that can help balance sustainability, resilience, and economic viability by enhancing decision making. In addition, shifting product demand from global to local suppliers is discussed as a way to reduce impacts from supply chain disruptions and revitalize local economies. Finally, the review emphasizes the importance of understanding trade-offs between sustainability initiatives and resilience strategies to develop integrated approaches.