Indicators for the Sustainability Evaluation of Short Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review

Short food supply chains have increasingly appeared as sustainable alternatives to the traditional food system, though their sustainability lacks scientific consensus. This systematic literature review examines the indicators used to evaluate the sustainability of short food supply chains, detailed through the “Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems” framework. The analysis reveals a focus on quantitative evaluations, mainly in occidental countries, with an emphasis on farmers and supply chain configurations with maximum one intermediary. The economic and environmental pillars are the most assessed ones while some social themes are less studied. This review highlights the need to suggest a comprehensive indicator framework tailored to the needs and constraints of the stakeholders of short food supply chains.