Food value chains: a bibliometric and systematic literature review of strategic dimensions and emerging technologies

Abstract

Food value chains (FVCs) have acquired strategic importance as a framework for addressing the challenges of food security, environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, and social welfare. In this regard, the understanding of the definition, actors, and activities within the value chain has evolved, seeking to adapt to the new challenges and realities facing the agricultural sector. Consequently, it is necessary to identify the key characteristics of these thematic evolutions within FVC not only to understand the work done to date but also to determine the direction in which processes should evolve to achieve better results. To analyze their evolution, this article presents two analyses: the first is a bibliometric study of research published in Scopus on “value chain” and “agrifood,” covering articles from 2001 to 2025 and totaling 964 documents. Subsequently, a systematic literature review is carried out on 25 articles that specifically discuss FVC to identify strategic components and trends. The results show that the sustainability of food value chains depends on the interaction of six strategic dimensions: integral governance, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, technological innovation, and organizational resilience. Likewise, it is evident that technologies such as blockchain, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and advanced traceability systems are transforming the mechanisms of coordination, transparency, and value creation within agrifood systems. It is concluded that FVCs constitute complex socio-ecological systems whose future competitiveness will depend on their ability to integrate collaborative governance strategies, technological innovation, and multidimensional sustainability, thereby simultaneously contributing to economic development and environmental protection, and social welfare.