Paths to sustainable agriculture: Social life cycle assessment of fertilizers and biofertilizers in perspective

Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) is a key tool for evaluating social impacts across product life cycles. In agriculture, particularly for fertilizers and biofertilizers, S-LCA offers insights into labor conditions, community well-being, and equity along the value chain. This review highlights methodological approaches, integrated frameworks, and challenges such as limited sector-specific data, methodological inconsistencies, and low reproducibility. The UNEP/SETAC guidelines are emphasized for their stakeholder-based approach aligned with Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA). The integration of environmental, economic, and social aspects through Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is also discussed. Barriers include public resistance to waste-based products, regulatory gaps, and technological limits. However, participatory methods, improved data granularity, and alignment with other sustainability tools have advanced S-LCA's relevance. Tailoring S-LCA to agricultural systems and aligning it with E-LCA, Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and ESG frameworks is crucial to strengthen sustainability assessments and support inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven agriculture. • A framework for S-LCA application to fertilizers and biofertilizers is proposed. • Social hotspots in fertilizer life cycles are identified across value chain stages. • Biofertilizers show potential to reduce social risks in agricultural inputs. • Integration of S-LCA with E-LCA and LCC enhances sustainability assessment. • Future research should include local context, stakeholders, and digital tools.