Traceability in sustainable agribusiness: A systematic review and future research directions

Traceability in Sustainable Agribusiness has caught the attention of academia. However, current knowledge is fragmented, lacking theoretical grounding. This study consolidates scientific production on the subject and proposes an agenda for future studies. We analyzed 73 articles from the Scopus database, using the Antecedents, Decisions and Outcomes and Theory, Context and Methods frameworks (ADO-TCM). The synthesis reveals that antecedents center primarily on actors across the supply chain and technological mechanisms, with approximately 80% of the studies relying on Blockchain-based systems as the dominant technological antecedent. Product-related antecedents are concentrated in cattle and derived products, frequently associated with circular-economy practices and environmental sustainability. The main decision variables involve fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, value generation, and market relationships. Outcomes are linked to enhanced trust and product quality. This review advances understanding of how traceability can act as a systemic sustainability mechanism within agribusiness, supporting environmental, economic, and social goals across the life cycle of food production and supply chains. The proposed research agenda highlights the need for more robust theoretical integration, methodological diversity, and explicit application of life cycle perspectives to strengthen the role of sustainability in advancing sustainable production and consumption.