A systematic review of cold chain logistics performance for fresh agricultural products: trends, gaps, and conceptual framework development

The performance of Cold Chain Logistics (CCL) is crucial for preserving the quality, safety, and sustainability of perishable products. Although several reviews have discussed CCL performance, they have focused on food CCL. Therefore, a gap remains in the literature regarding performance measurement and evaluation of CCL for Fresh Agricultural Products (FAPs). The study used a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) employing a multidimensional approach encompassing descriptive, content, and thematic analyses, with a special emphasis on the floriculture sector. The findings highlight critical research gaps, including the absence of integrated performance metrics, limited focus on the floriculture sector, and insufficient consideration of real-world decision-making complexities. To address these gaps, a conceptual research framework is proposed integrating operational, economic, and sustainability dimensions of CCL, adapted for the unique challenges of the floriculture sector. It provides insights for the development of dynamic, comprehensive, and context-sensitive performance evaluation within logistical requirements.