Global Value Chain Competitiveness in the Coffee Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

The role of Global Value Chains (GVCs) in integrating smallholders into global markets has become a prominent research concern, particularly due to challenges in value distribution, sustainability, and economic welfare. This study examines the current state, emerging issues, and future research directions of global coffee value chain literature, particularly emphasizing competitiveness, sustainability, and their associated theoretical, contextual, and methodological dimensions. A systematic literature review was conducted using 107 SCOPUS-indexed studies to map key issues, challenges, opportunities, and conditions across the coffee value chain from upstream to downstream. The findings indicate a concentrated scholarly focus on sustainability standards, smallholder upgrading, and competitiveness. However, notable gaps persist, particularly the limited presence of cross-national comparative analyses, inadequate engagement with digital transformation processes, and the insufficient application of advanced national competitiveness frameworks within the coffee sector. The literature is mainly qualitative, indicating a need for more robust quantitative and mixed-method studies. This review further outlines several promising directions for future inquiry, including investigating governance structures, integrating emerging technological paradigms, and developing comprehensive metrics for assessing multidimensional competitiveness. Key words: Coffee; Smallholder Farmers; Sustainability Standards; Trade Competitiveness; Value Chain.