Transitioning the agri-food system. Does closeness mean sustainability? how production and shipping strategies impact socially and environmentally. Comparing Spain, South Africa and U.S. citrus fruit productions

Abstract

Agricultural techniques and orchard management play an important role in food production sustainability and there is an increasing number of research papers that focus on food cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment. In addition, there is also an emerging body of research on short food supply chains and on whether or not proximity can be a proxy for sustainability in the agri-food system. The objective of this analysis is to consider the most relevant social and environmental impacts of the Environmental Footprint and Social Life Cycle Assessment in the citrus fruit sector and identify crucial hotspots. We will explore the relevance of the length of citrus fruit supply chains on maps of social and environmental impacts in order to reach more wiser sustainability-based decisions. The results obtained show mixed conclusions regarding the relevance and implications of choosing short food supply chains to achieve more sustainable food systems.