A systematic review of food accessibility in the food supply chains

Abstract

Food accessibility, covering physical, economic, and social dimensions, is a core pillar of food security and depends strongly on food supply chains (FSCs). Previous reviews usually examined FSCs without discussing accessibility, or discussed accessibility outside the FSC context. We close that gap by making the first systematic review that explicitly links the two topics. We screened 136 studies and conducted bibliometric-performance and science-mapping analyses to identify research topics and trends. We synthesized diverse definitions and measurements of food accessibility, analyzed barriers affecting food accessibility, and established a three-tier taxonomy that maps specific barriers onto the three dimensions of food accessibility and five barrier classes. For each barrier class, we traced the causal chain and summarized the interventions reported in the literature. A brief comparison between sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe shows that barriers and interventions vary by region. Based on these findings, we present a decision matrix that links barriers to actionable interventions and analytical tools. The review identifies three research gaps: (1) multidimensional measurement of accessibility, (2) stronger attention to equity, and (3) wider use of analytics-driven decision support tools. These insights offer strategic guidance for future research and practice aimed at enhancing food accessibility through FSC innovations.