This review aims to identify indicators to assess the sustainability of sugarcane production. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reviewed 44 eligible articles from Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results show that only 34% of the identified studies focus on the three dimensions of sustainability namely, environmental, economic and social. The social dimension continues to be under studied.
From the 119 indicators identified, 16 common indicators used to assess the sustainability of sugarcane were identified, and the analysis of frequency shows that the most commonly suggested indicators were Greenhouse gas emissions, Water use, Water quality, Employment generation, and Initiatives to promote the Local community’s welfare, Profit, and Distance to sugar mills. Further, research combining the three dimensions of sustainability and those which separately evaluate the sustainability of sugarcane in the production stage on the field and in the factory is recommended.
