<p>This paper provides the first systematic review of global sugarcane research framed around cleaner production, sustainability transitions, and food supply chain resilience. A total of 489 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed following PRISMA protocols. Studies were coded by theme, methodology, and geography in NVivo to identify dominant agendas, trends, and research gaps. The review shows a marked rise in publications after 2015, with Brazil and India as leading contributors. Opportunities lie in biorefineries, cogeneration, bagasse valorization, and digital agriculture, highlighting pathways for low-carbon transitions and circular economy models. However, challenges remain acute. Environmental pressures, including pre-harvest burning, soil degradation, and water stress, persist, while price volatility and trade exposure undermine sector stability. Social and equity dimensions, including labor, livelihoods, and gender, are marginalized. Food-system linkages, especially nutrition and food security, remain underexplored, revealing a missed opportunity to align sugarcane research with the Sustainable Development Goals. The findings highlight the need for balanced policies that integrate energy incentives with food security, strengthen supply chain efficiency, and promote participatory approaches. By consolidating evidence across geographies, this review identifies critical blind spots and outlines priorities for a more sustainable and equitable sugarcane sector, providing a foundation for advancing cleaner production strategies and global sustainability goals.</p>