Achieving UN SDGs in Food Supply Chain Using Blockchain Technology

Perishable food supply chains (PFSCs) have special challenges of short shelf life, strict time windows, product quality degradation issues, and product safety issues. With an estimated one-third of all food wasted in global food supply chains, managing perishability is a key concern for sustainability of PFSCs. The present chapter identifies key operational strategies to manage the PFSC. A mixed-methods approach was used based on systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis. This chapter further considers the case study of a dairy food supply chain (DFSC) in India. Dairy industry serves as the ideal case of an industry that strategically uses supply chain drivers to manage perishability, resulting in a high-performance supply chain. The analysis showed that first-mile technology application, effective cold chain management, stakeholder management and strict temperature control are some of the key aspects of managing perishability in PFSC. While cold chain serves as the backbone of the dairy supply chain, integration of farmers and supply chain responsiveness are other important aspects of managing PFSC. Managing perishability is a key factor for achieving global food safety, security and sustainable development goals. This chapter contributes towards sustainable food supply chains through successful management of perishability.

PurposeThe study aims to analyse the race towards green development and United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the cases of Huawei and Shell. Both companies are the leaders in their respective industries. Huawei is an example case study representing the information and communications technology (ICT) industry whereas Shell is an example case study representing the oil and gas industry. The research analyses of the races in achieving UN SDGs were undertaken based on the innovation diffusion framework with the use of machine learning algorithms trained to extract data on sustainability activities and initiatives.Design/methodology/approachThe research analyses the two case studies of Huawei and Shell. The research was undertaken through the steps of training machine learning algorithms, industry benchmarking and evaluating the performance of the race. The analyses regarding the activities and initiatives of Huawei and Shell in contributing towards SDGs are based on the data in the past 10 years (Years 2010–2019) using machine learning to extract data on sustainability activities and initiatives. In the case of Huawei, 313 sustainability reports were fed to the unsupervised machine learning algorithms revealing 15,101 sustainability actions and initiatives related to UN SDGs in the ICT industry. In the case of Shell, 2,015 sustainability reports were fed to the unsupervised machine learning algorithms revealing 47,365 sustainability actions and initiatives related to UN SDGs in the oil and gas industry.FindingsThe analyses of findings revealed that Huawei and Shell performed very well in progressing towards the UN SDGs. Huawei had strong performance in the ICT industry with regard to SDGs No. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 16 while Shell had strong performance in the oil and gas industry with regard to SDGs No. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 16. Both companies had placed a focus on achieving SDG 12 responsible consumption and production, SDG 7 affordable and clean energy and SDG 4 quality education. The synthesised business model innovations of Huawei and Shell had shown their environmental, social and governance strategies – Huawei’s 2030 vision for green development and Shell’s 2050 vision for net zero emissions.Practical implicationsThe five pillars of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership according to the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development have shown the way a company operates to promote sustainable eco-systems. The extent to which both Huawei and Shell link corporate strategies to the UN SDGs has reflected their implementation progress. Furthermore, the business model innovations of Huawei and Shell provides a useful framework which can be applied to encourage other companies/organisations in various industries to undertake ESG activities in practice.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this research is the application of machine learning algorithms and the innovation diffusion model in analysing the SDGs performance. The study applies the innovation diffusion framework to explore strategic actions and initiatives of Huawei and Shell in transitioning towards sustainability. The use of machine learning algorithms has identified their sustainability approach in achieving the UN SDGs.

This paper gives an overview of main food supply chain stakeholders and their role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As this supply chain is global, playing a significant role in feeding the world, a deeper analysis of 17 SDGs, their targets and indicators reveals numerous direct and indirect connections with various SDGs. To perform such an overview, the authors investigated the link between the main stakeholders of the chain (farmers, food processors, food traders and consumers) with UN SDGs. In parallel, the authors explored the roles of policymakers, inspection services, certification bodies and academia in supporting these SDGs. In spite of numerous papers, calculations and estimations, discussion and media coverage, the authors believe that only the tip of the iceberg has been revealed. Based on this overview, the authors emphasize SDG 2—Zero Hunger and SDG 12—Responsible Consumption and Production as the most dominant for the food supply chain. In parallel, the achievement of SDG 17—Partnerships for the Goals will enable deeper intertwining of the goals and all stakeholders in the food supply chain continuum. Additional efforts are needed to pave the way for fulfilling the targets of the UN SDGs and exceeding expectations of all stakeholders.

Improving the environmental sustainability of the food supply chain will help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This environmental sustainability is related to different SDGs, but mainly to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The strategies and measures used to improve this aspect of the food supply chain must remain in balance with other sustainability aspects (economic and social). In this framework, the interactions and possible conflicts between food supply chain safety and sustainability need to be assessed. Although priority must be given to safety aspects, food safety policies should be calibrated in order to avoid unnecessary deleterious effects on the environment. In the present review, a number of potential tensions and/or disagreements between the microbial safety and environmental sustainability of the fresh produce supply chain are identified and discussed. The addressed issues are spread throughout the food supply chain, from primary production to the end-of-life of the products, and also include the handling and processing industry, retailers, and consumers. Interactions of fresh produce microbial safety with topics such as food waste, supply chain structure, climate change, and use of resources have been covered. Finally, approaches and strategies that will prove useful to solve or mitigate the potential contradictions between fresh produce safety and sustainability are described and discussed. Upon analyzing the interplay between microbial safety and the environmental sustainability of the fresh produce supply chain, it becomes clear that decisions that are taken to ensure fresh produce safety must consider the possible effects on environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects. To manage these interactions, a global approach considering the interconnections between human activities, animals, and the environment will be required.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The built environment plays a significant role in achieving these goals. Recognizing this and embracing the role the UN played in establishing CIB, the theme of this World Building Congress is “sustainable built environment – the role of the construction community in meeting the UN SDGs”. This research evaluated the 2022 World Building Congress proceedings for their connection to the UN SDGs. A literature review, the UN SDG definations, and knowledge of the goals in relationship to the built environment helped to establish working definition for each SDG in relation to the built environment. Each published paper was evaluated for their implicit or explicit connection to each of the 16 UN SDGs. To ensure reliability and validity of the apporach, two independent raters evaluated five papers jointly and then ten papers independtly with results compared. The most frequently cited SDGs was SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Two-hundred and twenty of the three-hundred and one 2022 WBC proceedings papers reviewed were judged as being linked to a UN SDG. Eleven WBC Proceeding specifically mentioned UN SDGs. Each paper in the 2025 WBC will self-identify their primary and secondary UN SDG goal. Therefore, this research helps set a historical precedent of how CIB WBC papers have been connected to UN SDGs and establishes a methodology by which previous WBCs could also be analyzed.

Reducing post-harvest food losses through innovative collaboration: Insights from the Colombian and Mexican avocado supply chains

Food loss and waste undermine the resilience and sustainability of global food systems, jeopardising progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopting healthier and more sustainable diets could help reduce global food loss and waste, but the potential trade-offs on food loss and waste trends and interactions with standalone reduction policies remain largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the effects of reducing food loss and waste within the context of a global dietary transition by 2050, shedding light on the synergies and trade-offs between two crucial policy areas for the food systems of the future. In this economic modelling study, we linked the economic and technical modelling of food loss and waste by adding consistent tracing of food loss and waste in physical quantities along global (ie, domestic and international) food supply chains within a global computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling framework. This framework captures the behavioural responses of economic actors along food and non-food supply chains. We built on the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Data Base, incorporating data extensions for energy, nutritional accounts, and food loss and waste flows along stages of global supply chains. We first investigated the impact of halving global food loss and waste through technological developments by 2050, in line with the SDG 12.3 target. We then analysed the impact of transitioning to healthier and more sustainable diets by 2050, promoting a global dietary transition through behavioural changes. We explored this dietary transition both with and without the goal of halving global food loss and waste, highlighting how food loss and waste targets interact with dietary changes on a global scale. Our scenarios were chosen to show how the magnitude, composition, location, and reuse potential of food loss and food waste could evolve under different scenarios compared with business-as-usual dietary developments. Food loss and waste along global supply chains were projected to rise by 52·0% by 2050 under the continuation of historical trends. Diet shifts alone were projected to be insufficient to curb this rise in food loss and waste, with demographic trends and growing incomes driving the total volume of lost and discarded food. Regional spillover effects of healthier diets-whereby low-income countries increase plant-based food production to meet growing demand in high-income countries-exacerbated food loss and waste trends, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and north Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, rapid population growth and increased per-capita gross domestic product drove food loss and waste when dietary changes were implemented (an increase of 132·2% from 2014 to 2050) and when standalone food loss and waste reduction targets were applied (an increase of 61·8% from 2014 to 2050). Globally, dietary shifts were projected to drive food loss and waste for oilseeds and fish, surpassing baseline levels by 2050. Further spillovers emerged in high-income countries where demand for fresh plant-based foods was shown to drive losses at production stages. Global trade was also found to amplify food loss and waste in exporting regions, as increasing exports of plant-based products from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America to Europe, the USA, and India increased farm-level food loss and waste. Coupling dietary transitions with targeted food loss and waste reduction policies in line with SDG 12.3 successfully controlled spillover effects on a global scale. A combined strategy could reduce global food loss and waste by 63·2%, eliminating commodity-specific and stage-specific spillovers and enhancing the effectiveness of dietary changes. Potential benefits were particularly notable in sub-Saharan Africa where nutritional availability could increase by an average of 365 calories per capita per day by 2050. Policies promoting healthier diets must consider spillover effects on food loss and waste (eg, a potential rise in loss and waste generation when global consumption shifts towards plant-based products). As shifts in production, consumption, and trade alter the magnitude, location, and composition of food loss and waste, monitoring these changes is crucial to establishing the priority areas for food loss and waste reduction or reuse interventions, especially in low-income regions. Although dietary shifts can improve nutrition, new technologies and market-based approaches to reuse discarded food and food waste-whether linked to domestic consumption or trade-could create economic opportunities and environmental benefits. To maximise these benefits, food loss and waste reduction should be central to discussions on dietary transition policies, as spillover effects risk undermining the positive outcomes of a global dietary shift. None.

On the sustainable perishable food supply chain network design: A dairy products case to achieve sustainable development goals

Supply network design to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A case study of blockchain implementation in Thai fish industry

Connecting food supply chains

Scholars of language believe that where there is no language there is no development, thus language is pivotal in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to explore a language-based approach to the achievement of SDGs. Studies and reports describe language theories such as Edward Sapir-Benjamin Lee Whorf Linguistic Determinism Theory, Geoffery Leech’s five characteristics of language, Lev Vygotsky Developmental Theory, Jim Cummins Principles of Language – Basic Interpersonal Skills/Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency and other relevant linguistic concepts vis-à-vis sustainability goals and enumerate how the SDGs can be translated into a plan of action through the language-based approach. Specifically, the study focuses on Goal 3- Good health and wellbeing, Goal 4 - Quality education, Goal 16 - Peace, justice, and strong institutions, and Goal 17 - Partnership for the goal. Qualitative meta-analysis was employed using a five-step synthesis approach: 1) Exploring the field and defining research questions 2) search, selection, and appraisal of studies (sampling procedure) 3) data extraction 4) aggregation and 5) synthesis to analyze data from reports, symposiums, and studies as the main sources of data. In the iterative analyses, aggregates of concepts were identified: 1) language 2) language users 3) inclusiveness, equality, and sustainability 4) Sustainable Development Goals and language-based approaches. Other concepts were extracted from data such as diversity of language, language and culture, multilingualism, plurilingualism, multiculturalism, multilingualism, mother tongue-based multilingual education, literacy and reading skills, communication disabilities, minority vs. dominant languages, language loss and language maintenance, rights language to health care, inclusivity, vulnerability, diversity, equality, global citizenship, transparency and integrity, nationalism, national unity and collective identity and their centrality in the development, implementation, and successful completion of the SDGs.ReferencesBaart, J. L.G. (2003). Sustainable development and the maintenance of Pakistan’s indigenous languages. Conference on the state of the social sciences and humanities: Current scenario and emerging trends Islamabad, September 26-27, 2003Balčiūnaitienė Asta (2018). Challenges of foreign language teaching and sustainable development competence implementation in higher education 10.2478/vtrr-2018-0004 Vocational Training: Research and Realities, 29(1), 2018 44Brisset, N. & Radhika M. (March 2017). For function or transformation? A critical discourse analysis of education under the Sustainable Development Goals. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies, 15(1). ISSN 1740-2743 https://www.researchgate. net/ publication/314243582Creswell, J. W. & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choose among five approaches, 4th ed. Sage.Drape, T., Westfall-Rudd, LDM., & Lawrence, C. (May 2020). A qualitative meta-analysis examining equity and inclusion in undergraduate and graduate populations. https://www.researchgate. net/publication/341323420Ezeh. N. G. & Obiageli, U.R. (2020). The role of language in achieving the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). European Journal of English Language and Literature Studies. 8(6), pp.53-61Forman, L., Ooms, G & Brolan, C. E. (Dec., 2015). Rights language in the Sustainable Development Agenda: Has right to health discourse and norms shaped health goals? International Journal Health Policy Management. ; 4(12). 799–804. Published online 2015 Sep 29. https://doi.org.10.15171/ijhpm.2015.171Hussain, N., Jagoe, C., Mullen, R., O’Shea, A., Sutherland, D., Williams, C., & Wright, M. (2018). The importance of speech, language and communication to the United Nations sustainable development goals: A summary of evidence. International Communication Project.Language, the sustainable development goals, and vulnerable populations at the church center for the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, on 11 and 12 May 2017 Symposium: Study Group on Language and the United Nations. an independent group of scholars and practitioners on matters related to the international use of language (Final Report)Mweri, J. G. (2020). Sustainable development goals: Reaching people through their mother tongue. Linguistics and Literature Studies. http://doi.org.10.13189/lls.2020.080103Nwanyanwu, A. U. (2017). The place of indigenous languages in sustainable national development in the twenty-first Century: The Nigerian perspective. International Journal of English Language and Communication Studies 3(3), ISSN 2545 - 5702Obiegbu, I. (2015), The English language and sustainable development in Nigeria Open Journal of Political Science, 5(2) Article ID:54264,4 pages DOI: 10.4236/ojps.2015.52009.Ollinger, A. (2012) Communication strategies in ELF. Academia. Communication_strategies_in_ELF-with-cover-page-v2.pdfReyes, C. M., Albert, R.G., Tabuga, A. D., Arboneda, A.A., Vizmanos, V. & Cabaero, C. C. (2019). The Philippines’ voluntary national review on the sustainable development goals. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.Stein-Smith, K. (2016). The role of multilingualism in effectively addressing global issues: The sustainable development goals and beyond. ISSN 1799-2591 Theory and practice in language studies, 6(12), pp. 2254-2259Sustainability | Free Full-Text | Quality education as a sustainable development goal in the context of 2030 agenda: Bibliometric approach | HTML (mdpi.com) International communication project(www.internationalcommunicationproject.com)The Sustainable Development Goals Report (2021). United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with more than 50 international agencies. http://The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2021.pdf (un.org)Traore, D. (2017). The role of language and culture in sustainable development 30th - 31st October - 1st - 3rd November 2017, International Conference of the Consortium for Comparative Research on Regional Integration and Social Cohesion (RISC).Vuzo, M. (2019). Implementation of sustainable language education in the Tanzanian context: A Critical review. School of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania African Education Indices, 11(1). ISSN 2276 – 982XWilhite, Z. B. (2013). Local languages of instruction as a right in education for sustainable development in Africa Sustainability, 5, 1994-2017; http://doi.org./10.3390/su505199

We identify that the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 7, 9, 12 pertaining to industry investment, innovation, affordability, clean product, and responsible consumption/production are relevant for the firms operating in closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) structures. We show how these goals can be implemented into a CLSC in which downstream manufacturer serves different types of consumers and engages in vertical relations with a supplier in the upstream. While the supplier invests in a green component, the manufacturer produces the final green product. The manufacturer diversifies its customer base and meet their demands through contracts and a variety of pricing options. Specifically, at the end of the supply chain there are three different customer groups: “contract customers”, “green-conscious customers”, and “wholesale market customers”. While the firms execute sustainability Goals of 7 and 9, the behavioral consumers who are the contract and green-conscious customers are altruistic, consume responsibly, and hence fulfill the Goal 12. We show that green consciousness and altruism play an important role on firm profitability and production. Furthermore, the SDGs proposed by the UN have welfare-improving implications. In particular, when the SDGs are implemented, all parties (firms and consumers) are better off compared to the benchmark case under which no SDGs are applied.

Digitalising food manufacturing

Food and nutrition security has been neglected in the planning field for reasons of a lack of connection between food and planning and the perception that agricultural activities have no place in the modernizing world. However, considering increasing climate change impacts and implications on industrialized agriculture, there is a clear need to establish shorter, more sustainable agricultural production practices and food supply chains. Urban agriculture is proposed as a potential method of intervention for planners to support sustainable food production and supply chains. The paper utilized a multiple-case study design to analyze four best practice examples of urban agriculture in the Global South to uncover its potential to address food security associated risks and contribute to sustainable development objectives. The results delivered evidence of the potential to harness the multifunctionality of urban agriculture to not only improve the food security of the most at-risk populations, but to also address other urban risks such as unemployment, community decline and food deserts. The recommendations for this paper relate to establishing a food security department, mapping and encouraging more sustainable food supply chains, creating land uses and zonings specific to urban agriculture and to utilize its multifunctionality to address other urban risks.

Rising population, growing food demand, inefficient resource utilization, and food wastage at different stages of food supply are demanding a paradigm-shifting toward more sustainable practices in the agri-food sector. With the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the scientific community also took their research interest toward the espousal of Circular Economy (CE) in the farming sector. This study has performed a systematic review in order to identify how the past studies applied CE in the agri-food sector and also whether the existing literature evaluated the role of CE in different segments like food production, food consumption, and food supply chain or not? The review identified the shifted research interest of the researchers toward the implementation of CE models in the agri-food sector for the last 5 years. However, most studies focused on the application of CE in food waste and supply chain management, and rare attention was put on the adoption of the CE approach in food production and consumption. This study directs that future investigation may be focused on the efficient integration of the CE approach across all stages, i. e., production, consumption, and distribution of the agri-food supply chain to support the sustainability in the entire food and agrarian system.KeywordsCircular economyAgriculture and food sectorSustainable growthFood production and consumptionSystemic review