Abstract
Sustainability standards have not yet been commonly adopted by the whole wine chain, and indicator assessments are not widely spread. A deep understanding of how embedding sustainability into business while controlling costs related to the adoption of sustainability certification standards such as data collection and management practices could allow one to overcome most barriers relevant to sustainability compliance. Blockchain technology (BCT) may answer these needs. In order to verify BCT potential to be used as a sustainability management tool in the wine industry, with a qualitative triple bottom line research approach, this article explores the connections among BCT adoption in agri-food, issues posed by wine sustainability certification, and whether wine companies that already own a wine sustainability certification are prepared to adopt it. Results show that (1) the blockchain allows collecting data and information that are relevant for monitoring and improving sustainability: Soil and water features, climate conditions, treatment with pesticides and fertilizers, production process, traceability, transparency, labor and human rights, quality and safety, waste reduction, authenticity, relationship with stakeholders; (2) wine companies that already own a sustainability certification have little familiarity with blockchain applications (57.1%, n.21) and only 14% of the respondents support their intention to invest in BCT in the coming years; (3) the case study shows improvements in traceability and transparency along the supply chain and an increase in consumers’ trust that was reflected in sales growth, and the main costs are linked to complexity in data management.
Highlights
In recent decades, the increasing competition and pressure from the world market led the food supply chain to many economic, social, and digital transformations
The present research questions (RQ) is the logical consequence of RQ1, whereby if a Blockchain technology (BCT) is applicable to wine sustainability certification and can be adapted by wine producers, gaining an understanding of their readiness to adopt is useful to better identify constraints, barriers, and potential drivers
The results of the systematic literature review (SLR) show that BCT use is potentially adaptable to sustainability monitoring and management and that its present use in agri-food is in alignment with the criteria considered by sustainability programs, certifications, and standards targeted to the wine industry
Summary
The increasing competition and pressure from the world market led the food supply chain to many economic, social, and digital transformations. In the agri-food sector, data management is extremely important, as it is a necessary condition to demonstrate the product characteristics and its quality to the customer while guarantying food safety, traceability, and all the values related to product and organization sustainability [1]. In this context, the collection and disclosure of data become key monitoring and communication tools that allow manufacturers to tell the story of their brands to consumers.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
