Harvest planning for efficient and integrated food supply chains: a combined project-operations management approach

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to determine the convenience of using a contract model as an integration mechanism for decision-making in a decentralized supply chain of small agricultural producers in a developing country, taking as hypothesis coordinated chain achieves better management. The analysis is based on information obtained by direct inquiry to 99 small producers in the region, about planning, production, marketing and distribution in the chain, supplemented with secondary information sources.Design/methodology/approachAs a methodology an analysis of maturity in the chain based on the Capability Maturity Model Integration is done, whose evaluation is later analyzed as a fuzzy logic model, with the support of the fuzzy logic of the MATLAB toolbox, to study the convenience of the use of the contract against the other mechanisms, and to establish an approximation to the level of readiness of the chain toward integration.FindingsResults obtained show that the small farmer supply chain studied, from a maturity perspective, has a strong disposition for the use of contracts as an integration mechanism.Research limitations/implicationsThe supply chain for small producers presents a high dispersion, little consolidated offer capacity and lack of coordination. Limitations in terms of information and criteria unification are a challenge for future research. Results have socioeconomic implications for small producers and can serve as a guide to formulate policies by the governments in Latin American countries.Practical implicationsAs practical implications, it can be stated that the use of supply contracts is a real mechanism that can be implemented in this type of chain, to break the mistrust between the echelons and improve the supply chain performance. This research will allow to establish support programs from local governments for the sustainability and improving income of small producers. In addition, contracts will allow to formalize the linkage of small producers to a sustainable commercial network.Social implicationsSmall agricultural producers in developing countries live in unfavorable conditions, with socioeconomic limitations. This work offers an alternative for their productive activity development that will allow them access to marketing chains in a safe way and improve their living conditions.Originality/valuePrevious studies related to the maturity toward the chain integration and fuzzy logic as a hybrid methodology, were not found in the literature, and less even applied to a chain of small agricultural products.

Agricultural production in Serbia is one the most important segments of the national economy. Serbia is exporting more agricultural product than importing. Food processors who are responding to the wholesale and retail demand are looking for commodities with specific attributes. Industrialised agriculture grows and makes the rules on the market. In contrast, it has been recognised for some time that small agricultural producers in Serbia have been under huge economic pressure. As a result of impressive changes in market demand and in agricultural policy small agricultural produces in Serbia need to adjust their production structure. Market developments provide niche opportunities for small producers that are able to differentiate production and respond promptly. To capture these opportunity small farmers could use appropriate supply chains and supply chain strategies as well as decision making strategies for the development of partnership, especially planning for successful marketing. The aim of this paper is to analyse the supply chain models for the small Serbian farmers. The results show that small producers in Serbia face increased competition by big player in the market. The wholesale and retail permanently increase criteria for suppliers. Small producers have possibility to use niche opportunities in approaching consumers.

Export vegetable supply chains, household labour allocation and poverty effects among small producers – Evidence from Northern Tanzania

It is proved that modern logistics distribution centers play an important role in the formation of added value in agri-food supply chains and the inclusion of small agricultural producers in competitive supply chains. The classification of logistics centers are carried out and approaches to their definition are systematized. The stages of evolution of sales and distribution of agricultural products on the basis of cooperation, logistics distribution centers are analyzed and the conclusion on the need to create such centers in the sale of agricultural products is made. The foreign practice of creation of logistic distribution centers of agricultural products is generalized, and also criteria of their characteristic are allocated. It is argued that the main purpose of creating logistics distribution centers for agricultural products is to establish economic partnerships between producers and consumers, reduce transaction costs, create conditions for the inclusion of small producers in competitive supply chains, ensuring transparency of food, quality and safety. It is proposed to consider the logistics distribution center of agricultural products and food as an object of providing comprehensive logistics services and coordination of transportation, finishing (drying, sorting, etc.), storage, sales, as well as support for financial, customs operations, marketing research, providing information support, etc. The factors hindering the inclusion of small producers in agri-food supply chains are systematized, and the requirements of retail chains for the supply of agricultural products are highlighted, which highlights the existing difficulties that can be solved by creating logistics distribution centers. Models of formation of logistics centers are considered and the formation of a logistics distribution center of agricultural products on the basis of public-private partnership is substantiated, which unites in one chain all logistics, production processes, as well as sales, including and commodity exchange. Key words: logistics distribution center, agri-food supply chains, small producers, logistics services.

Purpose – Several studies focus on agri-food value chain from a consumer or from a supply chain perspective. But there is little investigation integrating both approaches and providing empirical evidence from developing countries. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it describes the supply chain of organic products in Brazil, which is an emerging market. It describes how retailers manage its supply chain (wholesalers and small producers) in an organic own brand of fresh products. Second, this paper identifies the motivations, attitudes, beliefs and personal values behind Brazilian consumers' decision to purchase organic food. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used in two stages. First, it presents a case study of the organic supply chain. Then, a survey carried out with 261 consumers at supermarkets in a Brazilian city is presented. Findings – The case study points out that retailers transfer to wholesalers the responsibility to manage small organic producers. It also suggests that as the organic product is under the retailer own brand, and therefore most of the value perceived by the consumer is retained by the retailer. Survey results indicate that organic consumers have strong individual values and benefits are the most significant predictors of attitude toward organic food for the Brazilian consumers interviewed. Availability is significantly related to the intent to purchase organic food, which is a key point for the supply chain to respond efficiently to consumers' demand. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on a single case study and the survey is applied in only one city of Brazil. Originality/value – The study contributes to expand the value analysis through a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, including consumer behaviour and supply chain management in the same analysis. It also adds to the debate on value, proposing Schwartz Value Theory as a complementary approach to value analysis.

This paper aims to analyze the impacts of a backup agreement contract on the performance of a small agricultural producers’ citrus supply chain. A backup agreement contract, which ensures for each echelon that a quantity of products will be bought independently of real demand, is proposed to coordinate a three-echelon supply chain, aimed at improving income. After presenting an overview of the literature that shows various coordination mechanisms but no backup agreement proposals for supply chain coordination, this paper develops a decentralized three-echelon supply chain facing stochastic customer demand and includes the backup agreement as a coordination mechanism to guarantee a balanced relationship between the chain members. The model is tested in a real case study in Colombia, and a sensitivity analysis is provided. Results show that a backup agreement contract coordinates the small agricultural producers’ supply chain and improves income for each echelon, especially for the small producer. However, the economic mechanism complexity can limit coordination among echelons, mainly because of a lack of trust and consolidated supply capacity from small farmers. The foregoing requires the development of an associative structure by small producers, which is proposed as future research work.

Improving the efficiency in the links in the supply chains of agri-food products is relevant in terms of the assessment methodology and practical aspects for ensuring and supporting sustainable supply chains of products not only in individual channels of product movement but also in the end-to-end supply chain of products, i.e., from the field to the end consumer. However, it is still unclear which supply chain opportunities in commodity distribution channels are more effective for creating end-to-end sustainable supply chains for agri-food products. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for assessing the impact of agri-food supply channels on the efficiency and link in supply chains, taking into account the factors affecting them and developing recommendations for their improvement. Quantitative methods based on correlation and regression analysis using the EViews program on the basis of Kazakh statistical data for 2008–2022 were used. A methodology is proposed for assessing the effectiveness of the functioning and links in commodity movement in the supply chains of agricultural products at the macroeconomic level based on the consideration and use of important factors affecting the efficiency and links: production and sales volumes, total costs, and profitability for each supply channel: “production–processing–industrial production–trade”. The relationship between the efficiency and the links in supply chains and also the key factors that affect them have been established. The results showed that the increase in the efficiency in supply channels in the commodity distribution system leads to a decrease in the coefficient of the link in commodity movement and inventory availability. To reduce the link ratio in the supply chains of agri-food products, it is necessary to increase the efficiency in supply chains in each supply chain link and reduce the share of retail trade in the gross turnover. Recommendations are proposed to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce links to support and create end-to-end sustainable supply chains of agri-food products. The study makes an essential contribution to providing empirical evidence of the relationship between the effectiveness of agri-food supply channels and the link in the supply chain. Since few works describe the relationship between the links of product distribution and the efficiency in supply chains in the literature, in this work, it was possible to propose a methodology and identify factors and gaps in research to identify potential areas for future research.

Abstract. For many regions of the Far East, the commercialization of scientific developments in agriculture is primarily associated with creating interest in innovative products of medium and small producers, such as Peasant Farms (PF) and Personal Subsidiary Farms (PSF), which constitute the main share of agricultural producers in the Far East. Methods of systematic and abstract analysis, synthesis, which served as a basis for application and identification of cause-and-effect relations in solving the problems of promotion of innovation development in agriculture in the region. The system of innovation promotion for medium and small producers on the example of the Buryat State Agricultural Academy is considered. The scientific novelty lies in the development of a model of involving small and medium agricultural producers in innovation activity by promoting innovation development of universities. In the article, there is a description of the project of the Buryat State Agricultural Academy on promotion and popularization of agro-innovations, which has been adopted for implementation. As a result of this project, structure responsible for commercialization of innovative products, design and prototyping of innovative agricultural products have been created in addition to the traditional research departments of the university. The proposed model is aimed at generating interest in innovations among the main producers of agricultural products in the region – private farms and household farms, which currently shun innovations due to the prevailing opinion about the high cost of production and promotion of innovative products. The article describes the mechanism for the formation of interaction channels for testing innovative agricultural products, informing manufacturers about the results of testing, reducing risks for business and the process of promoting innovative developments of the university through the involvement of small and medium-sized agricultural producers.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if the network governance structure adopted by small producers’ citrus cooperatives has allowed the reduction of risks in transactions, ex-ante (adverse selection) and ex-post (moral hazard), and the problems of opportunism downstream and upstream of the production chain. The planned methodological procedure included the structuring and research of two case studies in cooperatives of small orange producers in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, comprising a sample of 35 cooperative members surveyed between the two cooperatives analyzed. The analyzes were supported by the Transaction Cost Economics and Social Network approaches. Results indicate the importance of the cooperatives and their network format, as economic agents, in maintaining small producers in the citrus industry activity, allowing the reduction of risks in transactions and the problems of opportunism, downstream and upstream of the chain. It was verified the academic contribution and theoretical reinforcement brought by this study - through the empirical surveys and results produced - to the theory of hybrid governance formats, which lacks empirical support and greater analytical strengthening on the part of the academy, according to its own authors. It is suggested, for future analysis, the use of the network governance approach aimed at strengthening the class of small producers of other agribusiness cultures, also using the theoretical basis belonging to NIE, TCE and Networks. The continuity of analyzes based on relational governance, with institutional and transactional economics as a basis, represents not only academic documentation and support for small rural producers of different cultures, but also the guarantee of theoretical robustness to a structure that is still incipient in historical terms, which finds in Brazilian agribusiness a fertile ground for its development and materialization.

<p><strong>Background: </strong>The fair trade model seeks to redress the imbalance of power in global supply chains. Unlike conventional trade structures, this commercial alternative purport to benefit small farmers and workers in developing countries. In the real world, however, small-scale producers are often excluded from the benefits. <strong>Objective</strong>: To analyzes organic Bolivian quinoa as a Fairtrade product and the impacts and challenges that Bolivian quinoa farmers face in the marketing chain. <strong>Methodology: </strong>A documentary analysis of the production system, application of qualitative techniques with local actors involved in the supply chain of Bolivian quinoa, and field work in regional markets were carried out. <strong>Results</strong>: The economic conditions of smallholder quinoa producers are improving under this certification system. However, global oversupply and increased competition are having a significant impact on retail prices and Bolivian sales to foreign markets. The retail price is more than a third higher than the Fairtrade price, maximizing profits at the expense of fair trade. <strong>Implications</strong>: Organic and Fairtrade certified Bolivian quinoa may not be a suitable product for the Fairtrade model. Being a landlocked country and commercial competition from Peru are the two main challenges for small quinoa producers. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: The Bolivian organic Fairtrade quinoa value chain involves several intermediaries, similar to conventional trade. Organic certification is a time-consuming and costly process because farmers cannot cover the costs. The almost non-existent governance structures imply that most decisions are based on the buyer-driven commodity chain, demonstrating the weak bargaining position of farmers. An alternative certification for small quinoa producers could be the Small Producers' Symbol label.</p>

Access to regional markets by small scale producers remains a problem in Southern Africa, yet retailing is becoming big business. A proliferation of supermarkets has been witnessed since the 1990s with South Africa’s Shoprite supermarket becoming a major player in African markets. Supermarkets play a critical role of food systems development in Southern Africa but theissues of concern pertain to how increased aggregate value can be generated for agricultural produce whilst at the same time retaining more value nationally/locally for smallholder agricultural producers. This paper focuses on small producers, characterising food systems evolution in Southern Africa and highlighting how small producers are relating with supermarkets. Drawing on existing empirical work to examine successful agribusiness initiatives for smallholder farmers in Africa in accessing regional value chains, the paper argues that ineffective regional policies contribute to forces preventing upgrading of smallholder farmers into regional markets. An analysis that synthesises various emerging issues regarding the relations between supermarkets and small producers is presented to inform research themes for uptake into policy formulation.

PurposeAn implicit assumption of current supply chain integration (SCI) research is that the results obtained from product supply chains can be directly extrapolated to service supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to question this assumption of equivalence by proposing that the effects of internal integration (II) and external integration (EI) on operational performance (OP) are contingent on whether a firm operates in a product and service supply chain.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the contingency theory, a model that specifies and contrasts the interrelationships between II, EI, and OP in product and service supply chains was proposed. Subsequently, measures were developed and survey data were collected from 138 product and 174 service companies in Singapore. The data were then analysed using multi-sampling analysis.FindingsThe effects of II and EI on OP varied significantly between product and service supply chains. In addition, the relationship between II and OP was found to be partially mediated by EI in product supply chains whereas a fully mediated relationship was observed in service supply chains.Research limitations/implicationsWithin the context of SCI, different mediation patterns exist in product and service supply chains. The results suggest adopting a contingency rather than a universalistic approach in the management of firms’ internal and external integrative capabilities to maximise OP. Specifically, managers should adjust their II and EI efforts to achieve congruency with the type of supply chain they serve.Originality/valueThis paper tests the assumption of equivalence and extends the current scope of SCI contingency research by cross-examining the effects of II and EI on OP in both product and service supply chains simultaneously.

A qualitative meta-synthesis study of the convergence between organic crop regulations in the United States, Brazil, and Europe

Frequent environmental incidents in the supply chains of brand-name products have dire consequences on the ecological environment and in terms of social development. There have been few considerations of supply chains and enterprise characteristics included in previous research. This paper focuses on the supply chains of brand-name products, and systematically identifies principal factors that influence environmentally destructive behaviors in the supply chain of brand-name products from internal and external viewpoints of the supply chain. Considering the characteristics of the polluting industries, 416 valid questionnaires were obtained by investigating the supply chain of brand-name products in chemical, mechanical, food, and agricultural products, the light industry, and other industries. The results show that: (1) environmentally destructive behavior is differently exhibited in different industries among the investigated supply chains of brand-name products; (2) the enterprises’ attitudes, policies, and investments in pro-environment approaches play a fundamental role in the environmental management of the brand-name products supply chain; (3) environmental legislation and public supervision have significant effects on the environmental management of the brand-name products supply chain; (4) only when environmental regulation is combined with environmental legislation and public supervision is a restriction of environmentally destructive behavior in the supply chain of brand-name products triggered. Thus, we suggest that the attribution and sharing mechanisms of environmental responsibility in the supply chain of brand-name products should be established; a “push-pull-anchor” mechanism and coordinated co-governance supervision system for environmentally destructive behavior in the supply chain of brand-name products should be built.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how cross-border e-commerce enterprises can promote the sustainable development of the supply chain by optimizing the risk of supply disruption and product quality control mechanism of the cross-border supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products in the face of the problem of uneven quality and inventory shortage that prevails in the supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products under the framework of low-carbon economy. Methods: A two-level supply chain model consisting of a risk-averse cross-border e-commerce enterprise and two risk-neutral overseas suppliers is constructed to compare the optimal strategies and their coordination effects under the centralized and decentralized decision-making modes, and to deeply analyze the supply chain's operation mechanism. Further, the quality cost factor is introduced and an option contract model is designed to quantitatively analyze the impact of different decision-making scenarios and parameter changes on the overall supply chain performance. The results of the study show that under the coordination of option contract, the profit of cross-border e-commerce companies tends to decrease as the risk of supply disruption increases, while the profit of suppliers rises accordingly. Meanwhile, improving the quality of agricultural products can significantly improve the overall profitability of the supply chain. The cost-sharing mechanism is positively related to the profit of cross-border e-commerce companies, but negatively affects the profit of suppliers. In addition, the adjustment of the option price is directly associated with the increase of the specific supplier's profit and the decrease of the cross-border e-commerce enterprise's profit. Conclusion: By constructing and analyzing the option contract model considering the risk of supply disruption, this study effectively reveals the key influencing factors and their interactions in the cross-border supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products, and provides cross-border e-commerce enterprises with specific strategies to achieve coordination of the supply chain contract, improve product quality, and mitigate the risk of supply disruption, and then promote the sustainable development of the supply chain of low-carbon agricultural products.