Agri-food Supply Chain Research Articles

Innovative and Marketing Features of Agri-Food Supply Chain Development

The article emphasises that geopolitical instability (russian aggression in Ukraine, sanctions, tensions between the US and China, inflation, recession) has a negative impact on agri-food chains. In particular, the war in Ukraine is affecting Africa by increasing food prices, destabilising the situation and creating the threat of famine.
 The article examines the export challenges faced by Ukraine during the war. Smart solutions provided in Ukraine and around the world in order to develop export opportunities are analysed. The specifics of investing in nearshoring production are investigated. The market of “digital logistics” as a set of services and tools for transportation is analysed. 
 The research studied digital platforms that can effectively manage cross-border transport in a single system and optimise the many business processes involved. Services that help to track real-time information on cargo, their location and transport conditions are analysed. They allow customers to reduce downtime costs, assess the efficiency of carriers, monitor cargo condition and quality. 
 This article focuses on the warehouse automation industry. In particular, it notes that robotic devices are already capable of sorting parcels, transporting them within warehouses and moving them from one shelf to another.
 Particular attention is paid to the further transition to safer raw materials. The operators proposed to use green energy sources and support suppliers focused on renewable energy.
 The main trends in 2023-2024 are expected to be the development of technology, flexibility, further transition to “green” solutions and other ways of developing the logistics market both in Ukraine and globally.
 It is determined that Ukraine will be rebuild according to the principle of Build Back Better, in particular, it will build everything according to new rules and to the extent required, based on new realities.

Application of the LCA approach to the citrus production chain – A systematic review

The citrus sector represents one of the main agri-food supply chains in Italy, which today is the second largest producer of citrus fruits in Europe. Consequently, its impact from an environmental, economic and social point of view can be considerable and it is therefore necessary to assess the sustainability performance of this supply chain. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies are nowadays an important tool for the improvement of production standards and for better decision support by entrepreneurs and public decision makers. This work aims to review in a systematic way the scientific literature on LCA applied to the citrus fruit sector and was conducted following the STARR-LCA checklist approach. The survey was conducted through the main bibliographic databases: Scopus, Web Of Science and Google Scholar, adopting specific search criteria depending on the tool used; the search led to a final selection of 42 articles. The analysis of the papers was conducted using various parameters such as: topic, methodology applied, system boundaries, functional units, allocation criteria, inventory analysis and impact assessment. The analysis of the results shows an overview of the state of the art of LCA approach applied to the citrus sector and can provide useful data and information for practitioners as well as a basis for further methodological developments.

INTERGRATIVE REVIEW OF IOT IMPLEMENTATION IN AGRI-FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

This study focuses on the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the agri-food supply chain in this industry. Traditional farming methods are unable to meet the demand, resulting in the use of fertilizers that can have a negative impact on agricultural productivity. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there are examples of unprecedented risks in the global agri-food supply chain around the world. The industrial landscape is being transformed by Industry 4.0, and in particular, the evolving technologies associated with it have the potential to improve the agri-food supply chain at every level. The paper examines the various research related with components of smart farming (IoT, smart farming, technologies, wireless communication technology, sensors, and hardware), highlights the need for careful selection of these technologies in different agricultural practices to increase mechanization. The study also provides an extensive review of the implications of automation in agriculture and the benefits of digital transformation, coordinating and production system, modern sensors, wireless communication technologies, and hardware. The objective of this article is to present a comprehensive overview of the enabling technologies in IoT implementation with smart and sustainable agriculture and discuss potential avenues for improvement in the future. By exploring the possibilities offered by IoT, this research adds valuable insights to the existing body of knowledge in agri-food value chain management. It uncovers the potential of IoT technology and its impact on enhancing various aspects of agri-food value chain performance, including food safety, quality, and traceability.

Caporalato e manodopera agricola attraverso una prospettiva intersezionale

“Caporalato” is an illicit intermediary phenomenon between agricultural labor and companies. Through an intersectional and gender perspective, this work focuses on the exploitative conditions that female laborers experience within the agri-food supply chain.

Vertical Linkages in Agri-Food Supply Chains: Roles for Producers

Abstract Agricultural producers are entities that largely decide on the structure of the agri-food supply chain. Currently, the European Union is striving to shorten supply chains in agriculture, as short supply chains are ecologically, economically and socially more sustainable. The main objective of the paper is to examine the role of primary producers in the agri-food supply chains. The basic technique applied for data collection was questionnaire survey, which we carried out on family farms in Slovakia. Obtained data were statistically examined applying the statistical analysis using the Chi-square test. Based on the estimations, we could conclude that the choice of the main distribution channel depends on the size of the given company and also on the main type of production. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees prefer direct distribution channels that allow them to sell their products to final consumers. The identification of factors affecting the choice of the main distribution channel as well as a detailed analysis of the nature of dependence make it possible to formulate recommendations on what steps to take in order to increase the number of agricultural enterprises selling through short supply chains.

Enhancing domestic food supply in the UAE: A framework for technology-driven urban farming systems

It is estimated that the recent ongoing supply chain disruptions have forced a transition in the traditional food supply chain business models. Organizations across all sectors are now adopting digital transformation strategies for embracing the new normal. Food security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is threatened by country's heavy reliance on food imports. Innovative urban farming systems are anticipated to improve the food security and sustainability to a great extent. Using a survey-based methodology, the present study aims to develop, validate, and apply a multi-dimensional innovative urban food production system framework for UAEs agricultural sector. Based on the data collected from 299 stakeholders across the whole agri-food supply chains in the UAE, the study determines ways of reducing dependency on food imports by scaling up technology-driven and resource-efficient innovative urban farming systems. Data were analysed and the model were moderated using Analysis of MOment Structures (AMOS) and Partial Least Squares- Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings from the study highlight that digital technology moderates the relationship between innovative urban farming systems and sustainable urban farming. Resource efficiency and conservation practices were positively associated with sustainable urban farming. The study offers several managerial and theoretical insights.

Developing the framework of blockchain-enabled agri-food supply chain

Purpose The food supply chain has faced many challenges due to its complex and complicated nature. Blockchain technology is one of the mechanisms used to improve agri-food supply chain processes by evolving organization capabilities. A study is being conducted to scrutinize the adoption of blockchain technology in the agri-food supply chain through the lens of the operational capability approach. It further makes an attempt to identify the capabilities of blockchain to improve supply chain processes.Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research method with semi-structured interviews was used to gather information from experts and professionals in the food supply chain and blockchain technology. The authors have adopted a systematic approach of coding using open, axial and selective methods to depict and identify the themes that represent the blockchain-enabled agri-food supply chain. The data were collected from 32 interviews of selected participants.Findings The result shows five critical areas where blockchain can come up to enhance the agri-food supply chain performance by providing traceability, transparency, information security, transactions, and trust and quality. Further, the study reveals that blockchain will provide safety, lower the cost of transactions and can create trust among users to communicate within the whole supply chain without the intervention of a third party. This study demonstrated that the capabilities need to be considered when introducing technology into the practice.Research limitations/implications The study implies thought-provoking implications for bridging the theory-practice gap by examining the empirical data to demonstrate how the operational capabilities of blockchain technology further strengthen the agri-food supply chain. Additionally, this study provides some suggestions for utilizing the results and proposes a framework to understand more about blockchain use cases in the agri-food supply chain as well as extend the application of blockchain using an operational capability approach for future academic researchers in this area.Practical implicationsThis study presented some more important managerial implications which reveal that the majority of organisations were in the initial stages of adoption process of blockchain technology. Further, the positive influence of managers and IT experts can help the information technology companies (IT) and stakeholders for developing and promoting blockchain solutions in the agri-food supply chain. The important implication of blockchain enabled agri-food supply chain is to maintain information security and incresae supply chain performance. Originality/value The study shows the operational capabilities of agri-food supply chain using blockchain technology. Blockchain can contribute in enhancing the agri-food supply chain to increase traceability and transparency and helps to reduce the risk of disruptions.

Waste minimization in agri-food supply chain: perspective for sustainable development

Waste minimization in agri-food supply chain: perspective for sustainable development

Key Fitting Points of Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration and Blockchain: Literature Review on Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration with the Integration of Blockchain Technology

Key Fitting Points of Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration and Blockchain: Literature Review on Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration with the Integration of Blockchain Technology

An in-depth metaheuristic approach to design a sustainable closed-loop agri-food supply chain network

As an essential component of human life, agricultural products play a very important role in guaranteeing that individuals get all the essential nutrition. Governments and industries spend great financial resources, define short- and long-term goals, and organize their policies to develop a steady agri-food supply chain and provide fresh, healthy products to their societies. This work proposes a new mixed-integer linear programming model to propose an agri-food supply chain network design for the coconut industry under sustainable terms. This study mainly aims to solve a multi-objective closed-loop supply chain, considering both forward and reverse product movements. The model attempts to manage the net present value of total cost for specific planning horizons while monitoring environmental pollution and job opportunities within the network. Given the NP-hard nature of the network, the solution approach embraces a set of recently developed metaheuristics to overcome its complexity effectively. To this end, six multi-objective optimizers and three hybrid algorithms are utilized, among which the multi-objective artificial rabbit optimizer is first developed and applied in this study. Hence, the model's compatibility with real conditions is investigated using fifteen practical tests. The results of interval plots and the Friedman statistical test emphasize that optimizers can solve all sizes of problems. However, the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) outperforms solving practical tests according to both the results of statistical tests and the novel hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) framework.

Ecolabelling for improving sustainability of agri-food supply chain: An experimental implementation of the Made Green in Italy scheme on the hard sheep milk cheese

Unsustainable food supply chains are sources of relevant environmental impacts and strongly contribute to the depletion of non-renewable resources. Ecolabelling is one of the measures for increasing market awareness of the sustainability of a product and encourage the implementation of low-input practices along the food production system. Made Green in Italy (MGI) scheme is an initiative based on the PEF method and aimed to reward Made in Italy products with high environmental profile. A screening study was conducted on four Sardinian dairy plants to develop an experimental MGI application on the hard sheep milk cheese supply chain, using Pecorino Romano PDO as reference product. Sheep milk phase resulted the main contributor for all relevant impact categories (over 94%). Benchmark score (1.33E-05 Pt) was calculated adding the normalized and weighted values of the 3 main relevant impact categories (Climate Change, Land Use and Water Scarcity). Three performance classes were defined considering the best and the worst values of life cycle processes: upper threshold was equal to 1.62E-05 Pt and lower threshold was equal to 1.17E-05 Pt. The relevant sheep milk impact highlighted the crucial role of sheep farming systems for improving the environmental footprint of the Pecorino Romano PDO.

The Digitalization Paradigm: Impacts on Agri-Food Supply Chain Profitability and Sustainability

Digitization has completely changed the landscape of supply chain management, which enables businesses to streamline their processes and attain higher levels of profitability and sustainability. This study investigates the relationships between digitalization and supply chain elements, particularly integration, communication, operation, and distribution, and their effects on corporate profitability and sustainability. The research is based on an empirical investigation conducted through a questionnaire survey of agri-food industries in Pakistan. PLS-SEM was used for the analysis of data. The results show a positive relationship between digitalization and supply chain integration, processes, operation, and distribution. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship exists between digitalized supply chain integration, processes, operation, and distribution with business profitability and sustainability. The research concludes that the synergistic effect of digital advancements leads to increased business profitability and sustainability. Business organizations may put themselves at the forefront of supply chain excellence by adopting digitalization, benefiting from effective integration, communication, operations, and distribution with increased profitability and sustainability. The findings have a lot of practical and theoretical implications for the excellence of supply chain management and help attain several sustainable development goals, e.g., SDG-8, SDG-9, SDG-11, and SDG-12.

Achieving resilience through knowledge management practices and risk management culture in agri-food supply chains.

The problems with the current food distribution system are laid forth in this study. Getting high-quality agricultural and food products to consumers is the goal of what is known as the "agri-food supply chain." Agri-food supply chain knowledge exchange and risk management culture are being studied, as is the effect of supply chain management methods on business success. We are seeing an increase in the regularity of supply chain interruptions. The recent supply chain interruptions and their associated consequences highlight the necessity for robust supply systems. The primary goal of this research is to examine the interplay between critical antecedents of the agri-food supply chain; supply chain resilience (including risk management culture); supply chain connectivity, visibility, collaboration, and agility; and the effect these factors have on supply chain resilience and, ultimately, firm performance. With the same foundational elements and backing from the literature, an empirical model has been suggested. From September 2020 to June 2021, 245 random samples were collected throughout Indonesia for this investigation. The suggested model and the interdependencies among the crucial antecedents have been verified using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings from this study support the notion that agri-food supply chains benefit from increased emphasis on traceability, transparency, information sharing, and a culture of risk management. One major takeaway from this study is that by adopting the suggested methodology, businesses may build and strengthen their supply chain resilience capabilities by institutionalizing a risk management culture, raising employee risk awareness, and holding regular risk assessment drills. The study also suggests that businesses that want to strengthen their supply chains can do so by adopting information and communications technologies and visibility tools to improve their supply chain connectivity and visibility, allowing them to respond to and recover from disruptions in the supply chain more quickly. The model is validated using data from Indonesia's industrial sector. In order to establish supply chain resilience, the suggested model provides a comprehensive perspective that defines the interconnections between key antecedents. We conclude with some thoughts and suggestions for further study.

A Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate the Environmental Benefits of Applying the Circular Economy Model to the Fertiliser Sector

In recent years, the world has witnessed one of the most severe raw material crises ever recorded, with serious repercussions for maintaining its agri-food supply chain. This crisis risks dramatically impacting the poorest areas of the planet and poses profound reflections on global food security. In this complex geopolitical context, the recovery and recycling of renewable resources have become an obligatory path and, today, more than ever, essential in the fertiliser industry. To achieve these objectives, TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A. has undertaken a research activity to review the formulation of fertilisers by diversifying the raw materials used and introducing recycled raw materials. This article carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) on four fertilisers to identify and quantify whether the changes influenced the environmental impacts, highlighting how applying the circular economy within industrial processes can reduce the pressure on natural resources. The results demonstrate that the global warming potential (GWP) impacts of the different reformulated fertilisers show a considerable variation of 4.4–9.2% due to the various raw materials used, the nitrogen content, and related emissions deriving from environmental dispersion. This study shows the importance of the LCA methodology to analyse and quantify the impact categories generated on the life cycle of fertiliser production and to identify the optimal by-products and end-of-waste for the fertiliser industry to find a synergy between environmental and agronomic performance. It also highlights the relevance of the transition to circular production and consumption systems to reduce environmental pressures and their effects on communities and ecosystems without compromising yields. Finally, the positive results encourage accelerating the circular transition and finding alternatives to virgin-mined raw materials.

The influence of trust for sustainable agri-food production: empirical evidence of a mariculturist supply chain in Southern Brazil

PurposeThe purpose of this work is to study the relationships of trust in a local agri-food supply chain in Southern Brazil. In an unsustainable context, where the number of mariculturists is decreasing, the authors seek to identify what the factors are and how they contribute to this problem, as well as find solutions aimed at the sustainability of that chain.Design/methodology/approachThe authors carried out qualitative research with 15 semi-structured interviews that took place in the year 2021. The thematic analysis of the results applied the IRAMUTEQ software and the assessment of the narratives was guided by prior thematic analysis.FindingsThe supply chain under investigation requires better organisation. Communication and interpersonal trust proved important in the relationship between producers and control bodies. The university, as a seed supplier, needs predictability and efficiency to convey inter-organisational trust. Informal relationships are interpersonal and extremely trust-based and inter-organisational trust increases the performance of establishments and promotes the development of innovative structures. Furthermore, in crisis periods interpersonal trust increases.Practical implicationsThe results allow policymakers to plan better their actions and build more effective tactics in order to reach sustainable development. This work is also important for stakeholders and managers, as it guides improvements in management, governance and sustainability of agri-food supply chains.Originality/valueAn unprecedented research was done on the studied supply chain, knowing the relationships of trust among them, identifying peculiar partnerships and recognising some constructs and outcomes of trust.

Exploring Sustainable Development Pathways for Agri-Food Supply Chains Empowered by Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms: A Hybrid Grounded Theory and DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC Approach.

As cross-border e-commerce platforms become increasingly integrated into the agricultural supply chain, the establishment of a sustainable supply chain ecosystem is of paramount importance. This study, grounded in the platform theory and the supply chain ecosystem theory, combines the grounded theory and the DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC model to thoroughly analyze the complex mechanisms driving sustainable development. Utilizing the grounded theory, we construct a system of driving factors comprising five primary indicators and eighteen secondary indicators. The hybrid model reveals the interrelationships, significance, system hierarchy, and dependence-driving relationships among these factors. Notably, the driving factor system is categorized into a six-level hierarchical structure, encompassing profound elements, such as policy optimization and digital empowerment, as well as surface-level factors, such as simplification of customs procedures and consumer demand forecasting. Based on the analysis results, this research proposes a set of pathways to achieve the sustainability of the supply chain. These strategies involve improving cross-border agricultural e-commerce policy frameworks, enhancing digital-driven supply-demand coordination, strengthening logistics infrastructure and transparency, and cultivating brand influence. The study's findings not only enrich the relevant theories but also provide practical guidance for the coordinated advancement of economic, social, environmental, and resilient development. Furthermore, they are conducive to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Strategies for increasing agricultural viability, resilience and sustainability amid disruptive events: An expert-based analysis of relevance

Responding to disruptive events is important to maintain supply chain viability. It is of the utmost importance to maintain functioning of agrifood supply chains as they provide essential goods for maintaining the population. However, there is a diverse pool of possible strategies to ensure the viability of agribusiness and agrifood supply chains. This paper seeks to identify the most relevant strategies for ensuring agrifood supply chain viability amid disruptive events. The case of Lithuania is analysed with a focus on the sustainability of the whole agri-food supply chain. Expert interviews involving farmers, associations, public sector representatives and academia are carried out to identify an effective policy path. Innovation, cooperation, diversification and knowledge-building are assessed as the candidate strategy options.

Sustainable Farmer Development for Agri-Food Supply Chains in Developing Countries

Improving the supplier’s capabilities and relationships with the buyer to improve triple-bottom-line outcomes for multiple actors in the supply chain (including the suppliers and buyers) is the very purpose of sustainable supplier development. We apply the concept of sustainable supplier development in an agri-food context in a developing economy. The study aims to create a theoretical framework that explains how initiatives by buyers (often processors in the agri-food industry) to develop farmers can result in sustainable farmer performance. Collectively, the propositions derived by us via a literature synthesis propose that farmer development leads to farmer capability development and improved relationships (with the buyer), enabling the farmer to achieve sustainable performance (i.e., performance in economic, social, and environmental domains). The importance of the study from a theory building perspective is that the study attempts to reconcile the supply chain management literature on supplier development in tangible goods manufacturing with the agribusiness literature in developing economies whether or not the farmer occupies the bottom of the income pyramid. The study is also important to academia and policymakers because it acts as a forerunner for the further development of the theoretical model and its testing with a large sample of data to interpret what the results imply from practical and theoretical standpoints.

Adopting blockchain-based traceability in the fruit supply chain in a developing economy: facilitators and barriers

PurposeBlockchain-based traceability technology (BTT) is an emerging digital technology that claims to have the potential to fulfil the demand for traceability to safeguard fruit safety. Drawing on the technological, organisational and environmental (TOE) framework, this study aims to investigate the perceived facilitators and barriers that influence the behavioural intentions of multiple stakeholders in the Vietnamese fruit supply chain (i.e., farmers, trading enterprises and consumers) to adopt BTT.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilised a qualitative approach of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 60 stakeholders in the Vietnamese fruit supply chain to achieve the research objectives. NVivo 12 was employed to analyse the collected data using content and thematic analysis.FindingsThe findings identify several perceived facilitators that motivate BTT adoption. These include trust, transparency, business performance, the formation of alliances, consumer awareness of food safety and ethical agricultural practices, fruit branding and the pivotal role of farmers' cooperatives. Meanwhile, the perceived barriers to BTT adoption include a lack of digital literacy amongst the stakeholders, poor organisational culture, the high cost of traceability-enabled products and data privacy and security governance.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that technology awareness and perceived facilitators and barriers should be incorporated into the design and deployment of blockchain-based traceability technology in the agri-food supply chain in developing countries.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first qualitative paper that attempts to fill the research gap of understanding the perceived facilitators and barriers that influence the intentions of multiple stakeholders in the fruit supply chain to adopt BTT in the context of a developing economy.

Supply Chains in Transition for the Development of Building Components: Three Educational Experiences in a Circular Economy Perspective

In line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the circular economy may become an opportunity for change even in the construction industry, which is traditionally distinguished for its high resource consumption and considerable waste generation. Schools of architecture play a crucial role because the transition towards a circular economy implies the necessary development of new professional figures with wide-ranging skills that may pave the way for new directions in R&D. This article describes three different learning experiences developed at Politecnico di Torino, which have in common the prospect of supply chains in transition. In particular, it discusses the following: the transition of waste from the agrifood chain to the design sector through the experimentation of panels for furniture; the integration of local supply chains for cork, sheep wool, and soil through the design of insulation blocks and panels; and the ‘as-is’ transition of an element originally used as packaging from the agrifood supply chain to the building envelope component sector. These experiences show the possibility of hybridization between sectors that are only apparently distant from one other. Above all, they can be considered ‘exercises’ to train future architects in the experimentation and transformation of matter, systemic design, and divergent and lateral thinking for the development of new building materials and components.