Stakeholders In Food Supply Chain Research Articles

Food loss and waste reduction – a new challenge for all stakeholders in food supply chain

In line with the trend of population growth in the world, increasing food production becomes imperative for the agricultural sector, especially since even with the current population, one billion people were malnourished or hungry. The opportunity to increase food production is mainly reduced to increasing yields and is less based on increasing cultivated areas and the number of domestic animals. The productivity of agriculture increases through its intensification, that is, greater application of artificially produced inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.), which threatens the health safety of the food produced in this way and leads to an increase in nature pollution. This closes a circle in which the survival of humanity is conditioned by the reduction of health food safety and the degradation of the environment. As a logical counterbalance, an ecological movement emerged that advocates food production based on sustainable principles, the use of natural inputs and processes, and the preservation of nature. That logic would be acceptable to everyone if it did not materialize in the contradiction of "more ecology, less (more expensive) food". In addition to environmental activists, the goal of producing food in an ecologically acceptable manner was also adopted by the EU as one of its longterm strategic goals (the so-called "Green Plan"). One of the possibilities of increased satisfaction of the food needs of the world population, instead of increasing its production, is the reduction of losses and waste of already produced food, which has become one of the world's development goals since 2015 (SDG 12.3. - halve global food waste per capita at the retail level and consumer level and reduce food losses along production and supply chains by 2030). Terminologically, food losses are related to the phases of its production, distribution and processing, and food waste to the phase of food trade and consumption. Practically, the effect of increasing food production can be substituted by the effect of reducing food losses and waste, which has become a new challenge for all participants in the food supply chain, from producers, through distributors and traders to consumers. The scientific community is also one of the participants in that process, which contributes with its research to identify causes and find solutions to reduce food losses and waste. The facts presented in this chapter aim to draw attention to the issue of food losses and waste with a focus on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The treatment of the selected topic begins with the argumentation of the growing need for food in the world, primarily due to the increase in the number of inhabitants and the goal of eradicating hunger and malnutrition. It continues with the projection of limited possibilities for the production of significantly larger quantities of food in the future. After that, the concepts of food loss and waste and ways of measuring them are introduced. The key chapter is the dedicated to assessing the scope and causes of food losses and waste in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An overview of food losses and waste along the supply chain is also given, based on selected literature sources. The chapter ends with a review of the hierarchy of food waste disposal with concrete proposals for reducing food losses and waste in the BiH environment.

Forecasting Crop Yield For Sustainable Agriculture

Forecasting crop yield prediction is an very important decision support tool. Crop yield prediction is the process of using data and technology to estimate how much agricultural produce, such as crops, will be harvested in a specific area for a given period. This involves analyzing various factors like weather patterns, soil quality, historical data, and farming practices to make educated guesses about the future harvest. It helps farmers, policymakers, and food supply chain stakeholders make informed decisions regarding planting, resource allocation, and food security. Essentially, it's like forecasting the future of crop production to ensure efficient and sustainable agriculture. Forecasting crop yield is a complex and vital endeavor in modern agriculture, aiming to foresee the quantity of crops that will be harvested in a specific area during a particular growing season. This process relies on a synergy of data-driven analysis, technological advancements, and the integration of various factors that influence crop growth and productivity. In essence, it involves the art and science of anticipating nature's bounty, allowing us to make informed decisions, enhance food security, and optimize resource allocation.

Evaluating the intention to use Industry 5.0 (I5.0) drones for cleaner production in Sustainable Food Supply Chains: an emerging economy context

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate food supply chain stakeholders’ intention to use Industry 5.0 (I5.0) drones for cleaner production in food supply chains.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a quantitative research design and collected data using an online survey administered to a sample of 264 food supply chain stakeholders in Nigeria. The partial least square structural equation model was conducted to assess the research’s hypothesised relationships.FindingsThe authors provide empirical evidence to support the contributions of I5.0 drones for cleaner production. The findings showed that food supply chain stakeholders are more concerned with the use of I5.0 drones in specific operations, such as reducing plant diseases, which invariably enhances cleaner production. However, there is less inclination to drone adoption if the aim was pollution reduction, predicting seasonal output and addressing workers’ health and safety challenges. The findings outline the need for awareness to promote the use of drones for addressing workers’ hazard challenges and knowledge transfer on the potentials of I5.0 in emerging economies.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to address I5.0 drones’ adoption using a sustainability model. The authors contribute to existing literature by extending the sustainability model to identify the contributions of drone use in promoting cleaner production through addressing specific system operations. This study addresses the gap by augmenting a sustainability model, suggesting that technology adoption for sustainability is motivated by curbing challenges categorised as drivers and mediators.

A ratiometric fluorescence platform for on-site screening meat freshness

Meat freshness is related to food safety and human health. Developing a simple and effective method for on-site detection of meat freshness is essential to ensure food safety. This study aimed to explore a ratiometric fluorescence platform for on-site screening of meat freshness. We synthesized a series of benzothiazole-based fluorescent compounds (BM, BHM and BTH), each with different recognition groups for detecting meat freshness biomarkers cadaverine (Cad) and putrescine (Pte). The optimized 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl-3-aldehyde-5–1,3-indanedione) benzothiazole (BTH) demonstrated a noticeable color and fluorescence change, a fast response (<15 min), and high selectivity and sensitivity (LOD = 70 nM) to Cad. Portable test strips based on BTH were prepared for rapid visual detection of meat freshness, which exhibited visible color and fluorescen color changes to Cad and Pte. Furthermore, a portable smartphone–based fluorescence device integrated with a self-programmed Python program was fabricated and used on-site to monitor Cad and Pte within 5 min. The BTH-loaded portable test strips were successfully employed as low-cost, high-contrast, fast-response, and smartphone-adaptable fluorescent labels for detecting Cad and Pte in meat samples under different temperatures (25 °C, 4 °C, and –20 °C). This enabled consumers and food supply chain stakeholders to quickly and visually monitor the meat freshness in real beef, chicken, and pork products.

Business strategy pathways for short food supply chains: Sharing value between consumers and producers

Short food supply chains play a vital role in connecting local producers with consumers, promoting sustainability, supporting local economies, and providing access to fresh, high-quality products. However, their market is still underdeveloped due to the mismatching between consumer demand and producer supply.The aim of this work is to identify a common vision between producers and consumers in short food supply chains proposing key actions for an effective business strategy to improve alternative food systems at a territorial level. The strategic long-term vision to foster short food supply chains is based on a direct farmer-to-retailer model. Grounded on the case of an ancient grains supply chain located in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, this research relies on a mixed-method approach including quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A household survey conducted with a representative sample of 1122 Italian households allowed to identify four consumer profiles. Then, two focus groups conducted with 10 food supply chain stakeholders led to the identification of six thematic areas of action. By the backcasting methodology, ancient grains supply chain actors proposed a set of business actions to reach consumers' preferences. Finally, a two rounds Delphi conducted with 23 food supply chain experts allowed to validate the results and the 18 actions to be adopted from 2023 to 2030 for the business strategy pathway. The business strategy pathway can increase the local market presence of ancient grain products, helping producers to plan future business activities and disclose changes in consumer preferences or market conditions.

Mycotoxin Monitoring, Regulation and Analysis in India: A Success Story.

Mycotoxins are deleterious fungal secondary metabolites that contaminate food and feed, thereby creating concerns regarding food safety. Common fungal genera can easily proliferate in Indian tropical and sub-tropical conditions, and scientific attention is warranted to curb their growth. To address this, two nodal governmental agencies, namely the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), have developed and implemented analytical methods and quality control procedures to monitor mycotoxin levels in a range of food matrices and assess risks to human health over the last two decades. However, comprehensive information on such advancements in mycotoxin testing and issues in implementing these regulations has been inadequately covered in the recent literature. The aim of this review is thus to uphold a systematic picture of the role played by the FSSAI and APEDA for mycotoxin control at the domestic level and for the promotion of international trade, along with certain challenges in dealing with mycotoxin monitoring. Additionally, it unfolds various regulatory concerns regarding mycotoxin mitigation in India. Overall, it provides valuable insights for the Indian farming community, food supply chain stakeholders and researchers about India's success story in arresting mycotoxins throughout the food supply chain.

Food waste challenges at downstream interfaces: a triple bottom line dilemma

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the ongoing challenge of reduction of food waste at three downstream interfaces and food waste impact on triple bottom line dimensions: environmental, social (including ethical) and economic. The interplay between downstream interfaces (consumers-retailers; consumers-food service businesses; consumers-households) of food supply chain and areas of food waste accumulation is discussed in the article. The findings are based on a two-step method: first, a systematic literature review of the published studies on food waste between 2008 and 2020, and second, theme development to understand food waste at the three interfaces and to develop propositions for future research. The propositions are strategic interventions to provide managerial recommendations for food waste reduction involving downstream food supply chain stakeholders. The findings highlight the conundrum of balancing conflicting stakeholder perspectives within triple bottom line dimensions to tackle food waste: economic and social dimensions of triple bottom line take priority over the environmental dimension. Testing the propositions as part of future research will help to further streamline the policy recommendations to reduce food waste at the downstream part of the supply chain.

Prioritizing causes and drivers of retail food waste through a fuzzy Dombi-Bonferroni operators-based best-worst approach: an emerging economy perspective.

The food waste hierarchy offers that prevention of the waste is the best solution to deal with this complex issue. Herein, to take a preventive action against food waste, this paper attempts to prioritize the key causes and drivers of retail food waste employing Dombi-Bonferroni operators-based fuzzy best-worst (DB-FBWM) framework. Drawing upon stakeholder theory and contingency theory, causes of retail food waste are categorized into six aspects and their 23 drivers. The results revealed that the "customer-driven" cause is found as the foremost aspect of retail food waste, whereas the "undesirable in-store customer behaviors" is the most vital driver. Identifying the causes and drivers of retail food waste through a reliable model can advance theory and allow building partnership among food supply chain stakeholders for sustainable waste management. The sensitivity and comparison analysis are further performed to confirm the solidity of the approach conducted.

The role of collaboration in tackling food loss and waste: Salient stakeholder perspective

While studies indicate that collaboration between stakeholders plays a prominent role in reducing food loss and waste (FLW), they have not specified which stakeholder group's collaboration will be more effective in reducing FLW. To fill this gap in the literature, this paper aims to identify and classify fruit and vegetable supply chain (FVSC) stakeholders according to their salience level and offer mitigation strategies for different salient stakeholder groups to tackle FLW. The study was conducted in Turkish FVSC because fruit and vegetable loss accounted for 53% of the total food loss. A multi-method approach was utilised to achieve the aim. First, 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Turkish FVSC experts to determine FVSC stakeholders and FLW drivers. Second, to identify and classify salient stakeholders, stakeholder mapping was undertaken. Collaboration-related mitigation strategies are offered high salient stakeholders and other stakeholder groups to reduce the amount of fruit and vegetable loss and waste. According to content analysis results, 25 supply chain actors are identified as stakeholders, and 15 are classified as salient stakeholders who can be more effective in tackling FLW. In addition, based on the results, 26 FLW drivers are identified according to different supply chain stages. Collaboration-based mitigation strategies were developed to diminish the impact of FLW causes at different stages. This study is one of the early attempts to classify food supply chain stakeholders according to saliency level. This study offers collaboration-related mitigation strategies to eliminate FLW drivers that cause loss and waste between specific stages of the FVSC.

Social sustainability tools and indicators for the food supply chain: A systematic literature review

Sustainable production and consumption of food systems cannot be achieved without considering the entirety of the supply chain and the actors involved at each stage along the way. This requires more in-depth analyses of social dimensions often neglected in favor of the environmental and economic ones. Yet, inattention to the social dimension of sustainability in food supply chains has yielded a lack of agreement regarding what to consider and how to measure it. This review identifies the current state of art of how social sustainability aspects are measured through various tools and indicators, following the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) protocol. The selection criteria resulted in 101 papers and gray literature documents published from 2000 to 2021. Thirty-four social sustainability tools are analyzed based on five food supply chain stages, namely production, processing, wholesale, retail, and consumer and four stakeholders as adapted from the most recent Social Life Cycle Assessment guidelines, namely farmers, workers, consumers, and society. Production and processing-related assessment tools are mostly publicly funded, while wholesale, retail, and consumer tools are often privately funded. Moreover, the availability of assessment tools decreases along the supply chain. Production has the highest number of tools (17) and quantitative indicators, targeting mostly farmers through job conditions and quality of life indicators. Processing stage tools (5) target mostly workers, through quantitative indicators related to fair job conditions. The wholesaler stage tools (4) and indicators are the least connected, while the retail stage (2) is the most inclusive in terms of qualitative social sustainability indicators. The consumer stage tools (2) also has a low number of social indicators and interactions, despite being the stage that influences the supply chain the most. It is clear that food supply chain stakeholders can benefit from the implementation of social sustainability aspects, although these benefits become inconsistent if not respected in each stage. A need for an unceasing thread of respected social sustainability should permeate the whole supply chain, as environmental certification currently does, becoming the priority for policy makers in the sector to focus their attention on the emerged hotspots for intervention from this research.

Role of the Food Supply Chain Stakeholders in Achieving 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.

Barriers to circular food supply chains in China

PurposeThis paper aims to identify and systematically analyze the causal-effect relationships among barriers to circular food supply chains in China.Design/methodology/approachGrounded in multiple organizational theories, this paper develops a theoretical framework for identifying relevant barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in food supply chain management. The study uses 105 responses from Chinese food supply chain stakeholders including food processors, sales and distribution channels, consumers and government officials. It applies a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method to examine the causal-effect relationships among the identified barriers.FindingsOverall, the results suggest two key cause barriers: first, weak environmental regulations and enforcement, and second, lack of market preference/pressure. Meanwhile, lack of collaboration/support from supply chain actors is the most prominent barrier. The key cause and prominent barriers are also identified for each of the supply chain stakeholder involved.Research implicationsThe study offers practical insights for overcoming barriers to integrating circular economy philosophy in the management of supply chains in the Chinese food sector, as well as in other contexts where similar challenges are faced. It also sheds light on which organizational theories are most suitable for guiding similar studies.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first barrier study on circular food supply chains. The use of multiple organizational theories for the development of the theoretical framework is unique in barrier studies. The study offers insights from multiple stakeholders in the Chinese food supply chains.

Food Supply Chain Stakeholders' Perspectives on Sharing Information to Detect and Prevent Food Integrity Issues.

One of the biggest challenges facing the food industry is assuring food integrity. Dealing with complex food integrity issues requires a multi-dimensional approach. Preventive actions and early reactive responses are key for the food supply chain. Information sharing could facilitate the detection and prevention of food integrity issues. This study investigates attitudes towards a food integrity information sharing system (FI-ISS) among stakeholders in the European food supply chain. Insights into stakeholders’ interest in participating and their conditions for joining an FI-ISS are assessed. The stakeholder consultation consisted of three rounds. During the first round, a total of 143 food industry stakeholders—covering all major food sectors susceptible to food integrity issues—participated in an online quantitative survey between November 2017 and February 2018. The second round, an online qualitative feedback survey in which the findings were presented, received feedback from 61 stakeholders from the food industry, food safety authorities and the science community. Finally, 37 stakeholders discussed the results in further detail during an interactive workshop in May 2018. Three distinct groups of industry stakeholders were identified based on reported frequency of occurrence and likelihood of detecting food integrity issues. Food industry stakeholders strongly support the concept of an FI-ISS, with an attitude score of 4.49 (standard deviation (S.D.) = 0.57) on a 5-point scale, and their willingness to participate is accordingly high (81%). Consensus exists regarding the advantages an FI-ISS can yield towards detection and prevention. A stakeholder’s perception of the advantages was identified as a predictor of their intention to join an FI-ISS, while their perception of the disadvantages and the perceived risk of food integrity issues were not. Medium-sized companies perceive the current detection of food integrity issues as less likely compared to smaller and large companies. Interestingly, medium-sized companies also have lower intentions to join an FI-ISS. Four key success factors for an FI-ISS are defined, more specifically with regards to (1) the actors to be involved in a system, (2) the information to be shared, (3) the third party to manage the FI-ISS and (4) the role of food safety authorities. Reactions diverged concerning the required level of transparency, the type of data that stakeholders might be willing to share in an FI-ISS and the role authorities can have within an FI-ISS.

Assessment of top management leadership and commitment to improve perishable food supply chain quality

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a technique for arranging and examining complicated judgements by the ample and realistic framework. This study was performed to attain the relative significance of the factors affecting the quality of top management leadership and commitment in perishable food supply chain. Three popular perishable food industries were acknowledged in a brainstorming phase and an expert group has been made and it consists of all stakeholders of perishable food supply chain. The input from the result was used for the pair wise comparison of the factors affecting quality of top management leadership and commitment to PFSCQ. The contrast of the alternatives in AHP is based on the input taken from an expert team involving of perishable food supply chain stakeholders who exist in each of perishable food industry under study.

Multi-Stakeholder Responses to the European Health Claims Requirements A Law and Economics Assessment of Regulation (EU) 1924/2006

Stakeholder groups have different interests in health claims which may be complementary but also conflicting. It is not clear on beforehand, how managers should deal with legal requirements on claims. Nor is it clear how legal authorities can adjust the present claims regime to address market, consumer, business and normative requirements. This article aims to assess the strategic responses to health claims legislation and implementation by multiple stakeholders with seemingly complementary wishes, but also controversial expectancies: especially consumers, businesses and public authorities. A multidisciplinary approach is carried out, using insights from food technological and medical, economic, legal and managerial sciences. The EU-claims regime and the responses of multiple stakeholder groups are investigated using available research supplemented with case studies of probiotics and botanicals. The system is evaluated within the context of the structure of food law and the legitimate rights and obligations of stakeholders in food supply chains and networks. The main finding is that the costs and uncertainties attached to health claims are important factors impacting the innovation efforts of businesses, the willingness-to-pay of consumers and the effectiveness of public policy. In order to cope with the shortfalls, the EU claims regime needs to switch from a regime-based to a product-based approach by levelling the disparities between the different legal regimes such as foods and pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, a dialogue between stakeholders and adjustment of the present legal system is suggested to reduce the perceived uncertainties and to be able to provide food information in an effective and less risky way.

Multi-stakeholder responses to the European Union health claims requirements

Stakeholder groups have different interests in health claims which may be complementary but also conflicting. It is not clear on beforehand, how managers should deal with legal requirements on claims. Nor is it clear how legal authorities can adjust the present claims regime to address market, consumer, company and normative requirements. This article aims to assess the strategic responses to health claims legislation and implementation by multiple stakeholders with seemingly complementary wishes, but also controversial expectations: especially consumers, companies and public authorities. A multidisciplinary approach is carried out, using insights from food technological and medical, economic, legal and managerial sciences. The EU-claims regime and the responses of multiple stakeholder groups are investigated using available research supplemented with case studies of probiotics and botanicals. The system is evaluated within the context of the structure of food law and the legitimate rights and obligations of stakeholders in food supply chains and networks. The main finding is that the costs and uncertainties attached to health claims are important factors impacting the innovation efforts of companies, the willingness-to-pay of consumers and the effectiveness of public policy. A dialogue between stakeholders and adjustment of the present legal system from a regime-based to a product-based approach is suggested to reduce the perceived uncertainties and to be able to provide food information in an effective and less risky way.

아태지역 식품안전관리 협력과 역량강화를 위한 APEC의 활동

지속적인 식품안전 사고와 확대된 국제교역은 국제기구들로 하여금 식품안전 문제의 심각성을 자각하게 만들었다. 이로 인해 다양한 법 규제, 조치들, 협력 네트워크, 교육프로그램 등이 개발되었고, 특히 나라 간 식품안전 기술조화 및 전문인력 양성에 집중하고 있는 현실이다. APEC 또한 2007년 식품안전협력포럼(FSCF)를 신설하여 아시아 태평양 지역의 식품안전 향상을 위해 다양한 각도로 노력을 하고 있다. 2007년부터 현재까지 35개의 activity들이 진행되었고 APEC 프로젝트 절차에 따라 추가로 20여개가 준비 중이다. FSCF에서 수행되는 activity들은 생산에서 소비까지 식품안전 관리에 있어서 국제 최고의 기준과 조치들을 사용함으로 인해 공급사슬 내 에서의 이해당사자들의 능력을 키워 무역을 증진시키고 공중 보건을 지키는데 목적을 두고 있다. 이러한 전략적 목적을 완성하기 위해서 APEC 지역 내 식품안전 정부기관들, 산업체, 학계, 국제기구 등 전문가들 간의 다자간 협력 필요성이 요구되어 교육훈련기관네트워크(PTIN)가 차후에 만들어졌다. 이로 인해 식품 안전과 관련한 과학적 기술적 정보를 교류하고 안전관리 교육을 강화시킬 수 있게 되었다. 오늘날 식품안전 분야에서의 국제적인 공조는 필수적이다. 이에 우리나라가 APEC FSCF활동에 적극적으로 참여하여 아태지역 회원국들의 식품안전기술 향상에 기여할 뿐 아니라 국내 교육지원 프로그램과의 연계성을 검토해 볼 필요가 있다. Persistent accidents related to food safety and expanded international trades have urged the world to be aware of the gravity of the accidents. Accordingly many countries have tried to come up with various laws, regulations, measures, support networks and educational programs for the agenda, particularly focusing on harmonizing food safety technologies among nations and fostering professionals. Also, APEC newly organized Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) in 2007 to exert multi-dimensional efforts to improve food safety for Asia Pacific nations. Up to now, 35 activities have been promoted since 2007 and additional 20 activities are waiting for their turns for action on the list of APEC project agenda. FSCF has the objective that it helps the stakeholders in food supply chain develop their own competence in that area, thus increase international trade among nations and maintain the globe healthy by applying the highest standards and best practices for the management of food safety ranging from production to consumption. To achieve this strategic objective, APEC subsequently formed Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN) to build up the multilateral networks of specialists from governmental agencies engaging in food safety management, industries, academia and international organizations in Asia-Pacific region. This attempt made it possible for the world to exchange their scientific and technological information concerning food safety and strengthen related education and training. Today, international cooperation is essential for food safety management. Therefore, we need to participate actively in the activities of APEC FSCF to contribute to improving food safety technologies for the member countries of APEC. We also need to connect the domestic support programs with theirs.