Sustainable Food Supply Chain Research Articles

Technological innovations in accounting for food supply chain management

The food supply chain management sector has undergone significant transformations in recent years, largely driven by technological innovations aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. This review delves into the burgeoning realm of technological advancements in accounting within the food supply chain management domain. Technological innovations such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics have revolutionized traditional accounting practices in the food supply chain. Blockchain technology, for instance, has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain by providing an immutable ledger of transactions. This ensures the authenticity of data related to food products, from origin to consumption, thus mitigating risks associated with fraud and food safety incidents. Moreover, the integration of IoT devices enables real-time monitoring of various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and location, thereby ensuring optimal conditions for food transportation and storage. This not only minimizes wastage but also enhances the overall quality and freshness of food products. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms play a pivotal role in optimizing inventory management and demand forecasting processes. By analyzing vast amounts of historical data and current market trends, these technologies facilitate accurate predictions of consumer demand, thereby reducing stockouts and overstocking scenarios. Furthermore, big data analytics enables stakeholders to derive valuable insights from large datasets generated across the supply chain. These insights aid in identifying inefficiencies, optimizing resource allocation, and making data-driven decisions to enhance profitability and sustainability. However, despite the numerous benefits offered by technological innovations in accounting for food supply chain management, challenges such as data security, interoperability, and the need for skilled personnel remain significant hurdles to widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges will be crucial in harnessing the full potential of technology to create a more resilient, transparent, and sustainable food supply chain ecosystem. In conclusion, technological innovations in accounting have emerged as key enablers in revolutionizing the food supply chain management landscape. By leveraging blockchain, IoT, AI, and big data analytics, stakeholders can unlock new opportunities for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability throughout the food supply chain. Keywords: Accounting, Food, Supply Chain, Management, Technology, Innovation, Review.

Technological innovations in accounting for food supply chain management

The food supply chain management sector has undergone significant transformations in recent years, largely driven by technological innovations aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. This review delves into the burgeoning realm of technological advancements in accounting within the food supply chain management domain. Technological innovations such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics have revolutionized traditional accounting practices in the food supply chain. Blockchain technology, for instance, has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain by providing an immutable ledger of transactions. This ensures the authenticity of data related to food products, from origin to consumption, thus mitigating risks associated with fraud and food safety incidents. Moreover, the integration of IoT devices enables real-time monitoring of various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and location, thereby ensuring optimal conditions for food transportation and storage. This not only minimizes wastage but also enhances the overall quality and freshness of food products. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms play a pivotal role in optimizing inventory management and demand forecasting processes. By analyzing vast amounts of historical data and current market trends, these technologies facilitate accurate predictions of consumer demand, thereby reducing stockouts and overstocking scenarios. Furthermore, big data analytics enables stakeholders to derive valuable insights from large datasets generated across the supply chain. These insights aid in identifying inefficiencies, optimizing resource allocation, and making data-driven decisions to enhance profitability and sustainability. However, despite the numerous benefits offered by technological innovations in accounting for food supply chain management, challenges such as data security, interoperability, and the need for skilled personnel remain significant hurdles to widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges will be crucial in harnessing the full potential of technology to create a more resilient, transparent, and sustainable food supply chain ecosystem. In conclusion, technological innovations in accounting have emerged as key enablers in revolutionizing the food supply chain management landscape. By leveraging blockchain, IoT, AI, and big data analytics, stakeholders can unlock new opportunities for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability throughout the food supply chain. Keywords: Accounting, Food, Supply Chain, Management, Technology, Innovation, Review.

Information needs for transparency in blockchain-enabled sustainable food supply chains

The growing demand for transparency in sustainable food production creates a challenge for supply chains to meet the diverse information needs of stakeholders. This research addresses this challenge by identifying and prioritising information needs within sustainable food supply chains. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study identified 14 information needs, categorised them into three clusters: a) product and quality details information, b) production and processing information, and c) sustainability information, and prioritised the information needs. Experts highly prioritised information needs on quality and safety, followed by product origin and nutrition/ingredients. The research suggests that blockchain technology can play a role in supporting consumer decision-making. These findings can inform the development of information-sharing systems that enhance transparency and support consumer decision-making in sustainable food supply chains.

The impact of risk factors on the sustainability of food distribution chain functioning in Kazakhstan

In conditions of risk and uncertainty, food security is ensured taking into account the requirements of isolation, safety and health, which requires changes to the existing supply chain (SC) system in the food environment, as well as the creation of more sustainable food supply chains. The aim of the study is to assess the conditions and factors of the functioning of the food commodity distribution chain (FCDC) of the agri-food market in conditions of risk, in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic. To formulate a conceptual framework reflecting the structure of the SC elements, the method of systematic review and generalization of literature was used; the method of expert survey of participants in the SC of food products (FP). During the analysis, seven significant factor constraints (technological, financial, economic, institutional, social, epidemiological, geographical) were revealed, the environment and operating conditions of the FCDC associated with the impact of the pandemic were identified. The risk factors of the environment and operating conditions of the FCDC and their possible effects on the SC are evaluated. Practical recommendations are given to reduce risks and improve the efficiency of the agro-food commodity distribution SC. The study attempts to study the influence of various factors caused by the restriction of the functioning of the food environment and affecting the stability of the SC of perishable products. The results could also be used to inform SC participants about the measures needed to create more sustainable SC foods in the future.

Design of sustainable perishable food supply chain network under uncertainty

Design of sustainable perishable food supply chain network under uncertainty

Leveraging an Uncertainty Methodology to Appraise Risk Factors Threatening Sustainability of Food Supply Chain

By diminishing the risk factors associated with the food supply chain (FSC), we have recourse to strengthen the food supply chain's resilience, decrease food waste, and increase its sustainability. Prioritizing and identifying the risk factors impacting the sustainability of the food supply chain is essential for managing uncertainty and averting unfavorable consequences. This study attempts to identify and rank the most significant risks affecting the sustainability of the food supply chain under an uncertain environment. We use the α-Discounting multi-criteria decision-making (α-D MCDM) method for the main three risk factors: the risks of supply, the risks of demand, and the risks of operations. The primary causes of the challenges in assessing the food supply chain's risk elements include inaccurate assessment data, DMs' subjective preferences, and DMs' differing opinions and thoughts about the criteria. Unfortunately, earlier research fell short of fully resolving these issues. A hybrid three-phase neutrosophic MCDM method is proposed by integrating triangular neutrosophic numbers (TNNs), TNN-AHP, and TNN-CoCoSo to close this gap. In this manner, it may efficiently handle ambiguity. The application of the suggested framework is then explored using the top six food and beverage businesses in the world: Nestle (A1), PepsiCo (A2), Coca-Cola (A3), Danon (A4), Anheuser-Busch InBev SA (A5), and Mondelez International (A6). The results show the sustainability rankings from best to worst, which were established on the groups of decision-makers assessments based on the importance of the risk factors that have to be handled. To gain additional insight into the rationale and resilience of this framework, sensitivity evaluation and comparative analysis have been employed in this study.

Role of industry 4.0 technologies and human-machine interaction for de-carbonization of food supply chains

A decarbonized food supply chain ensures that we have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food with a reduced carbon footprint. It not only helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances food security by making the supply chain more resilient to climate-related disruptions, ensuring stable food production for a growing global population. Further, there is an increasing consumer demand for sustainably produced food, and meeting this demand is crucial for maintaining relevance and competitiveness in the global market. Without a well-functioning decarbonized supply chain, it would be much harder for farmers, processors, distributors, and retailers to promote food security and improve public health. Decarbonization in the food supply chain is a complex process that requires a multifaceted approach, with the entire supply chain from farm to fork being examined. Technological advances such as Industry 4.0, with a human-centric solution, could be an answer. By combining the power of Industry 4.0 with decarbonization efforts, the creation of a more sustainable and efficient food supply chain can be promised. Hence, this study utilizes a mixed-method approach to examine the Indian food supply chain, and analyses the factors that motivate stakeholders to implement decarbonized technologies. It uses opinions from industry as well as from academic experts for employing integrated Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Interpretive structural modelling (ISM). AHP revealed that “International community pressure” is the most critical factor. Further, ISM is used to explain the interrelationships among the identified factors, providing a hierarchical model. These key findings can assist policymakers to develop and refine regulations. Further, it can also help stakeholders to make an informed decision while allocating resources towards new technologies.

Sustainable food supply chain: exploration, identification, and analysis of the critical drivers for the foxnut (Makhana) industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to recognize and prioritize the critical drivers (CDs) essential for establishing a sustainable foxnut supply chain (SFNSC) aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations. The objective is to make a meaningful contribution to the longevity and well-rounded sustainability of the foxnut industry by scrutinizing pivotal factors that endorse triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability aspect throughout the supply chain. Design/methodology/approach A systematic approach, integrating literature reviews and government reports, identified potential CDs for a sustainable foxnut supply chain. Expert opinions refined the list with the help of fuzzy-Delphi method (FDM), and the final CDs were analyzed with fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (F-DEMATEL) to establish their causal relationships and hierarchical importance. Findings The study identifies the top three CDs for a SFNSC: “Branding of the product”, “The Global increase in demand” and “Value addition of the foxnut”. Moreover, “Storage infrastructure”, “Mechanized processing” and “Proper transportation facilities” also contribute to the sustainability of the foxnut supply chain. Research limitations/implications The results hold significance for various stakeholders in the foxnut industry, encompassing producers, policymakers and researchers. The identified CDs can guide decision-making and resource allocation to improve the sustainability of the foxnut supply chain. The study's framework and methodology can also be applied to other industries to promote sustainable practices and achieve SDGs. Originality/value This study enhances understanding of CDs for an SFNSC. FDM and F-DEMATEL techniques analyze causal relationships and rank key factors. The SFNSC model may help other major foxnut producers to become more sustainable.

Blockchain-based secure optimized traceable scheme for smart and sustainable food supply chain

A large number of nodes, and significant system overhead are among the challenges. To tackle these problems, a new PBFT technique known as trace-PBFT (t-PBFT) is being contemplated for adoption in the food supply chain. The PBFT algorithm, short for Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance, serves as the fundamental algorithm. The linkages throughout the supply chain may be categorized into three primary groups. As a response to the continuing discussion over the amount of data, the status of each node is continuously updated in real time. This metric is utilized to evaluate the dependability of the principal node and to analyze the overall performance of the nodes. To minimize the amount of data transmitted between nodes, we optimized the consensus process of the first algorithm. The distinct attributes of offering collaborative food technology were considered throughout this procedure. Experimental evidence indicates that the t-PBFT approach outperforms the PBFT algorithm in terms of throughput, request delay, and information overhead. An architectural paradigm is proposed by integrating the t-PBFT algorithm with a federated network. This model was developed in response to the distinct demands of the food supply chain. This model effectively captures data at each stage of the food supply chain to ensure information tracking while preserving the safety of the food technology flow process.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for sustainability assessment in food sector. A systematic literature review on methods, indicators and tools

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for sustainability assessment in food sector. A systematic literature review on methods, indicators and tools

AI Driven IoT(AIIoT) for Smart Agriculture

AI Driven IoT(AIIoT) for Smart Agriculture

Sustainable Food Value Chains: Approaches to Transaction Costs in Agro-Alimentary Systems of Developing Countries—A Chile Case Study

This study delves into the dynamics of price linkages and transaction costs in agricultural markets, emphasizing the sustainability of food supply chains. By exploring vertical and horizontal price linkages in agro-farming value chains of a developing country, it addresses the efficiency of market information transmission and the capacity for arbitrage among chain participants. The methodological core of the research involves analyzing price linkages in Chilean horticultural wholesale markets, focusing on key vegetables such as, onions, lettuce, maize, and tomatoes. This analysis is underpinned by a novel approach that models and estimates time-dependent, conditional threshold bands, extending the traditional cointegration models. This method allows a more nuanced understanding of how agricultural market linkages evolve over time, enhancing our comprehension of price transmission behavior and market integration. The results reveal significant non-linear relationships between fuel prices and vegetable prices, particularly in central Chilean regions. This finding challenges the traditional linear perspective, suggesting that factors such as storage capacity and arbitrage behavior can influence price signal transmission. Such insights are crucial for stakeholders in the agribusiness value chain, offering a deeper understanding of market dynamics and aiding in the development of more sustainable and efficient market strategies. This research contributes significantly to the field of agricultural economics by providing a more robust framework for analyzing market behaviors and transaction costs in the context of sustainability and value chains. Its findings have profound implications for both theory and practice, informing policy-making and strategic decision-making in the agribusiness sector.

Effective food waste management model for the sustainable agricultural food supply chain

The extensive research examines the current state of agricultural food supply chains, with focus on waste management in Bandung Regency, Indonesia. The study reveals that a significant proportion of food within the agricultural supply chain goes to waste and discusses the various challenges and complexities involved in managing food waste. The research presents a conceptual model based on the ADKAR change management paradigm to promote waste utilization, increase awareness and change people's behaviors. The model emphasizes the importance of creating awareness, fostering desire, providing knowledge, implementing changes, and reinforcing and monitoring the transformation process. It also addresses the challenges, barriers, and drivers that influence waste utilization in the agricultural supply chain, highlighting the need for economic incentives and a shift in public awareness to drive meaningful change. Ultimately, this study serves as a comprehensive exploration of food waste management in Bandung Regency, shedding light on the complexities of the issue and offering a systematic approach to transition towards more sustainable waste utilization practices.

Actors' Behaviours in Responding to Green Incentives in the Food and Beverage Industry: A Scoping Review

Understanding the actors' behavior is an essential step to recognizing the standpoint of each actor to generate a strategy that facilitates collaboration and healthy coopetition in creating a green and sustainable impact. By defining a suitable strategy, the optimization of collaboration and coopetition in a sustainable food and beverage supply chain can be performed through game theory optimization. Therefore, this study aims to understand the description of the actors' behaviors corresponding to sustainable incentives in the food and beverage industry in existing game-theory optimization literature. This study was carried out by conducting a literature scoping of two significant databases: Scopus and Web of Science. 1816 articles were identified in the initial selection, and 25 were deeply evaluated and mapped. The literature scoping review shows that the supply chain's performance and interaction are related to the actors' actions, which have an independent interest, though they share a common desire to maximize its benefits. The main financial incentives are found in the game theory literature. However, the other incentives are not yet explored thoroughly. In the near future, it is suggested to conduct research on formulation of ethical and social incentives in order to be utilized in game theory optimization.

Metaheuristic-driven extended exergy accounting for sustainable closed-loop food supply chain management

In this research, an exergetic mathematical model is proposed for closed-loop food supply chain network design considering economic, environmental, and social aspects. The studded closed-loop food supply chain consists of six echelons, four echelons for forwarding the products (suppliers, factory, distribution centers, and customers), and two echelons for returning the products (collecting centers and disposal centers). The exergetic model is based on the extended exergy accounting method, which calculates the consumed exergy in all six echelons by considering the equivalents of labor and capital exergy. This model aims to minimize both the economic and exergetic costs associated with the food supply chain. To solve the proposed mathematical model, an ensemble global–local search metaheuristic algorithm utilizing a combined whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and simulated annealing (SA), called CWOASA, is proposed. In the CWOASA algorithm, first, WOA is used to search the entire search space. Next, SA is applied to further improve the best solution obtained by WOA. A real dataset of a dairy supply chain is used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed metaheuristic-driven exergy analysis model and claim its benefits over the existing methods. Simulation results revealed that the proposed method leads to a 6.74% reduction in the total exergy consumption of the supply chain. The proposed methodology offers valuable insights, shedding light on the prospective gains in terms of mitigated environmental impact for each incremental economic expenditure, thus laying the foundation for promising avenues of future research.

Risk assessment in sustainable food supply chains: A holistic approach by using HOR-SWOT-ANP/AHP to ensuring performance improvement

The global food supply chain plays an essential role in economic development while addressing environmental and social issues in its business system. However, this complex network is exposed to various risk factors related to sustainability that can disrupt the supply chain performance. CV. XYZ is a food manufacturer that produces jackfruit chips in Indonesia. During the supply chain process, this company needs to manage the various risks across the supplier, manufacturer, and retailer stages. By identifying and evaluating risks at each stage, mitigation and improvement strategies can be proposed. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the supply chain risk mitigation and performance improvement strategies for maintaining supply chain stability and performance. House of Risk (HOR) was applied to analyze the mitigation strategies, while SWOT with analytical networking process (ANP) or analytical hierarchy process (AHP)/ (i.e., SWOT-ANP/AHP method)was used for analyzing performance improvement strategies by considering the weight of each factor. The result shows that twelve mitigation strategies are needed to mitigate the fourteen risk agents that focus on improving production activities and human resources. Moreover, eleven strategies have been proposed to improve sustainable supply chain performance in the future, focusing more on marketing activities and enhancing human resource capabilities.

Resilience and adaptation in food supply chains during disasters: A comprehensive literature review

Resilience and adaptation in food supply chains are critical considerations in ensuring food security during times of disaster. This review investigates the challenges and opportunities that arise in the face of natural and man-made disasters by examining their impacts on the stability and functionality of food supply chains. The purpose of our research is to facilitate the development of more sustainable and resilient food supply chains that can navigate through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other potential disasters in the future. By analyzing case studies and empirical data, the review highlights the importance of proactive measures in building a resilient supply chains and adaptability that increases the export volumes to raise national economy wealth in profit motive as well as the implementation of robust contingency plans, the development of adaptive strategies and the integration of technological innovations can boost a food supply chain. Furthermore, it explores the role of stakeholders, policymakers and international organizations in fostering a collaborative framework for mitigating risks and enhancing the capacity of food systems to withstand and recover from adverse events. The findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes risk management, fosters sustainable practices and promotes inclusive decision-making to ensure the long-term resilience of food supply chains in the face of diverse and evolving challenges.

Sustainable food chains designed for optimised resource use: Optimising downscaled food chains for sustainable resource use: A comprehensive case study on tomato juice

As consumers increasingly prefer locally sourced food, there is a growing movement towards optimising resource use and reducing emissions in supply chains. While Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) traditionally emphasise social and institutional proximity, this study strategically addresses the environmental impact by implementing innovative technologies on a smaller scale. This article explores the possibility of implementing a mobile processing unit (FOX unit) that utilises two innovative technologies, one for gentle juice extraction (spiral filter) and the other for preservation of freshly pressed products (pulsed electric fields - PEF). The study investigates a solution that could streamline the supply chain between producers and consumers by offering a decentralised and modular approach to processing. Using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), tomato juice production is compared under traditional thermal pasteurisation (Scenario 1) and the FOX unit (Scenario 2). This study also assesses the impacts of centralising production and shipping raw materials between countries (Scenario 3), considering the FOX unit as part of the evaluation. Further analysis includes relocating this unit to the countries of raw material origin (Scenario 4). Data retrieved from literature, databases, and practical trials, revealed that tomato juice production with the FOX unit led to a 15% reduction in environmental impact across all categories compared to traditional thermal pasteurisation. When relocating the unit, the overall environmental impact decreased as the volume of processed raw materials increased, reaching levels comparable to the results obtained from shipping 1 ton of raw material to a centralised location in various studied countries (with variations in midpoint categories depending on the location, such as 200 tons in France, 15 tons in Italy, and 45 tons in Spain), albeit with variation in the categories. This study highlights the potential environmental benefits of integrating the FOX unit in SFSCs, offering valuable insights for sustainable food supply chain practices.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN ECONOMICS: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS, ADAPTATIONS, AND SUSTAINABILITY

Climate change poses significant challenges to global food supply chains, impacting various facets of production, distribution, and consumption. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between climate change and food supply chain economics, focusing on its impacts, adaptations, and sustainability measures. Firstly, climate change disrupts agricultural production through extreme weather events, shifts in precipitation patterns, and changes in temperature, leading to reduced crop yields and quality. These impacts ripple through the entire food supply chain, affecting input costs, market prices, and food security. Consequently, stakeholders across the supply chain face heightened risks and uncertainties, necessitating adaptive strategies to mitigate losses and maintain resilience. Secondly, adaptation measures within food supply chains encompass a range of strategies aimed at minimizing climate-related risks and optimizing resource utilization. These may include adopting climate-resilient crop varieties, implementing precision agriculture techniques, enhancing water management practices, and diversifying sourcing and distribution channels. Moreover, investments in technology, infrastructure, and knowledge transfer play pivotal roles in enhancing adaptive capacities and fostering sustainability in the face of climate variability. Furthermore, ensuring the sustainability of food supply chains amidst climate change requires a multifaceted approach that integrates economic, social, and environmental considerations. Sustainable practices such as organic farming, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture not only mitigate greenhouse gas emissions but also enhance ecosystem resilience and promote equitable access to resources. Moreover, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders, including farmers, policymakers, researchers, and consumers, is essential for promoting innovation and driving transformative change towards more resilient and sustainable food systems. In conclusion, understanding the complex interplay between climate change and food supply chain economics is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate risks, enhance adaptation, and promote sustainability. By adopting a holistic approach that integrates scientific insights, technological innovations, and stakeholder engagement, the global community can work towards building more resilient and equitable food supply chains in a changing climate.
 Keywords: Climate Change, Food, Supply, Chain, Economics, Review.

Optimization of the sustainable food supply chain with integrative data envelopment analysis approach

ABSTRACT In this study, the supply chain system of the food supply chain (FSC) is assessed. Initially, the operations of farmers are examined using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique. Then, locations of relatively efficient farmers are used as potential collection sites for the distribution at the downstream operations. Next, the Multi-Objective Optimization Model is proposed to examine location and distribution channels under the sustainability paradigm. That is, the economic criterion is primarily considered by focusing on minimizing the total supply cost. The social criterion is next deliberated by evaluating the equality aspect of farmers for the fair proportion of vegetable supply. Then, the environmental criterion is incorporated by assessing the CO2 emissions of food transportation activity. Additionally, a trade-off analysis is analyzed to investigate the conflicting behavior of model using the Non-Preemptive Programming method. The sensitivity analysis is further examined by varying the time-requirement parameter to verify the model functionalities. Finally, the regional case study in Thailand based on the food supply data is applied to validate the model. Given that farmers are distant from diverse locations, the results of our study can provide a strategic choice for key decision-makers in the FSC network under sustainability consideration.