Unlocking the potential: leveraging blockchain technology for agri-food supply chain performance and sustainability
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 5 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Blockchain technology (BCT) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing transparency and trust. However, the relationship between the benefits of BCT and agri-food supply chain performance (AFSCperf) remains underexplored. Therefore, the current study investigates the influence of BCT on AFSCperf and sustainability issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a comprehensive literature review, various benefits of BCT are identified. Subsequently, a research framework is proposed based on data collected from questionnaire surveys and personal visits to professionals in the agri-food industry. The proposed framework is validated using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The findings reveal that BCT positively impacts AFSCperf by improving traceability, transparency, food safety and quality, immutability and trust. Additionally, BCT adoption enhances stakeholder collaboration, provides a decentralised network, improves data accessibility and yields a better return on investment, resulting in the overall improvement in AFSCperf and socio-economic sustainability.
Practical implications
This study offers valuable practical insights for practitioners and academicians, establishing empirical links between the benefits of BCT and AFSCperf and providing a deeper understanding of BCT adoption.
Originality/value
Stakeholders, managers, policymakers and technology providers can leverage these findings to optimise the benefits of BCT in enhancing AFSCperf. Moreover, it utilises rigorous theoretical and empirical approaches, drawing on a multidisciplinary perspective encompassing food operations and supply chain literature, public policy, information technology, strategy, organisational theory and sustainability.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-K), Kundli, Sonepat (Haryana), India, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (Govt. of India), for providing funding and essential support to conduct this research work. Grant Number: Q-11/13/2021-R&D.
Citation
Vern, P., Panghal, A., Mor, R.S., Kumar, V. and Sarwar, D. (2024), "Unlocking the potential: leveraging blockchain technology for agri-food supply chain performance and sustainability", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-09-2023-0364
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited