Leveraging on technology and sustainability to innovate the supply chain: a proposal of agri-food value chain model
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, the agri-food industry is called to face several sustainability challenges that require the development of new sustainable models. The adoption of new technological assets from Industry 4.0 supports the companies during the implementation of sustainability practices. Several models design the operation management of the food supply chains (FSCs). Because none extant models resulted complete in technological and sustainability elements, this paper aims to propose an innovative and sustainable agri-food value chain model, contributing to extend understating of how supply chains can become more sustainable through the Industry 4.0 technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
Thanks to a well-structured and replicable systematic literature review and sequent content analysis, this work recognized and compared the extant FSC models, focusing on the interaction of five key elements: activities, flows, stakeholders, technologies and sustainability. The output of the comparison leading in the definition of the proposed model is discussed in a focus group of 10 experts and tested in a case study.
Findings
Fifteen extant models were recognized in literature and analysed to discover their features and to putt in light peculiarities and differences among them. This analysis provided useful insights to design and propose a new innovative and sustainable agri-food value chain model; an example for the olive oil business case is provided.
Originality/value
The adding value of the work is the proposed model which regards innovative elements such as recirculation flows, external stakeholders and Industry 4.0 technologies usage which allows enhancing the agri-FSCs operational efficiency and sustainability.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was partially supported by: I) PSR PUGLIA 2014/2020–Misura 16–Cooperazione–Sottomisura 16.2–“Sostegno a progetti pilota e allo sviluppo di nuovi prodotti, pratiche, processi e tecnologie”. Progetto TRaceability SysTem for Food (TRuST4Food) DdS: 94250025171|CUP: B67H20000800007 and, II) I) “REFIN” intervention co-financed by the European Union through the Apulian regional plan (POR Puglia 2014–2020, Asse prioritario OT X “Investire nell'istruzione, nella formazione e nella formazione professionale per le competenze e l'apprendimento permanente”–Azione 10.4–DGR 1991/2018– Avviso2/FSE/2020 n. 57 del 13/05/ 2019–BURP n. 52 del 16/05/2019).
Citation
Corallo, A., De Giovanni, M., Latino, M.E. and Menegoli, M. (2023), "Leveraging on technology and sustainability to innovate the supply chain: a proposal of agri-food value chain model", Supply Chain Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-12-2022-0484
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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