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Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 22336

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Banu Yetkin Ekren

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Guest Editor

School of Management, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: automated warehousing; supply chain design; simulation modelling; inventory optimization; food supply network
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Emel Aktas

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Guest Editor

Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: food distribution network design; last mile delivery optimization; perishable inventory modelling

Dr. Nicky Yates

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Guest Editor

School of Management, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: food and healthcare supply chains; supply chain network design and modelling; supply chain resilience; perishable inventory; simulation

Prof. Dr. Yiğit Kazançoğlu

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Guest Editor

Logistics Management, Yasar University, 35100 Bornova/İzmir, Turkey
Interests: circular Economy; sustainability; supply chain management; digital technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives significantly. During lockdowns, managing food supply networks efficiently to ensure safe and sufficient food supplies has become one of the critical issues for society. For instance, fresh food products must remain ready and available during the pandemic. Moreover, it has been observed that all kinds of food chains, not only those supplying perishable products such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and bakery items, but also long shelf life products, such as pasta and tinned goods, have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, efficient management of food supply networks resulting in decreased food waste and increased sustainability becomes a key deliverable. To achieve these goals, food supply chains need to become much faster, more transparent, and highly connected. In addition, implementation of smart and dynamic decision-making algorithms, utilizing real time information from the supply network, would be beneficial. Digitilization of food networks would help to realize those goals and become a crucial aspect for food manufacturers and retailers.

This Special Issue aims to bring research together that contributes to this field of knowledge and advances the understanding of important managerial issues in food supply chain networks. It welcomes contributions whose objectives are aligned with the following research scopes:

Digitilization of food supply chains;
Design and analysis of food supply chain networks;
Smart decision making in sustainable food supply chain networks;
Challenges and opportunities in sustainable food supply chains;
Food supply chain resilience;
Multi-objective optimization for sustainable food supply chains;
Technology for sustainable food supply chains;
Operations management in sustainable food supply chains;
Inventory modelling for food supply chains;
Decision models for perishable food products in food supply chain;
Food waste and circularity in sustainable food supply chains.

Dr. Banu Yetkin Ekren
Prof. Dr. Emel Aktas
Dr. Nicky Yates
Prof. Dr. Yiğit Kazançoğlu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

food supply chain
sustainable food supply chain
food sustainability
smart supply chain design

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Living Arrangements and Eating Habits Influence University Students’ Food Waste Perception in Italy and Poland?

by Małgorzata Miśniakiewicz, Vera Amicarelli, Grzegorz Chrobak, Agnieszka Górka-Chowaniec and Christian Bux

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052102 - 03 Mar 2024

Viewed by 752

Abstract

Consumers’ perception plays a central role in tackling food waste at the final consumption stage, specifically among university students. In Europe, it is estimated that 47 to 67 Mt of food waste is generated at the household level or at food service consumption, including university canteens. The present cross-country research, through an online-based questionnaire among university students, investigates students’ perception on food waste by distinguishing among two different categories: on the one side, students living with their family; on the other side, students living without their family. Further, the research distinguishes among students eating at university canteens, students preparing food at home, students purchasing take-away foods and students coming back home to eat. The study compares university students’ perception on food waste in Italy and in Poland, with the overarching purpose of shaping sustainable pathways and defining educational interventions to enhance students’ perception and awareness on food waste. Data are analyzed according to the Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Age is a pivotal factor and suggests a generational gap in awareness and attitude toward food waste, whereas sex significantly affects food waste perception in Poland but not in Italy, suggesting a more homogeneous perception across sexes. The research highlights the impacts that socio-economic and environmental crises (e.g., climate change, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, high inflation rates) have on food waste perception in Poland, which is closer to that of Russia and Ukraine compared to that of Italy, and provides academics, practitioners and public authorities with practical and theoretical insights toward food waste minimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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23 pages, 733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Blockchain’s Role in Enhancing Quality and Safety and Promoting Sustainability in the Food and Beverage Industry

by Nir Kshetri

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316223 - 23 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1426

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to assess the potential roles of blockchain technology in enhancing quality, safety, and sustainability throughout the production and distribution of food and beverage products. To achieve this, a multiple case study approach has been selected as the primary research methodology. This article underscores the transformative impact of blockchain implementation on inter-organizational transactions, reducing uncertainty among supply chain participants and fostering more equitable interdependence among partners in the value chain. These developments have the potential to bolster quality, safety, and sustainability within the food and beverage industry. The article also explores strategies for enhancing blockchain’s influence on interfirm governance structures within the food and beverage sector. It delves into the possibilities of broadening participation by increasing the number and variety of participants in blockchain networks. It investigates how the synergy between blockchain technology and other emerging technologies can further optimize their impact on reducing interfirm governance structures. Also addressed in the paper is the potential for blockchain-based solutions to enhance distributive fairness within the food and beverage industry, offering marginalized groups, such as small-holder farmers, greater opportunities for integration into the global economy. Special emphasis is placed on blockchain’s capacity to enhance interfirm governance in this industry by reducing uncertainty among supply chain participants and creating more symmetrical dependencies among them. The article also posits that by fostering entrepreneurial prospects for marginalized communities and promoting distributive fairness, blockchain technology can contribute to socially responsible actions. Overall, this study extends theories and concepts from information and communications technologies’ (ICTs) effects on agency, boundaries, and uncertainty in the context of organizational and inter-organizational dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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30 pages, 9183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying the Drivers of Circular Food Packaging: A Comprehensive Review for the Current State of the Food Supply Chain to Be Sustainable and Circular

by Erhan Ada, Yigit Kazancoglu, Çisem Lafcı, Banu Y. Ekren and Cansu Çimitay Çelik

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511703 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1459

Abstract

The resilience of food systems is jeopardized by using food packaging materials that have adverse impacts on the environment, food quality, food safety, shelf-life, food loss, and waste. Therefore, a transition into a more sustainable system can only be possible by adopting circular economy principles and practices that can facilitate the elimination of unsustainable packaging, irresponsible disposal behaviors, and waste management. This paper mainly focuses on circular packaging practices in the existing literature to reveal the drivers of circular food packaging applications. The study also displays the triple combinations of material-sector, material-CE, and sector-CE principles. As a methodology, a systematic literature review (SLR) has been used for this study. Furthermore, this study investigates the literature findings, such as the most frequently mentioned food sector and sub-sector, CE principles, materials adopted for food packaging, and so on. The primary contribution of this study to the body of literature is the synthesis and mapping of the literature as a whole from the perspectives of CE principles, both sector-based and national, and the materials used through circular food packaging, and the attempt to facilitate this transition into a more circular system by outlining the drivers of circular food packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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20 pages, 831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combating of Associated Issues for Sustainable Agri-Food Sectors

by Debesh Mishra, Kamalakanta Muduli, Lukas Sevcik, Sujoy Kumar Jana and Manidatta Ray

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310096 - 26 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 945

Abstract

Because of growing populations, more people living in cities, and higher incomes, the demand for food has changed in both quantity and quality. This has sped up the growth of different agricultural production and distribution chains. The necessary transition processes in the agri-food sectors, however, can often take a very long time to complete and have negative social and environmental effects, which puts the traditional development paradigm into question. This study looked at the trends affecting food systems in addition to the viability of sustainable development in Indian agriculture. In order to identify and then prioritize the related issues facing the agri-food sectors, this study comprised a thorough examination of the literature. Experts were consulted to rank the identified issues according to their degree of impact on the system with the use of an integrated “Best-Worst-Method (BWM)” and “Step-Wise Assessment and Ratio-Analysis (SWARA)” approach. The associated major issues were ranked using the BWM method, which revealed that “Issues with the lack of innovative systems” rated at the first level and was followed by “Issues with stability and availability of food; Issues of climate change and natural disasters; Food-governance-related issues; and Issues of accessing and utilizing food”, accordingly. The results of this study will help in developing appropriate intervention techniques at various service levels and in formulating policies, in addition to taking competent governments into consideration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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13 pages, 3298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities for Qatar’s Food Industry: Self-Sufficiency, Sustainability, and Global Food Trade Diversification

by Noora Al-Abdelmalek, Murat Kucukvar, Nuri C. Onat, Enas Fares, Hiba Ayad, Muhammet Enis Bulak, Banu Y. Ekren, Yiğit Kazancoglu and Kadir Ertogral

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075755 - 25 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2282

Abstract

Food trade restrictions pose a serious risk for countries that are heavily reliant on food imports, potentially leading to food crises, inequality, and geopolitical conflicts on a global scale. However, such restrictions may also have transformative effects in promoting food supply chain resilience, security, and self-sufficiency. In this study, a novel econometric analysis is presented, utilizing a data-driven analytical model to investigate the impact of a food embargo on the industry, using Qatar as a case study. A structured and automated food trade database is created using Microsoft Management Server Studio and data visualization software is integrated for automated data discovery. By using a global, trade-based sustainability assessment model, which combines the multi-region input-output (MRIO) analysis with transportation mode-based (sea, road, and air) emissions, the carbon footprint of the dairy food production sector could be estimated. The study shows that the trade embargo on Qatar’s food industry can lead to significant reductions in the annual import of food products, promoting self-sufficiency, and reducing the net carbon emissions of the dairy food sector by nearly 40%. This reduction is not only achieved through food supply chain changes, such as transportation modes, but also by restrictions pushing the country to increase domestic production. Overall, the study demonstrates that a trade embargo, with the support of a well-designed national food security strategy, trade/import diversification, and the use of different modes of transportation for food products, can improve the resilience of global supply chains, self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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21 pages, 860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Supply Chain Innovations for Building Resilient Food Supply Chains: An Emerging Economy Perspective

by Sudhanshu Joshi, Manu Sharma, Banu Y. Ekren, Yigit Kazancoglu, Sunil Luthra and Mukesh Prasad

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064924 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3796

Abstract

Food waste reduction and security are the main concerns of agri-food supply chains, as more than thirty-three percent of global food production is wasted or lost due to mismanagement. The ongoing challenges, including resource scarcity, climate change, waste generation, etc., need immediate actions from stakeholders to develop resilient food supply chains. Previous studies explored food supply chains and their challenges, barriers, enablers, etc. Still, there needs to be more literature on the innovations in supply chains that can build resilient food chains to last long and compete in the post-pandemic scenario. Thus, studies are also required to explore supply chain innovations for the food sector. The current research employed a stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) to assess the supply chain innovations that can develop resilient food supply chains. This study is a pioneer in using the SWARA application to evaluate supply chain innovation and identify the most preferred alternatives. The results from the SWARA show that ‘Business strategy innovations’ are the most significant innovations that can bring resiliency to the food supply chains, followed by ‘Technological innovations.’ The study provides insights for decision makers to understand the significant supply chain innovations to attain resilience in food chains and help the industry to survive and sustain in the long run. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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26 pages, 1742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing the Distribution Network of a Bakery Facility: A Reduced Travelled Distance and Food-Waste Minimization Perspective

by Khalid Aljohani

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3654; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043654 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4825

Abstract

There are many logistics nuances specific to bakery factories, making the design of their distribution network especially complex. In particular, bakery products typically have a shelf life of under a week. To ensure that products are delivered to end-customers with freshness, speed, quality, health, and safety prioritized, the distribution network, facility location, and ordering system must be optimally designed. This study presents a multi-stage framework for a bakery factory comprised of a selection methodology of an optimum facility location, an effective distribution network for delivery operations, and a practical ordering system used by related supply chain actors. The operations function and distribution network are optimized using a multi-criteria decision-making method comprised of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to establish optimization criteria and Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to select the optimal facility location. The optimal distribution network strategy was found using an optimization technique. This framework was applied to a real-life problem for a bakery supply chain in the Western Region, Saudi Arabia. Using a real-life, quantitative dataset and incorporating qualitative feedback from key stakeholders in the supply chain, the developed framework enabled a reduction in overall distribution costs by 14%, decreasing the total travel distance by 16%, and decreasing estimated food waste by 22%. This result was primarily achieved by solving the facility location problem in favor of operating two factories without dedicated storage facilities and implementing the distribution network strategy of direct shipment of products from the bakery to customers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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23 pages, 2381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Traceability Technology Adoption in Food Supply Chain: A Game Theoretic Approach

by Nainsi Gupta, Gunjan Soni, Sameer Mittal, Indrajit Mukherjee, Bharti Ramtiyal and Devesh Kumar

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15020898 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2874

Abstract

Food traceability in the supply chain is becoming increasingly important because of concerns such as fraud, adulteration, consumer requirements, and food loss. This study highlights the importance of food traceability in reducing food loss through the proper monitoring of food at every stage of the supply chain. The actions of individual players in a food supply chain affect its traceability. Moreover, the decisions made by one player influence the decisions of the other players. Thus, traceability becomes more complex as the number of players increases. Owing to the complex nature of a food chain, it is important to analyze all the possible strategies that stakeholders consider and understand the influence of those possible strategies on the traceability of a food supply chain. In this study, we deploy a game theory model to analyze the strategic combinations of all possible actions of different stakeholders to understand the complexities present in a food supply chain, as well as how these strategic combinations help in decision-making for the adoption of traceability in a food supply chain. Furthermore, we analyze the factors that may increase or decrease the probability of adopting traceability in a food supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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16 pages, 2095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Travel Time Estimation Model for Modeling a Green Time-Dependent Vehicle Routing Problem in Food Supply Chain

by Ezzatollah Asgharizadeh, Sobhan Jooybar, Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji and Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8633; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148633 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1487

Abstract

In a green time-dependent vehicle routing optimisation problem, if the travel time is not well estimated, the values of the objective function (emissions) for different solutions will be obtained with less accuracy, which leads to wrong decision making. The purpose of this paper is to propose an accurate travel-time estimation model. The model was developed by considering the different multiple traffic modes through a continuous approach. Moreover, in this model, it was assumed that the route between two nodes was a combination of different segments (i.e., expressway, boulevard, main street, auxiliary street, alley, etc.), and the speed level varied along the route and depended on the segments of the route. Congestion is a key factor affecting the delivery time of food to customers. To assess the reliability of the model, data from the delivery and sales network of the oldest and biggest beverage manufacturer in Iran was used. A new congestion pattern was identified based on the analysis of 272 routes and several rules were described that proved the above assumption about congestion. The travel time estimated for 30 random vehicles with random departure times were compared with data from Google Maps through statistical analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management)

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