Search Results (862)

Sustainability in the agri-food sector has become a cornerstone of global efforts to combat climate change, ensure food security through climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen economic resilience. Sustainability reporting within agri-food systems has gained increasing regulatory significance with the introduction of mandatory frameworks such as the Turkish Sustainability Reporting Standards (TSRSs). This article searches for the sustainability reports of agri-business firms listed in BIST in Turkey. Although TSRS reporting is not yet mandatory for the agribusiness sector, this study examines the first TSRS-aligned sustainability reports published by eight agri-food companies, excluding the retail sector. The analysis assesses how effectively these reports address sector-specific environmental and social challenges defined in the GRI 13 Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sector Standard and their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a structured content analysis approach, disclosure patterns were examined at both thematic and company levels. The findings indicate that TSRS-aligned reports place strong emphasis on environmental and climate-related disclosures, particularly emissions, climate adaptation and resilience, water management, and waste. In contrast, agro-ecological and land-based impacts—such as soil health, pesticide use, and ecosystem conversion—are weakly addressed. Economic disclosures are predominantly framed around climate-related financial risks and supply chain traceability, while social reporting focuses mainly on occupational health and safety, employment practices, and food safety, with limited attention to labor and equity issues across the broader value chain. Company-level results reveal marked heterogeneity, with internationally active firms demonstrating deeper alignment with GRI 13 requirements. From an SDG alignment perspective, high levels of coverage are observed across all companies for SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). By contrast, SDGs critical to agro-ecological integrity and social equity—namely SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 15 (Life on Land)—are weakly represented or entirely absent. Overall, the results suggest that while TSRS-aligned reporting enhances transparency in climate-related domains, it achieves only selective alignment with the SDG agenda. This underscores the need for a stronger integration of sector-specific sustainability priorities into mandatory sustainability reporting frameworks. Full article

Despite substantial growth in eco-innovation (EI) research, most studies rely on cross-sectional data, limiting understanding of the temporal dynamics of EI and its determinants under varying macroeconomic conditions. This study addresses this gap by analysing panel data from Spanish manufacturing firms across three phases of the business cycle: pre-crisis expansion (2004–2007), the global financial crisis (2008–2013), and recovery (2014–2016). We investigate the drivers of two distinct types of eco-innovation: efficiency EI (energy and material savings) and environmental EI (reducing environmental harm), focusing on the role of regulation, institutional interventions, and firm-level innovation capacities. Using a random-effects panel probit model that accounts for unobserved firm heterogeneity, we examine how these drivers operate across different macroeconomic contexts. Our findings reveal that regulation consistently fosters EI, while the influence of subsidies, R&D capacity, and collaborative networks is more context-dependent, particularly during economic downturns. The results highlight the cumulative, path-dependent, and cyclical nature of EI, providing novel insights into the conditions that enable firms to sustain green innovation over time. Drivers of eco-innovation differ systematically between efficiency- and environment-oriented strategies, and these differences remain stable over the business cycle, implying distinct underlying mechanisms and policy implications. Accordingly, policy design—particularly during economic downturns—should distinguish between reinforcing incentives for internal efficiency improvements and sustaining regulatory and financial support for environmental EI. Full article

Background: In an increasingly volatile global business environment, supply chain resilience has become a strategic imperative, particularly for firms operating in developing economies. Guided by Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT), this study examines how AI-powered tools foster an innovation culture comprising communication, creativity, and learning, and how these dimensions enhance supply chain resilience measured through flexibility, efficiency, and velocity. Methods: A quantitative research design was employed using survey data collected from 270 supply chain and operations managers in Jordanian manufacturing firms. Twelve direct hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. Results: The findings indicate that AI-powered tools significantly influence communication, creativity, and learning. Communication and creativity positively affect all three dimensions of supply chain resilience. Learning significantly improves efficiency but shows no significant effect on flexibility or velocity, indicating that learning is mainly utilized for process improvement rather than rapid adaptation. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that AI adoption alone is insufficient to build resilient supply chains unless supported by innovation-oriented cultural capabilities. The findings extend DCT by clarifying the differentiated role of learning in resilience building and provide actionable guidance for managers seeking to align AI investments with cultural development in resource-constrained manufacturing contexts and long-term competitive advantage. Full article

Non-digital traditional games such as board and card formats are increasingly recognised as valuable tools for active learning in higher education. These analogue approaches promote engagement, collaboration, and conceptual understanding through embodied and social interaction. This scoping review mapped research on the use of traditional, non-digital games as active learning strategies in tertiary education and examined whether the rise in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) since 2022 has influenced their pedagogical role. Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search of Scopus (October 2025) identified 2480 records; after screening, 26 studies met all inclusion criteria (explicitly using card and/or board games). Whilst this was a scoping, not a systematic review, some bias due to using only one database and evidence could have missed some studies. Results analysed the use and impacts of the games and whether AI was a specific driver in its use. Studies spanned STEM, business, health, and social sciences, with board and card games most frequently employed to support engagement, understanding, and collaboration. Most reported positive learning outcomes. Post-2023 publications suggest renewed interest in analogue pedagogies as authentic, human-centred responses to AI-mediated education. While none directly investigated GenAI, its emergence appears to have acted as an indirect catalyst, highlighting the continuing importance of tactile, cooperative learning experiences. Analogue games therefore remain a resilient, adaptable form of active learning that complements technological innovation and sustains the human dimensions of higher-education practice. Full article

Traditional sustainability frameworks in large scale production systems, such as Process Industry (PI) ones, often overlook operational resilience, creating a “resiliency gap” where systems optimized for efficiency remain vulnerable to disruptions. This study addresses this gap by proposing and empirically validating a Quadruple Bottom Line (4BL) framework that integrates resilience as the fourth pillar alongside economic, environmental, and social goals. The purpose is to evaluate the impact that Autonomic Computing (AC) can imply in this perspective. A Procedural Action Research (PAR) methodology was conducted across four distinct PI industrial cases (asphalt, steel, pharma, and aluminum). This involved the ECOGRAI framework to qualitatively link strategic companies’ objectives to shop-floor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), guiding the assessment of AC systems. The results show benefits at a business level observed following the introduction of AC systems, which were implemented for enhancing resilience by managing ML model drift. Key findings include reduction in plant downtimes, decreases in waste (steel), reductions in gas consumption, and improved operator trust. This research provides empirical evidence that AC can make resilience an actionable component of industrial strategy, leading to measurable improvements across all four pillars of the 4BL framework. Its contribution is methodological and operational, aiming to demonstrate feasibility and causal plausibility. Full article

High-quality agricultural products from the Lambayeque region have contributed to the growth of Peru’s agro-export sector and increased international trade. However, the need for agricultural exports to be more resilient and sustainable is demonstrated by the fact that markets are still concentrated, logistical costs are high, and global demand is constantly shifting. The purpose of this study is to use a gravity-based trade model and market intelligence techniques to analyse the agricultural exports from the Lambayeque region between 2015 and 2024. Using official data from the World Bank, AZATRADE, CEPII, and MINCETUR, we employed a quantitative explanatory approach. The results show that the concentration of businesses has significantly decreased while the value of exports has increased steadily. The Herfindahl–Hirschman Index increased from 6209 in 2015 to 1349 in 2024, and export destinations have become slightly more diverse. Exports are negatively impacted by geographic distance, but free trade agreements greatly benefit them. There is a lot of export potential in markets like Finland, Indonesia, Austria, Bolivia, and Vietnam. However, Israel and Hong Kong appear to be full. Overall, the findings indicate that Lambayeque’s export performance has improved, but it still runs the risk of becoming overly focused on a single sector. Long-term sustainability of the region’s agricultural exports depends on enhancing logistical infrastructure, bolstering market intelligence, and promoting regional diversity. Full article

This study investigates how financial constraints influence environmental innovation and how such innovation contributes to business sustainability and competitive advantage. Existing research has primarily examined financial constraints in isolation, leaving a gap in understanding how firms can transform financial challenges into a strategic opportunity through environmental innovation. Drawing on data from 280 firms across six countries (2012–2024), this study employed a quantitative panel regression approach to test the mediating role of environmental innovation and the moderating effects of management quality and institutional pressures. The analysis revealed that financial constraints significantly hinder environmental innovation, while environmental innovation strongly enhances business sustainability and competitiveness. Furthermore, both management quality and institutional pressures weakened the negative impact of financial constraints, and environmental innovation partially mediates the relationship between financial constraints and business sustainability. The findings demonstrate that firms can achieve sustainability-driven competitive advantage even under financial stress through effective leadership and supportive institutional environments. This study contributes to theory by integrating the Resource-Based View, Institutional Theory, and Stakeholder Theory to explain innovation resilience under constraint. The study offers novel insights into the financial–sustainability interface. Full article

Recent studies have focused on the detrimental effects of global economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on firm profitability. Nevertheless, none of these studies has focused on a developing economy like Nigeria. To understand this, the study conducted a host of regression analyses using the Driscoll and Kraay fixed-effect estimator and the two-step system generalised method of moments to examine the effects of global crude oil prices and domestic and global economic policy uncertainty on firm profitability in Nigeria from 2005 to 2024. The findings indicate that while global EPU had a minimal impact on firm profitability, domestic EPU had a substantial negative impact. The findings remain consistent even across the sub-samples, sensitivity, and robustness analyses. Furthermore, the findings showed that firm size and capital are significant determinants of profitability for Nigerian firms. At the same time, oil prices and their interactions do not affect firm profitability in Nigeria. The study suggests that regulators in the Nigerian business environment can contribute to building a more resilient environment by implementing systems to monitor critical economic indicators and ensure timely responses to emerging challenges. Systematic evaluations of economic uncertainties, including business sentiment, inflation rates, exchange rates, interest rates, and economic growth, can provide valuable insights for policy formulation and interventions aimed at enhancing the profitability of Nigerian firms. Full article

A key component of creating robust and sustainable businesses is the digital transformation of business operations. This study examines the impact of distributed digital technology, namely cloud computing and blockchain technology, on an auditor’s behavior, an essential component of the framework for corporate responsibility. This study also highlights the impact of digital transformation on sustainable auditing, urging auditors to improve their technological skills to build trust in evolving entities. We used a unique dataset of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2021 to show that this time period is important because it shows the beginning and growth of these technologies in the Chinese business world. This gives us a good starting point for looking at their early-stage audit effects. Our key findings are threefold. First, we found that firms using distributed digital technologies (cloud computing and blockchain) experienced (a) higher audit fees and (b) standard audit opinions, indicating the growing complexity and the requirement that auditors acquire specialized skills in order to evaluate cyber-resilience and technological structures. Second, firms facing substantial profit fluctuations (higher risk level) following digital engagement were subject to higher audit fees and a decreased probability of standard audit outcomes, emphasizing the nuanced risks of digital transformation. Third, the main results were more pronounced in (a) non-state-owned enterprises and (b) high-tech enterprises. Our study is robust to multiple sensitivity analyses, endogeneity tests, and propensity score matching (PSM). The results show that regulators need to create and support specialized auditing regulations regarding distributed technologies. These regulations would assist auditors in evaluating cloud and blockchain engagement and make it clear to businesses what is important to be compliant. Full article

In today’s dynamic and global business landscape, economic profitability is essential for creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Nevertheless, a critical gap persists in the literature regarding the application of advanced optimization techniques that systematically link operational improvements in the supply chain with strategic financial indicators. Accordingly, this study aims to identify and synthesize the optimization techniques applied to supply chain processes and their impact on economic profitability. To achieve this objective, the PRISMA methodology was employed. A systematic literature review covering the last ten years (2015–2025) was conducted using the Web of Science database. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 35 studies were selected, revealing a growing methodological diversity. Nature-Inspired Algorithms (NIAs) and hybrid approaches (such as MILP combined with Simulation) demonstrate greater capacity to address complex and multi-objective scenarios. Notably, hybrid techniques have been successfully applied to the maximization of Economic Value Added (EVA), a key strategic value indicator. Despite the sophistication of these optimization techniques, the predominant objective remains total cost minimization, often sidelining the direct optimization of strategic indicators such as EVA or the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC). Additionally, a key research gap was identified in the development of adaptive and resilient models that integrate technologies such as Digital Twins, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence to dynamically manage physical and financial disruptions in supply chains. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for a theoretical shift toward models that go beyond cost minimization and focus on real value metrics, as well as the exploration of more accessible solutions for SMEs. This review contributes a reference framework for academics and practitioners to align the most suitable optimization techniques with strategic financial objectives in supply chain management. Full article

The Chinese government has promoted intelligent, green, and integrated transformation to advance sustainable manufacturing. Central to this strategy is the Service-Oriented Manufacturing Demonstration (SOMD) policy, which aims to deepen manufacturing-service integration. However, its regional spillovers and transmission mechanisms remain unclear. Using China’s county-level panel data from 2015 to 2023, we exploit the staggered national rollout of the SOMD policy as a quasi-natural experiment, employing a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) design. We find that the policy significantly increases both the number and share of new manufacturing firms among total business entries by fostering diversified agglomeration of producer services and reducing manufacturers’ operational costs. This effect is highly context-dependent and occurs only when new producer service firms constitute 60% to 98% of all new service entrants. Moreover, we identify a sustainability trade-off, as it stimulates regional economic activity through manufacturing entry but suppresses overall business formation. These findings suggest that achieving balanced sustainable manufacturing requires moving beyond narrow sectoral growth targets toward fostering an integrated industrial ecosystem that strengthens both manufacturing resilience and service-sector dynamism. Full article

Consumer food choices play a significant role in supporting sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems by shaping the environmental, economic, and social impact of diets. To determine whether environmental concerns and innovativeness drive Europeans to buy more sustainable foods, quantitative data were collected from 3131 adults in three countries. A Logistic Regression Model was developed to assess the quantitative impact of variables on consumers’ likelihood to choose sustainably produced foods. Respondents who paid attention to whether food items are produced and/or packaged in an environmentally friendly way were 94% and 48% more likely to purchase sustainably produced products, respectively. Readiness to purchase a dairy product that the buyer had never heard of resulted in a 15% increase in the likelihood of selecting sustainably produced foods. Additionally, respondents living in Germany were 30% more likely to choose sustainable products compared to Polish consumers, while Czech consumers were 10% less likely to do so. Implementing campaigns focusing on promoting sustainable diets could consequently determine and accelerate the adoption of environmentally friendly production practices in the food system. Our findings provide evidence for policymakers, the business community, and educators who aspire to improve the health of people and the planet as a whole. Full article

Introduction: The informal food sector in Kisumu City, largely run by women informal food vendors, plays a crucial role in the urban food system. However, these female-led businesses faced disproportionate risks stemming from COVID-19-related policies, exacerbating gendered vulnerabilities. This paper explores the gender gaps of post-pandemic recovery strategies and their implications for resilience, recovery, and sustainability of women-led informal food businesses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was guided by the Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis (IBPA) framework. In collaboration with the Pamoja Community-Based Organization, we employed qualitative methods grounded in community-based participatory approaches. Data were collected through key informant interviews (n = 20), depth interviews (n = 20), focus group discussions (n = 40), and a review of policy documents (n = 2). Data was analyzed guided by the eight principles of the IBPA framework alongside Braun and Clarke’s six-phased thematic analysis approach. Results: Findings indicated that power dynamics in the formulation of post-pandemic policies and top-down implementation approaches excluded women informal food vendors from meaningfully participating in policy processes. For example, female vendors were excluded from the recovery priorities as the strategies adopted had limited to no targeted gender-responsive interventions. As such, women informal food vendors faced several challenges during recovery, including limited government support, barriers to accessing credit facilities, heightened household and unpaid care work, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and insecurity. The female vendors employed both individual agency and collective action to facilitate recovery. Discussion: Gender-responsive COVID-19 policies were critical to addressing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women-led informal food businesses. Moving forward, a comprehensive understanding of existing sociocultural inequalities is crucial for designing post-pandemic strategies that are gender-inclusive and promote equitable recovery. Such an approach would enhance women informal food vendors’ resilience to emergencies and their contribution to urban household food security and livelihood. Full article

In the era of digital transformation, transaction-intensive e-business applications—such as high-frequency trading (HFT), e-monetary services and decentralized marketplaces—require infrastructures that are not only fast and secure but also sustainable. Current solutions often prioritize short-term performance over long-term resilience, leading to inefficiencies in energy use and system reliability. This paper introduces a conceptual framework for sustainable transaction processing, leveraging energy-efficient hardware accelerators, real-time communication protocols inspired by industrial automation and lightweight authentication mechanisms. By integrating associative memory-based matching engines and optimized network architectures, the proposed approach ensures predictable latency, robust security and scalability without compromising sustainability. The framework aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by reducing resource consumption, enhancing operational resilience and supporting future-ready digital ecosystems. Full article

In developing economies, women entrepreneurs play a vital role in advancing inclusive growth, yet their financial and digital capabilities often remain constrained by gendered barriers. This study investigates how financial literacy evolves into a gender-sensitive capability that drives digital marketing adoption and entrepreneurial sustainability among women-led SMEs in Indonesia. Guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Technology Acceptance Model, the Knowledge-Based View, and Feminist Entrepreneurship Theory, this study employs a qualitative design involving 75 participants—45 women entrepreneurs and 30 supporting stakeholders. Using an iterative, spiral-oriented analytical approach, thematic insights were integrated with theoretical interpretation to uncover patterns of financial–digital capability development. Findings reveal that women’s financial literacy operates as both a cognitive and behavioral capability, fostering digital trust, informed decision-making, and business resilience. The study introduces the Gendered Financial Literacy Capability Model (G-FLCM), a novel inductively constructed framework that explicates how financial cognition is transformed into digital engagement and sustainable entrepreneurship. By articulating this gendered capability mechanism—absent from prior financial capability or feminist digital entrepreneurship models—the G-FLCM advances theoretical integration across behavioral, technological, and feminist perspectives while offering practical pathways for strengthening inclusive financial–digital ecosystems in emerging economies. Full article