Search Results (867)

Trade facilitation in regard to agricultural products plays a critical role in reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, especially in today’s complex global economic environment. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine how trade facilitation measures contribute to sustainable agricultural trade development in the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) region, with the aim of providing actionable policy recommendations. This study investigates the impact of trade facilitation on agricultural trade between China and other RCEP members through two complementary approaches—developing a multidimensional evaluation index system and implementing an extended gravity model—both applied to decade-spanning panel data. The results reveal that a 1% improvement in trade facilitation levels increases the volume of agricultural trade by 8.397%, with e-commerce development being the most influential driver. However, stringent customs procedures show counterintuitive negative effects, highlighting unique challenges in agricultural supply chains. As the largest agricultural trader within the RCEP, China should prioritize digital infrastructure investment and multilateral cooperation to address these barriers, thereby advancing regional trade liberalization. Full article

Digital twin technology is reshaping modern agriculture. Digital twins are the virtual replicas of real-world farming systems, which are continuously updated with real-time data, and are revolutionizing the monitoring, simulation, and optimization of agricultural processes. The literature on agricultural digital twins is multidisciplinary, growing rapidly, and often fragmented across disciplines, which lacks well-curated documentation. A bibliometric analysis includes thematic content analysis and science mapping, which provides research trends, gaps, thematic landscape, and key contributors in this continuously evolving and emerging field. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a bibliometric review that included collecting bibliometric data via keyword search strategies on popular scientific databases. The data was further screened, processed, analyzed, and visualized using bibliometric tools to map research trends, landscapes, collaborations, and themes. Key findings show that publications have grown exponentially since 2018, with an annual growth rate of 27.2%. The major contributing countries were China, the USA, the Netherlands, Germany, and India. We observed a collaboration network with distinct geographic clusters, with strong intra-European ties and more localized efforts in China and the USA. The analysis identified seven major research theme clusters revolving around precision farming, Internet of Things integration, artificial intelligence, cyber–physical systems, controlled-environment agriculture, sustainability, and food system applications. We observed that core technologies, such as sensors, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, have been extensively explored, while identifying gaps in research areas. The emerging interests include climate resilience, renewable-energy integration, and supply-chain optimization. The observed transition from task-specific tools to integrated, system-level approaches underline the growing need for adaptive, data-driven decision support. By outlining research trends and identifying strategic research gaps, this review offers insights into leveraging digital twins to improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience in global agriculture. Full article

Food loss and waste are critical global issues, particularly in developing economies where they exacerbate food insecurity and environmental degradation. This study focuses on fruit and vegetable loss (FVL) in retail and wholesale markets in North Lebanon, a region marked by socio-economic challenges and infrastructural deficiencies. The research aims to identify the underlying drivers of FVL, assess current management practices, and identify aspects impacting it. Data was collected through surveys of seventy wholesalers and retailers employing descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression for analysis. The findings reveal that 85.7% of the sample generate little or no FVL. Being a retailer or wholesaler, operating on a small or large scale, or being open 24/7 or part-time does not affect FVL. Conversely, inadequate display and storage, hot weather, and pricing practices significantly impact FVL. The market faces challenges such as low consumer purchasing capacity, financial difficulties, legal constraints, and lack of knowledge. Various practices are used to prevent FVL, including strategic supply chain decisions, price reductions, and donations to charities. The study underscores the need for improved infrastructure, financial support, and regulatory frameworks to mitigate FVL, thereby enhancing food security and environmental sustainability in North Lebanon. Full article

Sustainability within the rice and wheat supply chain is integral to attaining the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they are the two most consumed grains as food. Rice and wheat cultivation significantly impacts the environment, with the agricultural sector employing 27% of the global workforce and contributing 4% to the world’s GDP, thereby affecting social and economic sustainability. Developing a sustainability index for the wheat and rice supply chain is a complex endeavor, as it depends on various factors such as the location of growers, farming methods, the target audience, and the stakeholders involved. This index must be derived from an optimal selection of indicators to avoid information overload while covering all essential sustainability aspects. There are different methods, such as life cycle assessment, energy analysis, ecological footprint, and carbon footprint, being used to assess sustainability, with indicator-based assessment emerging as a comprehensive approach. This study utilised the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) to identify optimal sustainability indicators in the wheat and rice supply chain. A systematic literature review was initially conducted, followed by an expert opinion survey to determine the required indicators. The literature review unveiled a wide array of indicators used across studies, often contingent on each study’s specific objectives. While some consistency existed in environmental indicators, discussions on social and economic dimensions within the wheat and rice supply chain were limited. Analysis of the expert opinion survey revealed a consensus on most selected indicators, albeit with variations based on experts’ geographical locations. The final set of optimal indicators identified can serve as a foundation for developing a sustainability index, implementing a sustainability information management system, and formulating policy initiatives in the rice and wheat supply chain. Full article

Gum arabic production is a key source of income for communities in several African countries. Despite this, producing nations capture only a small share of the market value due to weak domestic markets, low price incentives, and limited value-added. Meanwhile, global demand is expected to grow from USD 1.1 billion in 2025 to USD 2.2 billion by 2035, driven by rising consumption in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and textiles. Importing countries, such as France and the US, benefit from significantly higher export prices—French export prices rose from USD 1.58/kg to USD 4.63/kg—highlighting the value added from outside producer regions. This study uses a qualitative analytical approach to examine trends and challenges in enhancing value capture within producer countries. Key strategies include local value-added, collective action, compliance with international standards, market transparency, and direct trade linkages. Findings suggest that implementing these measures could raise farmgate prices by 30–50%, retain more value within African economies, and improve access to premium export markets. In conclusion, targeted interventions are crucial for strengthening the gum arabic supply chain and promoting sustainable and equitable collection practices in producer countries. Full article

Amid global resource shortage and severe climate problems, green innovation has become the key for enterprises to achieve sustainable development, and supply chain digitization brings a new opportunity to enhance the green innovation capability of enterprises. Therefore, this paper empirically investigates the differential effects of supply chain digitization (SCD) on two different green innovation strategies, namely substantive green innovation (SGI) and tactical green innovation (TGI), with 38,548 observations of Chinese listed companies in the 17-year period from 2007 to 2023 using an innovative double machine learning model. It is found that SCD can significantly enhance the substantive and tactical green innovation capabilities of enterprises, and the promotion effect on the former is more obvious. Mechanism analysis shows that SCD promotes substantive green innovation by improving the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance of enterprises, and promotes tactical green innovation by improving the management efficiency of supply chain nodes. Heterogeneity analysis shows that SCD promotes green innovation more significantly for high-tech firms, firms with high degree of internal control and low financing constraints. Our paper can be informative in addressing this differential impact of supply chain digitization on different types of corporate green innovation. Full article

Aquaculture is recognized as a critical contributor to global high-quality protein provision and food security maintenance. As the world’s most extensively cultivated bivalve species, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) holds significant ecological and socioeconomic value. However, environmental impacts associated with its supply chain remain inadequately quantified. In this study, a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework was implemented to evaluate the oyster production supply chain in Dalian, China, encompassing breeding, aquaculture, and processing stages and eleven environmental impact categories were systematically quantified. The results demonstrate that the aquaculture stage dominates the life cycle environmental footprint, contributing 88.9% of the total impacts. Marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP) was identified as the predominant category, representing 92% of impacts within this stage. To advance sustainable development, further quantification of environmental impact drivers is recommended. Additionally, the feasibility of renewable energy adoption must be assessed, intelligent aquaculture management systems developed, and integrated evaluation models established. This study provides a useful reference for LCA methodology advancement in China’s aquaculture sector while contributing to global aquatic Life Cycle Inventory databases. Full article

Supply chain resilience is a growing concern as risk becomes increasingly challenging to interpret and anticipate due to sudden global events that disrupt the core of global supply chains. This paper discusses the use of advanced technologies to enhance supply chain resilience, proposing a two-step hybrid fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach that evaluates a set of different supply chain KPIs or criteria that trigger possible supply chain risks, with a focus on transportation disruptions. Using FAHP, the highest potential risks from disasters are identified, and TOPSIS is used to rank alternative solutions that enhance supply chain resilience. The approach is tested on real-world applications across multiple supply chain systems involving various companies and experts to demonstrate its validity, feasibility, and applicability. Based on five criteria and six alternatives per case study, the findings showed that for manufacturing supply chains, the highest risk was attributed to travel time (46%), and the most effective solution to mitigate it was found to be strengthening highway networks (0.72). For transportation, delivery time (56%) was the primary risk, addressed by green logistics and sustainability (0.89). Full article

This study examines how Multi-Scalar Nature-Based Regenerative Solutions (M-NbRS) can realign urban–industrial systems with planetary boundaries to mitigate Earth system destabilization. Using integrated systems analysis, we document three key findings: (1) global material flows show only 9% circularity amid annual extraction of 100 billion tons of resources; (2) Earth system diagnostics reveal 28 trillion tons of cryosphere loss since 1994 and 372 Zettajoules of oceanic heat accumulation; and (3) meta-analysis identifies accelerating biosphere integrity loss (61.56 million hectares deforested since 2001) and atmospheric CO₂ concentrations reaching 424.61 ppm (2024). Our Vicious Cycle Atlas of Fragility framework maps three synergistic disintegration pathways: metabolic overload from linear resource flows exceeding sink capacity, entropic degradation through high-entropy waste driving cryospheric collapse, and planetary boundary transgression. The M-NbRS framework counters these through spatially nested interventions: hyper-local urban tree canopy expansion (demonstrating 0.4–12 °C cooling), regional initiatives like the Heart of Borneo’s 24 million-hectare conservation, and global industrial controls maintaining aragonite saturation (Ωarag > 2.75) for marine resilience. Implementation requires policy innovations including deforestation-free supply chains, sustainability-linked financing, and ecological reciprocity legislation. These findings provide an evidence base for transitioning industrial–urban systems from drivers of Earth system fragility to architects of regeneration within safe operating spaces. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that M-NbRS offer a scientifically grounded, policy-actionable framework for breaking the vicious cycles of Earth system destabilization. By operationalizing nature-based regeneration across spatial scales—from street trees to transboundary conservation—this approach provides measurable pathways to realign human systems with planetary boundaries, offering a timely blueprint for industrial–urban transformation within ecological limits. Full article

Gotland has been designated by the Swedish government as a pilot region for the transition to a sustainable, fossil-free energy system by 2030. This transformation emphasizes local renewable energy production and system independence. Within this context, this study investigates the role of industrial waste heat as a resource to improve energy efficiency and support sector integration between electricity, heating, and industry. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining techno-economic energy system modeling, life cycle assessment, spatial GIS data, and stakeholder input. The study develops and analyzes future carbon-neutral energy scenarios for Gotland’s energy system. Industrial waste heat can significantly reduce primary energy demand, particularly in scenarios with expanded industry, carbon capture, and increased sector integration—such as through district heating. In such cases, up to 3000–4000 GWh/year of low-temperature industrial residual heat becomes available, offering substantial potential to improve overall energy efficiency. The scenarios highlight synergies and trade-offs across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, emphasizing the importance of coordinated planning. Scenarios with offshore wind enable energy exports and industrial growth but raise challenges related to emissions and public acceptance, while scenarios without cement production reduce environmental impact but weaken local economic resilience. Limitations of the study include the exclusion of global supply chain impacts and assumptions about future technological costs. The study underscores the need for integrated planning, regulatory innovation, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure a just and resilient transition for Gotland. Full article

By weaving together cutting-edge AI robotics, resilient global supply chains, universal school enrollment, and dynamic public–private energy investments, this study unveils a powerful, integrated blueprint for driving environmental sustainability in the 21st century. In doing so, the study employed advanced machine-learning techniques—specifically, it introduced an ANN-enhanced wavelet quantile regression framework to uncover the multiscale determinants of China’s ecological footprint. Leveraging quarterly data from 2011/Q1 through 2024/Q4, it reveals dynamic, quantile-specific relationships that conventional approaches often miss. The result from the study demonstrates that robotics, supply-chain integration, public–private energy investments, gender-parity enrolment, and economic growth each exert a positive—and often escalating—upward pressure on the nation’s ecological footprint over short, medium, and long horizons, with the strongest effects in high ecological footprint contexts. The study proposes a significant, tailor-made policy based on these findings. Full article

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has demonstrated significant potential to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry. Multiple national and international initiatives have been launched to accelerate SAF adoption, yet large-scale commercialization continues to face technological, operational, and regulatory barriers. Industry 4.0 provides a suite of advanced technologies that can address these challenges and improve SAF operations across the supply chain. This study conducts an integrative literature review to identify and synthesize research on the application of Industry 4.0 technologies in the production and distribution of SAF. The findings highlight that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, digital twins, and 3D printing can enhance feedstock logistics, optimize conversion pathways, improve certification and compliance processes, and strengthen overall supply chain transparency and resilience. By mapping these applications to the six key workstreams of the SAF Grand Challenge, this study presents a practical framework linking technological innovation to both strategic and operational aspects of SAF commercialization. Integrating Industry 4.0 solutions into SAF production and supply chains contributes to reducing life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, strengthens low-carbon energy systems, and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13). The findings from this research offer practical guidance to policymakers, industry practitioners, investors, and technology developers seeking to accelerate the global shift toward carbon neutrality in aviation. Full article

The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus provides a critical framework for addressing the interconnected challenges of resource scarcity and sustainability in the face of global population growth and climate variability. This study investigates the application of a WEF nexus approach within the operation and management of a hydroponic greenhouse unit in Central Greece, with the aim of enhancing the unit’s energy autonomy and resource sufficiency. Hydroponics, a soilless cultivation method, optimizes water and land use but relies heavily on energy inputs, necessitating integrated solutions. Through the case study approach, we analyze the unit’s resource dynamics per hectare of water (68 MWh equivalent from desalination), energy (125 MWh or 321 GJ/ha plus 74.5 GJ/ha for fertigation), and food production (~295 tons, which contains 50,250,000 kcal and corresponds to 210 GJ) and propose technical solutions: photovoltaic panels as greenhouse coverings and water rain harvesting regulated with a small reservoir. These innovations could reduce external energy dependency by 90–95% and water use by 25–35%. Energy efficiency is quantified using the energy ratio (ER) and net energy gain (NEG), while resilience is assessed via system reliability under resource variability. Conclusively, this study illustrates how a nexus-based approach can effectively upgrade systems into climate-resilient, resource-efficient models as the abundance or scarcity of one source affects the availability or limitation of the others. Overall, the approach presented in this study could also be used to safeguard the supply chains in megacities. Full article

The global energy transition and digitalization are reshaping traditional production and consumption paradigms. Green hydrogen is emerging as a key element for decarbonizing sectors like industry and transportation, offering a viable alternative to fossil fuels and a pathway toward mitigating climate change. However, implementing green hydrogen supply chains presents challenges related to traceability, operational efficiency, and process certification. This paper explores how blockchain and the Internet of Things can address these challenges and transform the green hydrogen supply chain. Using Morocco as a case study—a country with abundant renewable resources and a strategic focus on green hydrogen—this article proposes innovative technological solutions to support a sustainable energy transition and contribute to a more secure and energy-efficient future. We analyze the current state of research on blockchain, IoT, and green hydrogen, identify key areas for advancement, and present a proposed framework for integrating these technologies. Full article

The rise in global supply chain pressure (GSCP) not only disturbs global sustainable development but also affects commodity prices. In this study, taking crude oil as an example, we use data from 1998 to 2024 and employ a structural VAR model to explore this effect. The empirical findings reveal that after a positive GSCP shock, crude oil prices rose immediately before the outbreak of global trade tensions in 2018. After 2018, however, prices decreased initially and then increased again about two months later. This response heterogeneity is primarily related to differences in the key drivers of GSCP between two periods. Full article