A framework for food supply chain digitalization: lessons from Thailand

Abstract

The promise of digitalisation is enormous and nowhere is it more critical than in its potential to transform food supply chain. Consumers have become more educated and are demanding realtime updated information on foods they consumed through digital media. They are also increasingly demanding to know if the foods they consuming are environmentally and socially sustainable or not. As a result, food product traceability, safety, and sustainability issues have become crucial concerns to food retailers, distributors, processors, and farmers. Digitalisation allow food supply chains to be highly connected, efficient, and responsive to customer needs and regulation requirements. However, digitalising a traditional food supply chain is challenging and resource demanding. This is more so for developing countries where moving food from farms to consumers can take months as it travels through an array of middlemen. Unfortunately, little is available in the existing literature on food supply chain digitalisation. So far, current researchers mainly explore the benefits of digitalisation. Using cases in three companies, this paper explores the practices, challenges, and opportunities faced by Thailand food manufacturers in digitalising their food supply chains. A framework for food supply chain digitalisation is proposed and its implications for research and practices are discussed.

Blockchain technology in supply chain operations: Applications, challenges and research opportunities

“…Furthermore, to reduce the problem of data explosion, a collaborative approach of “on chain and off chain” management of data is utilized so that a single node is not overloaded with data. Blockchain DLT technique can be used to securely link all the actors of the entire food SC from the source to the consumers which can help eliminate food adulteration, ensure high resolution of food safety issues, improve management of quality issues and reduce the social chaos caused by uncoordinated issues thereby increasing the sustainability ( Bumblauskas et al, 2019 , Galvez et al, 2018 , Kamble et al, 2019a , Kittipanya-Ngam and Tan, 2020 , Kshetri, 2017b , Pearson et al, 2019 ). A credit evaluation system has also been developed based on blockchain technology, which aims at strengthening the supervision and management, by the stakeholders in the food SC ( Mao et al, 2018 ).…”

“…For example, the data driven decision making in e-commerce reverse logistics is the next big challenges for e-commerce industry for effective and efficient “product return management” ( Dutta et al, 2020 ) and blockchain implementation in last mile delivery can play a crucial role through the triple bottom line support, namely, value recovery, reuse and recycling. Implementation of blockchain along with big data in agriculture and food SCs can help in the reduction of food wastage and recycling in the circular economy including food safety, since all the parties have real-time information regarding all the products available in the market ( Kamble et al, 2019a , Kittipanya-Ngam and Tan, 2020 ). Also, it would potentially aid in keeping a check on soil nutrients, irrigation management, quality management among others ( Kshetri, 2019 ).…”

“… 99 Kamble et al (2019a) The paper identifies 13 enablers that encourage the adoption of the blockchain in agriculture SCs and establishes the causal relationships between them using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology. 100 Kittipanya-ngam and Tan (2020) The article explores the procedures, barriers and benefits faced by food manufacturers in digitizing their SC. It also provided a framework for digitisation and provides the impact analysis of the same.…”

The Unknown Potential of Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chains

“…Indeed, another crucial tool is the use of smart contracts that automate several events that would take time [39]. The fields mainly observed and studied are agri-food [40], logistics [28] and shipping [41]. In recent years, in addition to the industry 4.0 plans, the idea of agriculture 4.0 has been advancing [22].…”

Blockchain-Based Safety Management System for the Grain Supply Chain

“…Different enterprises and organizations participate in each link of the supply chain, information sharing is poor, and there are data trust issues among the participants, especially among nonadjacent links in the chain. Thus, management is complex and requires more effective information management [5]- [7]. Second, the supply chain is a centralized system that is usually managed by leading enterprises in the grain supply chain.…”