Enhancing Coffee Supply Chain towards Sustainable Growth with Big Data and Modern Agricultural Technologies

Abstract

Modern agricultural technology management is nowadays crucial in terms of the economy and the global market, while food safety, quality control, and environmentally friendly practices should not be neglected. This review aims to give perspectives on applying big data analytic and modern technologies to increase the efficacy and effectiveness of the coffee supply chain throughout the process. It was revealed that several tools such as wireless sensor networks, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), image processing, convolutional neural networks (CNN), and remote sensing could be implemented in and used to improve the coffee supply chain. Those tools could help in reducing cost as well as time for entrepreneurs and create a reliable service for the customer. It can be summarized that in the long term, these modern technologies will be able to assist coffee business management and ensure the sustainable growth for the coffee industry.

Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain and Purchasing Policies: A Case Study Research

“…Kittichotsatsawat et al [42] advocate the use of smart technologies and tools for sustainable development potential, but since in this study we did not find evidence of the company promoting such technologies to suppliers, this opportunity was identified as being missed. Moreover, using the framework proposed by Abreu et al [3] regarding the dynamics and factors that provide sustainable solutions, Grupo Nabeiro, the owner of Delta Cafés, fails in two dimensions: traceability and consistent behavior or practices.…”

“…In addition, the use of smart technologies and tools, such as the Internet of Things, remote sensing, and blockchain, have the potential to develop sustainability [42], particularly the use of blockchain to ensure traceability of raw materials, materials, products, and processes [43]. However, the use of such technologies should not reduce the amount of contracted labor in order to be sustainable from a social point of view.…”

Traceability for sustainability: seeking legitimacy in the coffee supply chain

“…For instance, Case A, one of the smallest companies in the sample, adopts a blockchain system. This technology ensures transparency and traceability, as several authors explained (Rainero and Modarelli, 2021;Rana et al, 2021;Saberi et al, 2019;Kittichotsatsawat et al, 2021), and brings information depth at its utmost. In these two cases, traceability appears to be synergistic with sustainability.…”

“…Food quality and safety are expected from food SCs and they could be ensured through traceability (Dabbene et al , 2014; Karlsen et al , 2013) implemented with different types of technologies (Magalhães et al , 2019; Rainero and Modarelli, 2021; Saberi et al , 2019: Kittichotsatsawat et al , 2021). Several definitions of food traceability are proposed.…”

“…Among the benefits of TS in food chains are the huge potential for efficiency gains (Costa et al , 2013; Ringsberg, 2015), competitive advantage (Canavari et al , 2010) food process control (Magalhães et al , 2019) and quality and identity preservation (Dabbene et al , 2014; Smith, 2018; Rainero and Modarelli, 2021). Nonetheless, traceability implementation in food supply chains depends on several aspects such as the company mission, the type of firms involved, technology constraints (Kittichotsatsawat et al , 2021) and the legal environment (Canavari et al , 2010). Therefore, also TfS in this sector addresses diverse challenges due to the level of company capabilities, skills, interest and willingness and multiple requirements needed for implementation (ITC, 2015).…”