food supply chain

To explain a framework for managing the risk of transportation in the food industry supply chain, the initial step involves identifying 12 risks that can potentially lead to transportation disruptions, based on the research background. Utilizing the Delphi method and gathering opinions from 15 academic and industrial experts across 3 stages, the risks were ultimately defined. Furthermore, expert opinions were sought to determine solutions to address the identified risks. The grey DEMATEL method was employed to investigate the interaction of risks. The findings revealed that weather problems, natural disasters, insufficient skilled labor/labor strikes, infrastructure capacity, and inflation and exchange rate changes are among the risks that exert a more significant influence on other risks than they are influenced by them. Subsequently, using the grey COPRAS method, the prioritization of solutions to mitigate the identified risks, based on expert opinions, was undertaken. The results indicated that the top-ranked solution is the definition of key performance indicators. Therefore, it is recommended to managers that, in order to establish a robust supply chain and proactively manage risks, they should identify stakeholders and critical processes. Afterward, an agreement on the financial flow in each situation should be obtained, and a value flow map drawn. This approach enables the implementation of preventive measures to reduce supply chain risk and facilitates the preparation of an emergency plan for unforeseen conditions, thereby enhancing resilience.

Achieving customers satisfaction and profitability and understanding the social and environmental problems and analyzing the environmental and social impacts of the products and services presented is the foundation of sustainable marketing in the food supply chain due to its special nature and role in the industry in sustainable development is specifically emphasized. Thus the aim of this study is providing a framework for the development of new retail services in the food industry with an emphasis on sustainable marketing.

The present study is based on an interpretive paradigm that has been exploratory oriented and it is in the form of developmental research based on the systematic grounded theory has collected data using semi-structured semi-in-depth interviews with 16 experts and Coding is done in three open, axial, and selective levels with MaxQDA software.

Based on the codings performed, the indicators and components are presented in the form of a conceptual model and the model is explained after validation and reliability confirmation.

Based on the obtained model, new product development as the main phenomenon by using sustainable marketing strategies focused on strategic solidarity, social interaction and ethical capabilities can be in the headstock of contextual factors while considering the effects of intervention variables such as human resources, Business structure, and internal communications as well as causal variables such as fundamental changes in the market environment and the world of competition in addition to long-term profitability led to value creation for the customer and society and also in a higher step to protect the environment and promote individual and Organizational social responsibility.

Risk in the supply chain refers to uncertain or unpredictable events that can occur at any point in the supply chain and negatively affect the performance or profitability of the supply chain. Food supply chain is one of the basic needs and nutrition of employees working in defense organizations; for this reason, the organization is somehow forced to provide food. The impact of the risks of the supply chain of food items in the current conditions of the country, i.e. the conditions of sanctions, economic crisis and external threats, is more prominent.

In this research, 92 risks were first identified through library studies, and then by conducting interviews and brainstorming sessions with experts in the field of food supply chain risk management, it was reduced to 27 risks. In addition to the risks, their measurement criteria were determined in the same way. Then, experts' opinions were collected with the help of a questionnaire, and finally, the risks were ranked using the Fuzzy Network Analysis Process (FANP) method.FindingThe organization by itself seeks to reduce the costs of the chain, optimize and respond to the needs of the chain. Failure to properly identify and respond to effective risks prevents the organization from reaching the goals of the chain and will result in higher costs.

The first ten risks in the current research, in order, include: low quality of produced items, the presence of sanctions, making wrong decisions, time delay in product delivery, risks, slaughterhouse health problems, inflation and interest rate risk, increasing transportation costs. Transportation, rotting of items, infectious and contagious diseases and bioterrorism were identified as important and superior risks. And in order to adopt a suitable strategy, it was given to the managers.

This paper aims to study the intensity effect of the significant blockchain factors in the food industry. Also, it develops the application of blockchain technology in the food industry and identifies the relationship between the influencing indicators of blockchain in this area.

 Design/methodology/approach:

 This paper is typically qualitative-descriptive research in which the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method used for analysis. For this purpose, 950 questionnaires sent to the university professors and experts of blockchain technology in Iran and abroad. Among the received answers, only 19 respondents completed the questionnaires. The study population included academic experts who were aware of the blockchain field. The selected experts were from the research and social network of Researchgate, university faculty members and researchers with at least one published paper on the blockchain application. The relationships between the indicators and the effect intensity between them measured by the fuzzy DEMATEL method.  

The literature reviewed comprehensively and resulted in 16 extracted influencing indicators of the blockchain in the food industry. After reviewing and merging, they reduced to 8. Finally, by the fuzzy DEMATEL method, their effective relationship determined. The influencing indicators identified included food waste prevention, smart contract, simplification of international transactions, rapid identification of organic products, supply chain coordination and cost reduction, tracking and prevention of fraud in the food industry, permanent and secure storage of information and balancing the pricing process. Research findings indicated that the traceability and fraud prevention index was the most influencing indicator. Also, food waste prevention had the most relationship with the other variables, and finally, the smart contract was the most influencing indicator.

 Research limitations/implications: 

Blockchain technology has recently emerged in the food industry and supply chain. Blockchain is a solution that can increase integration and productivity in the food industry by having a positive impact on indicators such as traceability, fraud prevention, supply chain coordination, and cost reduction. Due to the various features of the emerging technology, the food and agriculture industries evolute significantly. Based on a comprehensive literature review, the conceptual model proposed and the extracted indicators and their effect on each other identified. The fuzzy DEMATEL method used and based on the viewpoints of experts, the cause-and-effect relationships identified. Also, there was no evidence of implementing blockchain in the country, and therefore it was not possible to test the model. Data gathering performed by questionnaires and created a limitation in the exact evaluation of the model.

Practical implications: 

This study outlined the role of a reliable tracking system in the food industry in improving the efficiency of other indicators in this area. Blockchain is also a way to solve traceability issues while achieving transparency. This study motivates the managers and decision-makers at the macro level to take advantage of blockchain technology to have a reliable tracking system.

Social implications: 

The food industry is highly critical and significant due to its direct relationship with human health. As a result, it is necessary that the food that reaches the consumer is of the highest safety and quality and has a reliable tracking system. We introduce blockchain as a technology that has great potential to achieve such benefits.

 Originality/value: 

The literature review indicated that no study performed on blockchain technology in the food supply chain of Iran. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the existing literature gap by conducting this research and ultimately enrich the existing scientific resources in this field.

Simultaneity with development of science and technology, Concurrent with the development of science and technology in modern methods of obtaining information quickly, the food supply chain in the past few decades, accelerated in this regard by way of radio frequency identification (RFID) is one of the defining method to improve the competitive advantage of firms is considered. Use of RFID system is one of the best possible solutions in supply chain management and logistics problems perishable goods will be great help. This study aimed to identify and prioritize barriers and challenges in the development of RFID technology in the supply chain of food. In this study, the method of fuzzy AHP (FAHP) and QFD is used so that using FAHP relative importance of each of the food supply chain metrics designed using QFD weights and Ratings barriers and challenges of RFID in the chain, food supply was calculated. The results have shown that the lack of standards has the highest weight among other aspects. After that, the issue of data security, high price, frequency interference, the cost of system integration, hardware and software infrastructure, system compatibility, and social problems in the supply chain are respectively the highest weights.