Guest editorial: The interplay between new innovations, sustainability and food supply chains

Citation

Rogers, H. and Dora, M. (2024), "Guest editorial: The interplay between new innovations, sustainability and food supply chains", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 409-413. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-05-2024-644

This special issue brings together insightful research on managing food supply chains, sustainability and emerging technologies. Food is a common factor linking all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, however, our current food system is full of contradictions; up to one-third of food is wasted, 800 million people remain undernourished, 2 billion are deficient in micronutrients and obesity continues to rise (Rust et al., 2020). Statistics such as these are likely to worsen as the planet warms up, soils degrade and the global population grows (and hence consumes more resources). Inadequate transport infrastructure and cold chain facilities, as well as fragmented supply chain management principles are major challenges facing the agri-business in general, and the food sector in particular (Krishnan et al., 2021). Taken together, these trends demonstrate an urgent need to improve our food system to work out how to reconfigure our current food systems throughout the entire supply chain (encompassing how we produce, distribute and consume goods and services).

Food supply chains and their associated networks are complex, requiring co-ordination across multiple stakeholders, not only across countries but also across continents. Only then can you hope to attain anywhere near “on time in full” arrival of products to the end customer. Addressing food system–related challenges and trends, such as reducing loss and waste, improving the carbon footprint and enabling customised nutrition, is high on the agenda of many governments and organisations worldwide (Aschemann-Witzel et al, 2017; Auer and Rogers, 2022; Stangherlin and De Barcellos, 2018). Essentially, the imperative to improve sustainability across food supply chains has moved from a “nice to have” to a “must have”.

Industry 4.0 has enabled technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, blockchain, Internet-of-Things and 3D printing to improve our food systems and contribute to understanding and solving some of these challenges (Dora et al., 2021; Rogers and Srivastava, 2021; Wang et al., 2024). Similarly, the circular economy concept is gaining traction among academics and in practice, paving the way for significant and sustainable changes that will have a lasting positive effect on the food system (Dora et al., 2020). Furthermore, other technological innovations such as alternative protein, hydroponics and GMOs rapidly change how we produce, distribute and consume food. Although studies exist that investigate food supply chains per se (e.g. Dani, 2019; Vlajic et al., 2012) and sustainable food supply chains (e.g. Accorsi and Manzini, 2019; Degieter et al., 2022), few studies have specifically investigated the interplay between innovations, sustainability and food supply chains.

We were pleasantly surprised by the response to the call for papers (with 74 submissions), spanning institutions across North America, Europe and Asia. The thorough peer review process ensured that only the 12 highest quality research studies were included in the special issue. Several key themes emerged from the accepted papers, providing valuable insights into the field's current state. Many authors presented use cases with rich and accurate data, demonstrating how their methods can be applied. Overall, the special issue paints an exciting picture of the diverse and impactful work being carried out in this important area of food supply chain management. The selected papers, with their key “interplay” summarised in Table 1, push the field's boundaries forward on both theoretical and applied fronts. We believe this collection of articles is likely to be of significant interest to researchers and practitioners looking to implement these cutting-edge techniques. Again, we thank the authors and especially the reviewers who made this special issue possible through their high-quality and timely contributions.

Common trends and patterns

Several overarching trends and patterns emerge across the papers in this special issue. There is a common thread that involves leveraging innovation and technology adoption to drive ethical, efficient and transparent value chains, especially in agriculture and food systems. Multiple papers highlight the imperative for more integrated, networked approaches that look holistically at the root causes behind supply chain challenges, using lenses such as systems thinking and boundary objects.

Conceptually, many articles draw strongly from systems theories to map complex interplays between stakeholders, technologies, activities and flows. Elucidating the causal links and circular feedback mechanisms within chains allows the identification of high-potential intervention points. For instance, the paper on breaking inertia in meat supply chains uses causal loop diagramming to reveal how social, institutional and environmental factors perpetuate status quo production and consumption patterns. Strategies contemporaneously targeting engagement, incentives and accessibility are proposed to transition these systems to more sustainable configurations aligned with the circular economy ethos.

Methodologically, several papers use established qualitative data collection approaches such as interviews and focus groups to gather rich insights from experts across relevant disciplines. Quantitatively, survey-based structural equation modelling examines stakeholder intentions and relationship dynamics. Hybrid research designs combine conceptual inputs, simulation modelling and empirical analysis for substantive validation. Analytical devices like questioning lenses scaffold multifaceted investigations into legitimacy-making to enable cross-sector fertilisations. Across methods, an emphasis on contextual clarity, expansive boundary-setting and interlinked identification underpins impact-oriented research.

Substantively, digital traceability and sustainability-oriented innovation emerge as virtuous cycles enhancing transparency, value-creation and environmental performance. These cycles then continuously strengthen supply chain learning capacities. So-called “platformisation” also offers routes to improved resilience by composing modular value webs that simplify reconfiguration. Reduction of multiplier losses in food chains requires aligned transitions, spanning ownership modes, beneficiary orientations, infrastructural capacities and policy environments. While advanced analytics and automation hold promise, push–pull partnerships between public agencies, businesses and communities remain indispensable to ensure ethical innovation.

By surfacing cross-cutting supply chain complexities and transformations needed at systemic levels, these papers collectively push towards measurement schemes, governance frameworks and perhaps most importantly, human-centric solutions that activate regeneration beyond conformance. More transdisciplinary syntheses building integrated theories of change can accelerate this evolution.

Future research directions on food supply chain management

Drawing on the insights from the collection of 12 papers in this SI, three key areas requiring further research emerged:

Quantifying sustainability in supply chains

Several papers underscored the challenges of enhancing transparency and quantifying sustainability outcomes in complex supply chains. While concepts such as traceability, circularity and social impact are gaining traction, comprehensive measurement frameworks still need to be discovered. As pressure builds for tangible ESG accountability amidst greenwashing risks, rigorous quantifications of efficiency, renewability, toxicity levels and welfare creation within value webs will be indispensable. Future research could bridge data science, sustainability science and supply chain disciplines to formulate adaptable metrics and analytics that handle multifaceted trade-offs, as well as unintended consequences. Hybrid methods combining blockchain, remote sensing, life cycle assessment and causal analysis may provide targeted overviews. As supply relationships and production technologies co-evolve, continuous scorecards benchmarking sustainability-oriented innovation could inform the subsequent road mapping. Collaborative sensing infrastructures embedded in circular value propositions can balance producer and consumer interests while redirecting externalities. Synthesising physical, economic and social ledgers will necessitate reconciling plural definitions and exploring new valuation paradigms aligned with human development.

Governing transformative supply chain innovations

Radical supply chain innovations that challenge the status quo require legitimation from regulators, investors and user communities. Several papers analysed how storytelling, standard setting and incentive restructuring catalyse the adoption of unconventional modalities like waste upcycling and alternate proteins. However, transitions crafted through contested stakeholder negotiations risk being merely incremental, rather than fundamental. They may also exclude imaginations from historically marginalised communities. Future research could investigate how to nurture constitutional moments for supply chain transformation centred on equity and radical ecology. New governing logics that synthesise ethical norms with experimental science to balance diverse imaginaries warrants deeper exploration. The capacities and willingness of nation-states to depart from capture by oligopolistic infrastructures should be assessed, given the power and path dependencies of transnational regimes. More decentralised governance architectures such as data ecosystems, empowered communities, south–south partnerships and city networks could seed socio-technical discontinuities beyond lock-ins. Provided this fertile ground level is laid, sufficiency, resilience and care values could then take root.

Co-ordinating supply chain reskilling and restructuring

The effects of cascading disruptions of climate change, pandemics and conflicts (which can use food supply chains as a weapon), have highlighted the urgent need to co-ordinate workforce reskilling with supply chain restructuring. As underscored by multiple contributions in this SI, innovations like intelligent packaging, alternate proteins and distributed manufacturing promise substantial sustainability benefits. However, these innovations also bring with them the threat of disrupting established employment pathways. Further research should investigate mechanisms for managed transition of displaced workforces by aligning enterprise initiatives, public schemes and industrial policies. The efficacy of preventative signalling systems, short-term shock absorbers and long-term structural reforms merits evaluation across infrastructure sectors. Responsible automation deliberations should feed into negotiations on worker mobility and social security. Enterprises could explore skills-based employee exchanges, as well as platform models for transitional project employment, to prevent cluster collapse. More robust feedback loops between distressed region identification, regeneration investment programming and green innovation tracking can serve to enhance co-ordination. Beyond risk mitigation, such co-ordination may ensure broad access to meaningful livelihoods resonant with climatic boundaries.

The horizons of possibility for supply chain research committed to just and feasible transformation remain vast. By combining imaginative interdisciplinary methods, governance mindsets and policy architectures, both scholars and practitioners can jointly implement unique solutions to complex challenges at the nexus of technology, sustainability and society.

Table 1

Overview of articles in the special issue

Title	Key Interplay
Breaking the Cycle of Inertia in Food Supply Chains: A Systems Thinking Approach for Innovation and Sustainability	The “cycle of inertia” in meat supply chains emerges from the complex interplay of social, institutional, value chain, cultural, economic and environmental factors. This inertia prevents stakeholders from acting to improving the sustainability of meat production and consumption. Systems thinking provides a useful lens to map the underlying structure of the meat system. Breaking the inertia requires contemporaneous innovative interventions across three stages – engaging, encouraging and enabling. Proposed strategies include changing meat product labelling, rethinking subsidies, supporting meat substitutes, developing food personalisation technologies, increasing meat prices and improving animal welfare standards. A mix of these strategies tailored to specific contexts can help transition meat systems to more sustainable patterns
Interdisciplinary challenges associated with rapid response in the food supply chain	Information quality (i.e. sharing, transparency, traceability) is perceived as the biggest co-ordination challenge for an effective logistics response to food safety incidents. This paper highlights the need for further research into achieving adequate information accessibility across supply chains. There is a much greater emphasis on the reactive (ex post) phase, rather than the proactive (ex ante) phase of incident response. More focus on proactive preparedness could enhance response capabilities. Distinct differences exist between the perspectives of supply chain positions (producers, wholesalers/retailers, etc.) on co-ordination aspects. A better understanding of these views can help improve alignment during incident response
Insight from Industry: Moet Hennessy’s Development of an Innovative Supplier Diversity Program in the Wine and Beverage Industry	This practical case provides insights into how companies can take a more comprehensive approach to supplier diversity, drive stakeholder buy-in and leverage academic partnerships for innovation. It highlights the potential to expand the scope and impact of supplier diversity programs beyond basic compliance. The interplay between procurement, stakeholders across the business and academia contributed to designing an innovative program at the case company. For example, via procurement team involvement, non-procurement champions and events such as the “supplier summit”, Moët Hennessy fostered engagement across the business for program adoption. This helped embed it within overall ESG efforts
Evaluating the Intention to Use Industry 5.0 (I5.0) Drones for Cleaner Production in Food Supply Chain: An Emerging Economy Context	The use of I5.0 drones significantly reduces pesticide hazards and increases pesticide application precision in agriculture. The study found that collaborative human–machine expertise enhances pesticide application, reducing associated risks. Factors like plant disease reduction and improved prediction accuracy influence food supply chain stakeholders' intention to adopt I5.0 drones more than pollution reduction. The findings suggest stakeholders in emerging economies prioritise yield and profitability over sustainability. While I5.0 drone use can mitigate supply chain challenges such as worker safety issues, this is not an influencing adoption factor for stakeholders. The research highlights a need to promote drone benefits beyond just operational enhancements to stakeholders
The impact of digital traceability on sustainability performance: investigating the roles of sustainability-oriented innovation and supply chain learning	Digital traceability has a positive impact on the sustainability performance of food companies, and in particular on economic performance. Implementing digital traceability practices such as blockchain can help improve profitability, market share and cost efficiency. Sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) plays a mediating role between digital traceability and sustainability performance. Digital traceability promotes product, process and organisational innovations that lead to better economic, environmental and social outcomes. Supply chain learning (SCL) positively moderates the relationship between digital traceability and product/process innovation. SCL helps companies acquire and assimilate knowledge from supply chain partners, further enhancing the innovation effects of digital traceability. Firms with higher SCL see greater innovation benefits from digital traceability implementation
The role of a boundary object in legitimacy-making strategies for food waste innovation: The perspective of emergent circular supply chains	The circular economy concept can act as a “boundary object” to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and innovation around food waste utilisation. Its interpretative flexibility allows actors from different sectors (e.g. food producers, start-ups) to find common ground and work together on pilot projects, despite having different interpretations of the concept. Strategies such as storytelling and persuasion can help innovators gain initial cognitive legitimacy for radically new waste valorisation processes. Creation strategies like experiments, certifications and awards then help achieve moral legitimacy by showing the innovation follows proper procedures and creates desirable outputs. Favourable evaluations of moral legitimacy (in terms of outputs, procedures and organizational fit) are key to moving from small pilot collaborations to larger, scalable partnerships. Diffusion strategies help achieve full pragmatic legitimacy by demonstrating commercial viability and wider social/environmental benefits
Reducing food loss through sustainable business models and agricultural innovation systems	This study found that significant losses occur early in the supply chain, at the post-harvest stage, due to lack of infrastructure, poor logistics and inefficient business models. Current business models of supply chain actors like farmers, farmer producer organisations, logistics providers and markets contribute to food loss in various ways. Key problems include lack of co-ordination, data sharing, quality management and inclusion of informal actors. This results in multiplier losses that cascade through the supply chain and stacking losses that accumulate from gaps. Strategies like shared ownership, value addition, beneficiary identification and capacity building can help transition to more sustainable, networked business models aligned with agricultural innovation systems. This involves mobilising stewardship, strengthening connections, building grassroots capacities and installing solutions like storage and processing at the local level
The role of Digital Platforms in E-commerce Food Supply Chain Resilience under Exogenous Disruptions	Digital platforms enable food supply chain resilience during disruptions by facilitating business model evolution, technology integration, product variety/substitution and process flexibility. Platforms allow rapid onboarding of new suppliers and adaptation of offerings as well as co-ordination of resources. “Platformisation” of food businesses, through transitioning from linear to platform-based models, enables bidirectional data flows and value co-creation amongst supply chain actors. This facilitates agility, scalability and waste reduction during disruptions. The study proposes a framework highlighting the interplay of platformisation, structural variety, process flexibility and system resource efficiency in building resilient e-commerce food supply chains. Digitalisation and platform adoption simplify SC reconfigurability to better absorb disruptions
Unveiling the Factors Influencing Transparency and Traceability in Agri-food Supply Chains: An Interconnected Framework	This study identifies various barriers at individual, firm and supply chain level that hinder adoption of technologies such as blockchain for improving transparency and traceability in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs). It introduces an interconnected three-step framework to guide the removal of these barriers in AFSCs, focusing on supplier development, coherent regulation and incentive implementation. The research emphasises blockchain's potential in enhancing transparency and traceability in AFSCs but also acknowledges its limitations and the need for further research involving other technologies
Innovation for Zero-Deforestation Sustainable Supply Chain Management Services: A Performance Measurement and Management Approach	The focus of this study is the complexity and opacity of food supply chains, especially in the context of commodities associated with deforestation (particularly soy and palm oil). It highlights the challenges in achieving supply chain transparency and the need for innovative solutions. The research advocates integrating performance measurement and management (PMM) with sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to address deforestation issues. It suggests new PMM approaches that can handle the complexities inherent in zero-deforestation supply chains (ZDFSC). The study underlines the importance of digital technologies in monitoring supply chains and the need for robust standards and regulations to support deforestation-free supply chains. It points out the potential of using data for better supply chain management while addressing environmental impacts
Exploring the Value Chain of Organic Pineapple in Assam, India	The study emphasises the intricate and multifaceted nature of the organic pineapple value chain in Assam. It details the various stages and actors involved, from production to marketing, revealing the complexities in managing and optimising these chains for better efficiency and sustainability. The research identifies critical challenges in marketing and adding value within the organic pineapple sector. It points out the limitations inherent in the current approach, especially regarding the lack of significant value-added products and the reliance on a limited number of marketing channels. The article suggests there is significant potential for improvement in the organic pineapple value chain; specifically in product, process and functional upgradation, as well as better governance structures to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of the whole supply chain
Leveraging on Technology and Sustainability to Innovate the Supply Chain: A Proposal of Agri-food Value Chain Model	The importance of integrating Industry 4.0 technologies with sustainability practices in the agri-food value chain is the focus of this study which, proposes an innovative model to enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability. This new agri-food value chain (AFVC) model, encompassing key elements including activities, flows, stakeholders and technologies, aims to address current sustainability issues in the agri-food sector. The article illustrates the practical application of this model through a case study in the olive oil business, showcasing the potential benefits of the model in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability. These findings highlight the need for a holistic approach in agri-food supply chains, integrating advanced technologies and sustainability practices to improve overall performance and address global challenges