Emerging digital technologies potential in promoting equitable agricultural supply chain: A scoping review

Hilda Abraham Mwangakala, Hector Mongi, Fredrick Ishengoma, Deo Shao, Frederick Chali, Cesilia Mambile and Bernard Julius

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2024, vol. 208, issue C

Abstract: The agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in global economies, providing livelihoods and sustenance for billions. However, it faces numerous challenges, including low productivity, and inequitable supply chains that only benefit some of its stakeholders. The study investigates the potential of emerging digital technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, in promoting equity within agricultural supply chains. Using a scoping approach to Systematic Literature Review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews, the study examines the extent of emerging digital technology deployment in various aspects of the agricultural supply chain. Emerging technologies have been found to focus heavily on some parts of the supply chain (such as transportation), with limited application in others, particularly cash crop supply chains. The evidence gathered informs innovation policies and prioritizes opportunities for future research and practices. Despite the promise of emerging technologies, further evaluation, re-development, and deployment considering the local context and innovation dynamics are necessary. The paper contributes by providing insights into the mediating role of emerging digital technologies in addressing equity issues within the agricultural supply chain emphasizing the need for continued exploration and refinement of these technologies.

Keywords: Agricultural supply chain; Innovations; Equity; Emerging digital technologies; Blockchain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162524004281
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:208:y:2024:i:c:s0040162524004281

DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123630

Access Statistics for this article

Technological Forecasting and Social Change is currently edited by Fred Phillips

More articles in Technological Forecasting and Social Change from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().