The Importance of Digitalization for the Sustainability of the Food Supply Chain

Nebojša Zorić, Radenko Marić (), Tijana Đurković-Marić and Goran Vukmirović
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Nebojša Zorić: IMLEK Company, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Radenko Marić: Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, 24000 Subotica, Serbia
Tijana Đurković-Marić: Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, 21102 Novi Sad, Serbia
Goran Vukmirović: Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, 24000 Subotica, Serbia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: This paper aims to define the negative impact of various indicators on the sustainability and functioning of the traditional food supply chain (FSC) in the segment of wholesale and retail activities and to propose a set of measures and incentives for the digitalization of its business processes. After a systematic review of the literature, the most common indicators significant for the functioning of the FSC were defined, primarily in the segment of wholesale and retail activities. Empirical research examined the influence of given indicators on the FSC. The obtained results showed that indicators such as poor coordination and transfer of information among FSC participants, food loss, economic performance, transaction costs, external elements, chemical and microbial contamination, and control of raw material, food, and waste flows significantly complicate the sustainability and functioning of the FSC. Based on the obtained results, a set of measures and incentives is proposed that the management of the supply chain should undertake to digitalize business processes, primarily in the segment of wholesale and retail activities. This paper also lists shortcomings of the research and gives guidelines for future research.

Keywords: food supply chain; digitalization; sustainability; global market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3462-:d:1067623

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