A Study on the Evolutionary Game of the Four-Party Agricultural Product Supply Chain Based on Collaborative Governance and Sustainability

Wenbin Cao () and Xiaoyu Tao
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Wenbin Cao: School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Xiaoyu Tao: School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: To address the pressing challenges of quality and sustainability in agricultural product supply chains, this paper proposes a multi-stakeholder collaborative governance framework. Adopting the perspective of collaborative governance and sustainability, the paper develops an evolutionary game model of the Chinese agricultural product supply chain. This model involves four key stakeholders: agricultural enterprises, the government, NGOs, and consumers. It integrates sustainability principles to ensure that the decisions of each stakeholder contribute to the quality and safety of agricultural products while also promoting long-term environmental and social well-being. The simulation results demonstrate the critical importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening governance and promoting sustainability. Based on these findings, the government is advised to implement technology-driven oversight mechanisms, such as AI-based inspections and blockchain traceability. Additionally, a tiered penalty system should be established, escalating penalties for repeat offenders. Regulatory cost-sharing mechanisms can also help ensure continuous enforcement without imposing excessive financial burdens on any single party. NGOs play a vital role in exposing corporate violations and can be more effective through targeted financial support and crowdsourced monitoring platforms. Consumers, as active participants in governance, should be incentivized with reward-based reporting systems and verified compliance feedback, which influence enterprise reputation. Public–private sustainability partnerships and real-time transparency platforms can further facilitate active participation from all stakeholders. By implementing these measures, the regulatory framework can evolve from traditional enforcement to a dynamic, data-driven governance model, fostering long-term sustainability and risk reduction in agricultural production.

Keywords: agricultural product supply chain; quality and safety supervision; collaborative governance; NGOs; four-party evolutionary game (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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