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Wu L, Ling Z, Zhang J, Dai X, Chen X. Safe Food Supply Chain as Health Network: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Behavior Strategy for Quality Investment. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2024; 61:469580241244728. [PMID: 38706193 PMCID: PMC11072071 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241244728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
There is a natural relation between human health and the quality of their food and drinks, and elevating the quality input level of food production for all enterprises within the food supply chain system forms the foundation for preventing various potential food safety risks that may be encountered. Unlike the previous research on quality investment of food production by enterprises, this paper probes into the evolutionary routes of the behavior strategy selection of subjects in the food supply chain and the preconditions for the equilibrium points of the social co-governance system. It takes the approach of establishing a tripartite evolutionary game model of food suppliers, food manufacturers and consumers on the basis of the social co-governance framework, in view of the above, this paper focuses on the influence of the reputation mechanism and the market contracts among supply chain subjects on the selection of a behavior strategy for quality investment by enterprises under the condition of lawful regulation by government. The results show that every subject selects their own behavior strategy on the basis of the balance of their respective interests. The net disbursement incurred by enterprises for quality investment and the costs of participation in governance by consumers constitute the dominant factors that influence both enterprises' selection of a behavior strategy and the level of social co-governance. Compared with the increase in economic punishment imposed on suppliers for production of risky food raw materials, it is more efficient to control food safety risks by lowering the costs of quality investment by suppliers. Accordingly, this paper proposes advice on policy in an attempt to provide inspiration for preventing and controlling food safety risks.
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Wu L, Chen J, Dai X, Chen X, Zhang J. Food manufacturer willingness to employ blockchain technology system under the social Co-governance framework: China's situation. Curr Res Food Sci 2023; 7:100619. [PMID: 37920442 PMCID: PMC10618696 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The blockchain technology system has gradually come to be employed in the food supply chain system, and it has emerged that the system offers the unique function of effectively curbing counterfeiting by food manufacturers. Unlike previous research on adoption by enterprises of new technology, this paper probes into the specific evolutionary routes of game subjects from the perspective of the precondition for enterprises' willingness to employ blockchain technology on the basis of China's social co-governance framework and by establishing a tripartite evolutionary game model of food manufacturer, government and consumer. The study then tests and verifies the stability conditions of equilibrium points and the relationship between these equilibrium points and the social co-governance level through numerical simulation analysis. On the above basis, the expected market proceeds of food producers employing blockchain technology and the influence of government and consumer behavior on enterprises' selection of a behavior strategy and the level of social co-governance are analyzed. The results show that every subject selects their own behavior strategy on the basis of the balance of their respective interests, and the final stability condition of the system is independent of their initial intentions. Rather, the expected sales volume of foods employing blockchain technology, governmental behavior (e.g., supervision, casual inspection, economic punishment, and fiscal subsidies), and complaints made by consumers constitute the main factors that influence food enterprises' selection of a behavior strategy. The level of social co-governance and the behavior of both government and consumers will ultimately be accomplished by influencing enterprises' expected economic returns, and the selection of an enterprise behavior strategy internally depends on the expected economic returns from producing foods employing blockchain technology. Therefore, this paper makes relevant proposals in an attempt to assist the Chinese government to better promote and popularize the blockchain technology system among food manufacturing enterprises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhai Wu
- Institute for Food Safety Risk Management, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jiahui Chen
- School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xiaoting Dai
- School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xiujuan Chen
- School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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Bai Y, Yang Z, Huang M, Hu M, Chen S, Luo J. How can blockchain technology promote food safety in agricultural market?-an evolutionary game analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:93179-93198. [PMID: 37507559 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28780-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The governance of agricultural food safety issues is closely linked to social interests. To promote food safety supervision in the Chinese agricultural markets under the background of blockchain application, this paper develops a partnership comprising vendors, consumers, and the government. Using the theory of evolutionary game combined with the actual situation of China, the evolutionary process simulations of three participants prove that the tripartite subjects can realize a stable state under the specific relationship. Impact investigation results of typical influential factors indicate the following: (1) The behavior of vendors depends on the government's supervision and consumers' reporting attitude. Limiting the penalty amount for vendors to 66.7% of speculative gains can shorten the processing time for vendors to comply with the law. (2) Consumers play a vital role in food safety supervision of the agricultural market. The penalty for consumers should be limited to 1/3 of the reward amount. (3) The government's incentive-oriented and punishment-inhibited policies can promote blockchain technology in supervision. Punishment-inhibited and key influencing parameters can cooperate in obtaining the maximum regulatory benefits. The results of this study have certain reference values for promoting policy formulation and implementing blockchain technology in agricultural food safety supervision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhu Bai
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhuodong Yang
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minmin Huang
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingjun Hu
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiyu Chen
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianli Luo
- School of Business, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Bosona T, Gebresenbet G. The Role of Blockchain Technology in Promoting Traceability Systems in Agri-Food Production and Supply Chains. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23115342. [PMID: 37300069 DOI: 10.3390/s23115342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to recurring food quality and safety issues, growing segments of consumers, especially in developed markets, and regulators in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) require a fast and trustworthy system to retrieve necessary information on their food products. With the existing centralized traceability systems used in AFSCs, it is difficult to acquire full traceability information, and there are risks of information loss and data tampering. To address these challenges, research on the application of blockchain technology (BCT) for traceability systems in the agri-food sector is increasing, and startup companies have emerged in recent years. However, there have been only a limited number of reviews on the application of BCT in the agriculture sector, especially those that focus on the BCT-based traceability of agricultural goods. To bridge this knowledge gap, we reviewed 78 studies that integrated BCT into traceability systems in AFSCs and additional relevant papers, mapping out the main types of food traceability information. The findings indicated that the existing BCT-based traceability systems focus more on fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, and milk. A BCT-based traceability system enables one to develop and implement a decentralized, immutable, transparent, and reliable system in which process automation facilitates the monitoring of real-time data and decision-making activities. We also mapped out the main traceability information, key information providers, and challenges and benefits of the BCT-based traceability systems in AFSCs. These helped to design, develop, and implement BCT-based traceability systems, which, in turn, will contribute to the transition to smart AFSC systems. This study comprehensively illustrated that implementing BCT-based traceability systems also has important, positive implications for improving AFSC management, e.g., reductions in food loss and food recall incidents and the achievement of the United Nations SDGs (1, 3, 5, 9, 12). This will contribute to existing knowledge and be useful for academicians, managers, and practitioners in AFSCs, as well as policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Techane Bosona
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 75651 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Girma Gebresenbet
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 75651 Uppsala, Sweden
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Garaus M, Wolfsteiner E, Hu J. The unhealthy-tasty intuition in dining out situations: the role of health inferences and taste expectations. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1152114. [PMID: 37234554 PMCID: PMC10206271 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1152114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Increasing obesity rates around the globe have challenged policymakers to find strategies to prompt healthier eating habits. While unhealthy eating takes place in many different contexts, dining out is a context where individuals often choose an unhealthy option despite the availability of healthier alternatives. One possible explanation for this behavior is the unhealthy-tasty intuition, which refers to the belief that unhealthy food is tastier than healthy food. Nevertheless, many policymakers and restaurant managers follow the - in this context - counterintuitive approach of using health claims to nudge people towards more healthy eating choices or habits. Methods The current research employs an online experiment with 137 participants and investigates how health claims and sensory claims impact on the purchase intention of healthy options for desserts. Furthermore, it explores how health inferences and taste expectations mediate the intention to purchase. Results and discussion Findings from the online experiment confirm that health claims prompt positive health inferences, while also stimulating unfavorable taste expectations, resulting in a lower intention to purchase. Surprisingly, we found no effect of a sensory claim on taste expectations. The findings of our experiment contradict the unhealthy-tasty intuition by revealing a significant positive correlation between taste expectations and health inferences. While both health inferences and taste expectations impact positively on purchasing intentions for the health-claim condition, the indirect effect of taste expectations was stronger than the indirect effect of health inferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Garaus
- School of International Management, Modul University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Wolfsteiner
- Institute of Marketing, University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Jennifer Hu
- School of International Management, Modul University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Singh V, Sharma SK. Application of blockchain technology in shaping the future of food industry based on transparency and consumer trust. JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023; 60:1237-1254. [PMID: 36936108 PMCID: PMC10020414 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-022-05360-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Food Industries, at this moment, are moving towards a new phase, and this phase will be governed by consumers and not by the industry leaders. The report shows that claims on sustainability, health, wellness, and transparency would govern the future trends in the food industry. Currently, there are several cases of misleading and false claims which hamper consumer trust. So, to uphold consumer trust, authentication of claims through transparency in the food supply chain is required, and blockchain technology can bring transparency at relatively low transaction costs. Once in a blockchain network, data is very difficult to manipulate, with no single point of authority to mess and collapse the system. Though we see mostly the financial systems using blockchain's decentralized functionality, there is a growing trend of innovative applications being built in the supply chain area for contracts and operations. With effort in the right direction and over time, blockchain will recast how operations and processes are done across the industry, including public sectors. The paper reviews the opportunity for the blockchain in enabling food industries for future-readiness, empowering the consumers in verifying the product claims and thus prevent themselves from food fraud. In doing so, the paper considers the future trends in the food industry, identifies current food fraud cases, and outlines the various applications in the agri-food chain and challenges associated with it. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Singh
- Present Address: BASF SE, Pfalzgrafenstraße 1, 67061 Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
- Department of Business Administration, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, 320 Taiwan
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Liu R, Wang J, Liang J, Ma H, Liang F. Perceived Value of Information Attributes: Accounting for Consumer Heterogeneous Preference and Valuation for Traceable Agri-Food. Foods 2023; 12:foods12040711. [PMID: 36832785 PMCID: PMC9955747 DOI: 10.3390/foods12040711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Information attributes characterize traceable agri-food. The perceived value of information attributes influences consumers' preferences for traceable agri-food, consisting of two dimensions, predictive value and confidence value. We examine heterogeneous preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) in China's traceable agri-food market. Using the choice experiments, we explore how the traceability information, certification type, region of origin, and price influence Chinese consumers' Fuji apple choices. We identify three consumer classes by a latent class model: certification-oriented class (65.8%), price-sensitive and origin-oriented class (15.0%), and no-buy class (19.2%). The results show that consumer sociodemographic characteristics, predictive value, and confidence value are the heterogeneous sources that determine their preferences for Fuji apple information attributes. Specifically, consumers' age, family income per month, and whether the family has children under 18 significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in both certification-oriented and price-sensitive and origin-oriented classes. Consumers' predicted value and confidence value significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in the certification-oriented class. In contrast, consumers' predicted value and confidence value have no significant impact on the membership probability of consumers in price-sensitive and origin-oriented class.
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Determinants of the willingness to buy products certified by omics technology: differences between regular and occasional consumers of organic food. Food Res Int 2023; 164:112324. [PMID: 36737917 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Consumers' demand for organic food has increased in the last years, together with a growing request for food authentication and safety. Omics technologies represent a viable analytical strategy to respond to such needs, strengthen food safety information transmission between consumers and industry, and differentiate between organic and conventional products. However, little is known about consumers' perception of such a novel certification approach. The present research ought to provide insights into the perspectives of consumers, exploring the antecedents of their intention to purchase organic vegetables certified through omics technologies and differentiating between regular and occasional consumers of organic foods. Data were collected from a representative sample of 807 Italian respondents who completed a self-report questionnaire, and Structural Equation Modeling was performed to analyze the data. Results show that several factors influence consumers' approach to omics technology, among which trust in actors in the food industry, attitudes towards the technology and environmental food concerns. In addition, the study drew attention to the differential path impacting consumers with distinct eating habits. Indeed, the degree of importance attributed to food in one's life and the interest towards innovative food are significant predictors of the intention to adopt omics technology only for people consuming organic products with higher frequency. Also, trust in industry actors follows a different path for regular and occasional organic food consumers. The present study sheds light on consumers' perspective on omics technologies, a relatively unexplored topic. Moreover, it allowed to differentiate consumers based on their organic consumption habits, which has been rarely done in previous research. The evidence collected suggests the need for tailored communication programs to stimulate the adoption of omics technologies and foster consumers' confidence in novel food technologies.
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Guanqi Z, Husnain M. Assessing the role of organic food supply chain traceability on food safety and consumer wellbeing: A mediated-moderation investigation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1073376. [PMID: 36532996 PMCID: PMC9752020 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1073376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction/Purpose Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory, this study offers a comprehensive framework for examining the relationships between organic food supply chain traceability, consumer wellbeing, and food safety trust based in organic food sector. The study also explores how consumer awareness of organic food influences the relationship between consumer wellbeing and food safety. We also look at a mediated moderation mechanism in the relationships stated earlier. Methods Using a survey as the primary data collecting method, a total of 221 usable responses were collected. To test the hypothesized relationships between all variables, SPSS PROCESS Macro 3.3 is utilized. Results The findings show that the organic food traceability OFSC affect food safety trust and food safety and consumer wellbeing are positively associated, while consumer awareness of organic food acts as a moderator on the relationship between food safety trust and consumer wellbeing. Also consumer awareness conditionally influences the strength of the indirect relationship between OFST and consumer wellbeing via food safety, thereby indicates a mediated moderation mechanism among the study variables. Discussion/Implications This study clarifies how consumer food safety trust and organic food traceability can enhance their wellbeing. It contributes to the theory of dynamic capabilities as well as organic traceable product marketing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Guanqi
- School of Economics, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Mudassir Husnain
- Division of Management and Administrative Sciences, UE Business School, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan
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Singh A, Gutub A, Nayyar A, Khan MK. Redefining food safety traceability system through blockchain: findings, challenges and open issues. MULTIMEDIA TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 82:21243-21277. [PMID: 36276604 PMCID: PMC9579543 DOI: 10.1007/s11042-022-14006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the last few decades, there has been an increase in food safety and traceability issues. To prevent accidents and misconduct, it became essential to establish Food Safety Traceability System (FSTS) to trace the food from producer to consumer. The traceability systems can help track food in supply chains from farms to retail. Numerous technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensor networks, and data mining have been integrated into traditional food supply chain systems to remove unsafe food products from the chain. But, these are not adequate for the current supply chain market. The emerging technology of blockchain can overcome safety and tracking issues. This can be possible with the help of blockchain features like transparent, decentralized, distributed, and immutable. Most of the previous works missed the discussion of the systematic process and technology involved in implementing the FSTS using blockchain. In this paper, we have discussed an organized state of research of the existing FSTS using blockchain. This survey paper aims to outline a detailed analysis of blockchain technology, FSTS using blockchain, consensus algorithms, security attacks, and solutions. Several survey papers and solutions based on blockchain are included in this research paper. Also, this work discusses some of the open research issues related to FSTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Singh
- School of Computer Engineering, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, 751024 Odisha India
| | - Adnan Gutub
- Computer Engineering Department, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anand Nayyar
- School of Computer Science, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Muhammad Khurram Khan
- Center of Excellence in Information Assurance, College of Computer & Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11653 Saudi Arabia
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Zhou YP, Zhao XJ, Sun L. Research on traceability strategy of food supply chain considering delay effect. J Food Sci 2022; 87:4831-4838. [PMID: 36214156 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The traceability system has significantly contributed to ensure food safety and quality. However, the biggest difficulty in food traceability is the numerous links from field to table, and there is no stable strategic partnership between supply chain members and the lack of social responsibility of some practitioners. Thus, this study aims to seek the best traceability strategy for companies in centralized model and decentralized model, respectively. Therefore, we have constructed a differential game model based on the delay effect to determine the optimal traceability level and traceable goodwill and compare the profits of the food supply chain (FSC). The results show that the delay time is positively related to the level of traceability effort and has a high impact on the traceable goodwill. Companies in the FSC can formulate optimal traceability strategies based on delay time and foster improvement in food safety and quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ping Zhou
- College of Economics and Management, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Zhao
- College of Economics and Management, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Business School, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, China
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Song S, Huang T, Ma J, Mao X, Gao H, Zhao Y, Jiang W, Lian L, Chen B, Liu L, Wang Z. Assessing Safety of Market-Sold Fresh Fish: Tracking Fish Origins and Toxic Chemical Origins. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9505-9514. [PMID: 35731583 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Increasing global and domestic food trade and required logistics create uncertainties in food safety inspection due to uncertainties in food origins and extensive trade activities. Modern blockchain techniques have been developed to inform consumers of food origins but do not provide food safety information in many cases. A novel food safety tracking and modeling framework for quantifying toxic chemical levels in the food and the food origins was developed. By integrating chemicals' multimedia environment exchange, food web, and source tracking systems, the framework was implemented to identify short-chain chlorinated paraffin (SCCP) contamination of fresh hairtail fish sold by a Walmart supermarket in Xi'an, northwestern China, and sourced in Eastern China Sea coastal waters. The framework was shown to successfully predict SCCP level with a mean of 17.8 ng g-1 in Walmart-sold hairtails, which was comparable to lab-analyzed 21.9 ng g-1 in Walmart-sold hairtails. The framework provides an alternative and cost-effective approach for safe food inspection compared to traditional food safety inspection techniques. These encouraging results suggest that the approach and rationale reported here could add additional information to the food origin tracking system to enhance transparency and consumers' confidence in the traded food they consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijie Song
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jianmin Ma
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxuan Mao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Hong Gao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Wanyanhan Jiang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Lian
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Boqi Chen
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Luqian Liu
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems Stems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
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Qian J, Yu Q, Jiang L, Yang H, Wu W. Food cold chain management improvement: A conjoint analysis on COVID-19 and food cold chain systems. Food Control 2022; 137:108940. [PMID: 35261485 PMCID: PMC8890692 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.108940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Cold chains are effective in maintaining food quality and reducing food losses, especially for long-distance international food commerce. Several recent reports have demonstrated that frozen foods are serving as carriers of SARS-CoV-2 and transmitting the virus from one place to another without any human-to-human contact. This finding highlights significant difficulties facing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and reveal a transmission mechanism that may have substantially worsened the global pandemic. Traditional food cold chain management practices do not include specific procedures related to SARS-CoV-2-related environmental control and information warnings; therefore, such procedures are urgently needed to allow food to be safely transported without transmitting SARS-CoV-2. In this study, a conjoint analysis of COVID-19 and food cold chain systems was performed, and the results of this analysis were used to develop an improved food cold chain management system utilizing internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology. First, 45 COVID-19-related food cold chain incidents in China, primarily involving frozen meat and frozen aquatic products, were summarized. Critical food cold chain control points related to COVID-19 were analyzed, including temperature and cold chain requirements. A conceptual system structure to improve food cold chain management, including information sensing, chain linking and credible tracing, was proposed. Finally, a prototype system, which consisted of cold chain environment monitoring equipment, a cold chain blockchain platform, and a food chain management system, was developed. The system includes: 1) a defining characteristic of the newly developed food cold chain system presented here is the use of IoT technology to enhance real-time environmental information sensing capacity; 2) a hybrid data storage mechanism consisting of off-chain and on-chain systems was applied to enhance data security, and smart contracts were used to establish warning levels for food cold chain incidents; and 3) a hypothetical food cold chain failure scenario demonstration in which information collection, intelligent decision making, and cold chain tracing were integrated and automatically generated for decision-making. By integrating existing technologies and approaches, our study provides a novel solution to improve traditional food cold chain management and thus meet the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although our system has been shown to be effective, subsequent studies are still required to develop precise risk evaluation models for SARs-CoV-2 in food cold chains and more precisely control the entire process. By ensuring food safety and reliable traceability, our system could also contribute to the formulation of appropriate mechanisms for international cooperation and minimize the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on international food commerce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing (AGRIRS), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Qiangyi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing (AGRIRS), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, 100123, Beijing, China
| | - Han Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing (AGRIRS), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing (AGRIRS), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
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14
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Zhai Q, Sher A, Li Q. The Impact of Health Risk Perception on Blockchain Traceable Fresh Fruits Purchase Intention in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137917. [PMID: 35805573 PMCID: PMC9266064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
This paper systematically investigates the impact of consumers’ health risk perceptions on the purchase intention of blockchain traceable fresh fruits in China. It uses online-survey data collected from four pilot cities that are part of the food traceability system in China. The ordinary least squares (OLS) and the ordered probit model was applied to examine the posited relationships. The results show that consumers’ health risk perception has a significant positive effect on the purchase intention of blockchain traceable fresh fruits. The stronger consumers’ health risk perception, the stronger their purchase intention of blockchain traceable fresh fruits. Likewise, heterogeneity exists among gender, age, income, and education in their corresponding effect of consumers’ health risk perception on blockchain traceable fresh fruit purchase intention. This suggests that male, high-aged, high-income and high-educated groups have a higher health risk perception, and therefore a higher purchase perception for blockchain traceable fresh fruits than female, low-aged, low-income and low-educated, respectively. Furthermore, family structure, consumers’ traceability cognition and purchase experience of traceable products affect the purchase intention of blockchain traceable fresh fruits. The study has several insights on the broader promotion, acceptance and development of the food traceability system and provides practical cues for policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhai
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Ali Sher
- Business School, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China;
| | - Qian Li
- College of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Correspondence:
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15
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On the Malleability of Consumer Attitudes toward Disruptive Technologies: A Pilot Study of Cryptocurrencies. INFORMATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/info13060295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The digital transformation of core marketing activities substantially impacts relations between consumers and companies. Novel technologies are usually complex, making their underlying functionality as well as the desirable and undesirable implications hard to grasp for ordinary consumers. Cryptocurrencies are a prominent yet controversial and poorly understood example of an innovation that may transform companies’ future marketing activities. In this study, we investigate how easily consumers’ attitudes toward cryptocurrencies can be shaped by splitting a convenience sample of 100 consumers into two equal groups and exposing them to true, but biased, information about cryptocurrencies (including market forecasts), respectively, highlighting either the advantages or disadvantages of the technology. We subsequently found a significant difference in the trust, security and risk perceptions between the two groups; specifically, more positive attitudes pertaining to trust, security, risk and financial gains prevailed in the group exposed to positively-skewed information, while perceptions regarding trust, risk and the sustainability of cryptocurrencies were weaker among the group exposed to negatively-skewed information. These findings reveal some important insights into how easily consumer attitudes toward new technologies can be shaped through the presentation of lopsided information and call for further in-depth research in this important yet under-researched field.
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16
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Blockchain Adoption to Secure the Food Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With the growth in food products’ usage, ensuring their quality and safety has become progressively difficult. Specifically, food traceability turns out to be a very critical task for retailers, sellers, consumers, surveillance authorities, and other stakeholders in the food supply chain system. There are requirements for food authenticity verification (correct declaration of cultivation, origin, and variety), quality checks (e.g., justification for higher prices), and preventing food products from fraudsters in the food industry. The ubiquitous and promising technology of blockchain ensures the traceability of food trade networks with high potential and handles the aforementioned issues. Blockchain makes the food industry more transparent at all levels by storing data immutably and enabling quick tracking across the stages of the food supply chain. Hence, commodities, stakeholders, and semi-finished food items can be recognized significantly faster. Motivated by these facts, in this paper, we present an in-depth survey of state-of-the-art approaches to the food industry’s security, food traceability, and food supply chain management. Further, we propose a blockchain-based secure and decentralized food industry architecture to alleviate security and privacy aspects and present a comprehensive solution taxonomy for a blockchain-based food industry. Then, a comparative analysis of existing approaches with respect to various parameters, i.e., scalability, latency, and food quality, is presented, which facilitates the end-user in selecting approaches based on the merits over other approaches. Finally, we provide insights into the open issues and research challenges with concluding remarks.
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17
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Blockchain-Based Traceability System to Support the Indonesian Halal Supply Chain Ecosystem. ECONOMIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/economies10060134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The halal industry is constantly developing into a broader concept of the Islamic economy, an economic activity that follows the Islamic-based principle. As a populous Muslim country, Indonesia follows the growth trend by aiming to dominate the global halal market. The strategy is to improve the current halal assurance process. Presently, the technology and procedure do not provide enough process transparency, traceability, and granularity of information. To achieve the strategic goal, a technological change is needed. A new emerging technology, blockchain, may potentially answer the challenge. This study’s first objective is to discuss improving the current assurance practice in the Indonesian halal supply chain ecosystem, particularly in the meat industry. The second objective is to construct a traceability system model for the supply chain. Our goal is to propose a blockchain-based halal traceability system model. The model can be enhanced to be a national standard tool to develop the economy towards a sustainable supply chain.
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18
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Secondary-metabolites fingerprinting of Argania spinosa kernels using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and chemometrics, for metabolite identification and quantification as well as for geographic classification. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1670:462972. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.462972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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19
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Blockchain for Smart Mobility—Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132313268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Today’s cities face numerous challenges due to climate change and urbanization. The concept of a smart city aims to help cities to address these challenges by adapting modern information and communication technology. Smart mobility and transportation form one important aspect of smart cities. Inefficient mobility in cities can lead to problems such as traffic congestion, which results in frustration for residents and a decrease in the quality of life. Against the backdrop of global warming, cities also strive to reduce CO2 emissions, an attempt which requires sustainable and novel mobility concepts. Blockchain is a current technology, said to have huge potential, that is being investigated for application in many facets of smart cities. In the context of smart mobility, blockchain can be used for transactions relating to ridesharing and electric charging, handling of interactions of platoon members, or serving as a foundation for communication between vehicles. Although initial research about this topic exists, it is distributed among different use-cases and applications. This article conducts a systematic literature review to analyze blockchain’s role in mobility and transportation in smart cities, and its potential to increase efficiency in these areas. With this review, we aim to consolidate and summarize the current knowledge about this topic. As a first result, we present the findings from our literature review, which can be divided into five categories of use-cases. We also present a platform for further research about this emerging topic by identifying promising future research avenues. For this purpose, we derive a future research agenda based on our findings.
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20
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Uzir MUH, Al Halbusi H, Lim R, Jerin I, Abdul Hamid AB, Ramayah T, Haque A. Applied Artificial Intelligence and user satisfaction: Smartwatch usage for healthcare in Bangladesh during COVID-19. TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY 2021; 67:101780. [PMID: 34697510 PMCID: PMC8528563 DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many aspects of human life, including healthcare. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, AI-enabled smartwatches are being used to help users to self-monitor and self-manage their health. Using a framework based on Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory, this present study aimed to explore the use of AI-enabled smartwatches for health purposes, in particular the effects of product quality, service quality, perceived convenience, and perceived ease of use on user experience, trust and user satisfaction. Based on a purposive survey sample of 486 smartphone users in Bangladesh, data collected was analyzed using SPSS software for elementary analyses and PLS-SEM for hypotheses testing. The findings showed that the predictors, namely product quality, service quality, perceived convenience, and perceived ease of use, significantly affected user experience and trust. Similarly, user experience and trust were influential on user satisfaction and played partial mediating roles between predictors and user satisfaction. Besides, gender and age moderate the relationships of experience and trust with customer satisfaction. These findings support the S-O-R theoretical framework and have practical implications for brand and marketing managers of smartwatches in developing product features and understanding users' attitudes and behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hussam Al Halbusi
- Department of Management, Ahmed Bin Mohammad Military College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rodney Lim
- Faculty of Business, Design and Arts, Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus, Malaysia
| | - Ishraq Jerin
- Department of Management, Putra Business School, Malaysia
| | - Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid
- Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Putra Business School, Malaysia
| | - Thurasamy Ramayah
- School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
- Fakulti Pengurusan dan Perniagaan, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Malaysia
- Department of Management, Sunway University Business School (SUBS), Malaysia
- Faculty of Accounting and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia
- Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Malaysia
| | - Ahasanul Haque
- Department of Business Administration, International Islamic University Malaysia, Box No. 10, Kuala Lumpur, 50728, Malaysia
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21
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Exploring the Next Wave of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology: The Overlooked Potential of Scenario Analysis. FUTURE INTERNET 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fi13070183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockchain is predicted to disrupt industries, economies, and societies. The properties of distributed ledgers allow the creation of immutable data structures that facilitate shared access in real time and enable a plethora of innovative applications. However, blockchain is not a uniform technology but rather a bundle of evolving components whose implications are notoriously hard to predict. At present, it is not clear how current trends will evolve, with technical evolution, legislation, and public policy being three contingency factors that make ongoing disruptive transformations particularly hard to predict. In light of blockchain’s potential disruptive impact, it is surprising that scenario analysis has hitherto been largely ignored in academic research. Therefore, in this paper, we introduce the technique, clarify several misconceptions, and provide examples illustrating how this method can help to overcome the limitations of existing technology impact research. We conclude that if applied correctly, scenario analysis represents the ideal tool to rigorously explore uncertain future developments and to create a comprehensive foundation for future research.
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22
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Abstract
Blockchain is a technology that can be applied in different sectors to solve various problems. As a complex system, agribusiness presents many possibilities to take advantage of blockchain technology. The main goal of this paper is to identify the purposes for which blockchain has been applied in the agribusiness sector, for which a PRISMA-based systematic review was carried out. The scientific literature corpus was accessed and selected from Elsevier’s Scopus and ISI of Knowledge’s Web of Science (WoS) platforms, using the PRISMA protocol procedures. Seventy-one articles were selected for analysis. Blockchain application in agribusiness is a novel topic, with the first publication dating from 2016. The technological development prevails more than blockchain applications since it has been addressed mainly in the Computer Sciences and Engineering. Blockchain applications for agribusiness management of financial, energy, logistical, environmental, agricultural, livestock, and industrial purposes have been reported in the literature. The findings suggest that blockchain brings many benefits when used in agribusiness supply chains. We concluded that the research on blockchain applications in agribusiness is only at an early stage, as many prototypes are being developed and tested in the laboratory. In the near future, blockchain will be increasingly applied across all economic sectors, including agribusiness, promoting greater reliability and agility in information with a reduced cost. Several gaps for future studies were observed, with significant value for science, industry, and society.
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