Achieving transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems is a critical issue on the current societal agenda. This study examined the potential contribution of digitalization of the food system to such transition by reviewing 76 relevant journal articles, indexed on the Scopus database, using the integrative literature review approach and descriptive content analysis with MAXQDA 2020 software. ‘Blockchain’ was the top hit among keywords and main concepts applied to the food system. The UK as a country and Europe as a continent were found to lead the scientific research on food system digitalization. Use of digital technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, big-data analytics, artificial intelligence, and related information and communications technologies were identified as enablers. Traceability, sustainability, resilience to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and reducing food waste were among the key benefit areas associated with digitalization for different food commodities. Challenges to practical applications related to infrastructure and cost, knowledge and skill, law and regulations, the nature of the technologies, and the nature of the food system were identified. Developing policies and regulations, supporting infrastructure development, and educating and training people could facilitate fuller digitalization of the food system.

Recently, the concept of supply chain management has been applied in the food chains with the idea of transforming agribusiness through networking and trustful partnership in the food chains. In this regard, it is important to consider the empirical knowledge of the interface among the variables of factors in the supply chain governance structure choices, the chain actors’ choice of governance models, and the effects of these on the supply chain performances. The aim of this study was to empirically verify the relationships between factors existing in the business scenarios, the chain actors’ governance structure choice, and supply chain performances of dairy chains in Ethiopia. The chains were assessed using the survey data that were collected from 215 chain actors and analyzed using structural equation modelling and IBM SPSS and IBM AMOS of version 24 software. The data collected were tested for the Cronbach’s alpha reliability test for the internal consistency and using the different model goodness of fit measure tests. The results showed that the transaction cost, trust, and uncertainty significantly (P<0.001) predicted the chain actors’ supply chain governance model choice. On the other hand, uncertainty, willingness to collaborate, and collaborations advantages explained trust significantly (P<0.001). The correlations analysis among the factors showed that there existed negative significant correlation between transaction cost and willingness to collaborate. The correlation between willingness to collaborate and collaborative advantages was found positive and significant. Similarly, the correlation between uncertainty and transaction specific investments was found positive and significant. Moreover, chain actors’ supply chain governance structure choice significantly explained the supply chain performances, such as efficiency, flexibility, level of dairy losses, and level of integrations in the dairy chains. Promoting established dairy chain governance system, either through dependable relational governances or through formal contractual structure has been found improving the performances of the studied dairy chains.

In this study the wheat value chain from one of the highest wheat producing areas in Ethiopia (Arsi zone of Oromia region) to central markets in Finfinnee/Addis Ababa was assessed focusing on market performance, post-harvest losses, and the potential of supply chain management to improve the chain.Value chain analysis, questionnaire-based loss estimations, Tobit model for loss factor determination, structure-conduct-performance (S-C-P), four firm concentration ratio (CR 4 ), market and profit margins, and theory of supply chain management were used to evaluate the wheat value chain. Primary data were collected using a semi-structured survey questionnaire and interview of key informants. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit model in SPSS and Excel software.The study identified producers and their cooperatives, collectors, wholesalers, retailers, and processors as primary actors. At these stages of the wheat chain, post-harvest losses reported were 21%, 3%, 4%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. With the highest loss happening at producers' stage, this stage was identified as loss-hot-spot point. The Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise was also identified as main actor connecting the flow of wheat between producers and consumers occasionally. An increase in a quintal of wheat production, bad storage facilities, and weather conditions caused in an increase in post-harvest losses of 5.18, 4.06 and 1.36 Kgs per quintal, respectively, at 1% statistical significance.The assessed wheat value chain was characterized by unfair share of benefit among the chain actors. The producers who were in a position of adding the highest portion of value to the wheat received only 16% of the profit margin. The traders jointly and processors shared 33% and 51% of the profit margin, respectively. The CR 4 assessments in the major wheat markets along the chain noted that with CR 4 in Etaya (26.8), Asala (37.7), Adama (41.4), and Finfinnee (42.8), the wheat markets near the producers were more competitive than the central ones. Assessment on the degree of clearness noted that for 54% of the chain actors, it was very difficult to get reliable information about the whole wheat market along the chain. Licensing procedure, capital, and competitions were reported as barriers to wheat market entry.For all producers, retailers, and collectors on agreement with their suppliers, the only means of agreement in doing business with their transaction partners were spot-market. However, 63% and 16% of collectors had oral and written contractual agreements, respectively, with their buyers. 36% and 31% of wholesalers reported they had oral contracts with their suppliers and buyers, respectively; 18% and 12% of them had written contracts with suppliers and buyers, respectively. Similarly, 42% and 9% of the processors had oral agreement with their suppliers and buyers while 23% and 27% of them had written contract agreement with their suppliers and buyers, respectively. jas.ccsenet.org Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 9, No. 8; 2017...

This study was made with the purposes of characterizing milk supply and marketing chains, postproduction losses of milk, and evaluating the potential of supply chain management approach to reduce milk losses in Ethiopia. Primary data were collected by semi-structured survey questionnaire and interview of key informants. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel sheets. Mapping, characterizations, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. Both quantitative and qualitative-narrative methods were used in analysis. The finding revealed that farmers, cooperatives/unions, traders, and catering institutions were the major chain actors in milk chain in the study area. With 73% of milk sold by farmers passing through cooperatives/unions to the next chain actors, cooperatives/unions were the focal firms in this supply chain. Production was characterized by smallholders with few numbers of cows and low productivity of milk per cow per day. Cow breed and lack of access to credit were identified as critical resource and the most constraint that hinder production improvement. Marketing relationships among the chain actors were characterized as lacking long-term market orientation and were mostly on the spot and transaction based. The assessment on the enabling environment indicated further need of support from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to build the capacity of chain actors, particularly the farmers. The study indicated existence of significant amount of milk losses in the milk chain. With 39% of the total losses happening at cooperatives/ union stage, cooperatives/unions were identified as loss hotspot point in the chain. Poor milk handling practice at the collection points, lack of immediate acceptors, milk carrying tools used, means of transport used, and ineffective communication with other partner in the chain were identified in order of severity as important problems causing milk losses in the study area. Based on the study results and review of others' work in similar contexts, this study argued for SCM to be part of solution in improving this dairy chain. The study showed cases where effectively imple-* Corresponding author. T. K. Amentae et al. 824 mented SCM approach converted dairy chains from chains characterized by dismantled, high conflicts of interests among the chain actors, and high losses of food in the chain to chains with mutual interest trying to maximize the profit to the whole chain actors. Integrated and collective actions by all chain actors aiming at reducing costs, improving quality, and minimizing food losses in the chain were central to these efforts. Therefore, SCM approach needs to be part of the solution in increasing profitability and reducing milk losses in Ethiopia in general and in the study area in particular. However, the needs for detailed further study, some of which are recommended by this study, are worthwhile.

This article is all about to analyse the value chain of warqe (Ensete ventricosum (Welw)