Determinants of quality and food safety systems adoption in the agri-food sector

Abstract

PurposeIn order to meet the increasingly demanding needs of international markets, quality and food safety systems have become widespread among companies in the agri-food sector. This has led to a transformation of the agri-food sector that has also been detrimental for companies seeking to adopt such standards. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to define the determining factors that affect the process of adopting quality and food safety standards in agri–food companies, from the implementation of standards in company quality management systems to the process of certification of these standards.Design/methodology/approachTo this end, a literature review is carried out in which the motivations, benefits, barriers and contingency factors are identified, analyzing and delimiting the scope and contribution of each of them to the company’s quality management.FindingsThe results show that the most important benefits and motivations are access to new markets and compliance with legislation, while the most important barrier is the high cost of adopting QFS systems within the company. Finally, the most relevant contingency factor when adopting these systems is the size of the company. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the results are closely interrelated. In conclusion, the consideration of the determinants identified in the paper contributes to a better implementation of agri-food quality and safety standards by companies.Originality/valueThis paper combines an analysis of the determining factors for the adoption of quality systems in the agri-food industry with the identification of contingency factors that, despite their importance throughout the process, are scarcely analysed in the rest of the literature. Finally, the work points out future lines of research that are still underexplored, such as the relationship between quality assurance and financial development; the role of contingency factors in the process of adopting these systems and the analysis of HACCP systems in the agri-food sector.

Linking the willingness of smallholder dairy farmers to adopt minimum food safety and quality standards to the country's export potential

“…Moreover, the poorest segment of small‐scale farmers has not experienced significant benefits from interventions by external donors. AccordinBarbancho‐Maya & López‐Toro (2022) identified that the high cost associated with implementing quality and food safety systems within organisations as the primary barrier to adoption.…”

“…Yet, their compliance with minimum food safety and quality standards poses a formidable obstacle to their integration into export markets. Governments impose minimum food safety standards to meet SDGs, satisfy the demands of high-end consumers and gain access to international markets (Do et al, 2019(Do et al, , 2022Barbancho-Maya & L opez-Toro, 2022;Yadav et al, 2023). Among food products, milk and milk products are the most perishable and need specialised handling and cold chain infrastructure at each stage of the milk supply chain.…”

“…Holzapfel & Hampel-Milagrosa (2020) found that the poorest segment of smallholder farmers has not benefited from donor interventions, and most smallholder farmers serve domestic markets or lowervalue export markets, where private standards are not required. Moreover, the high cost of adopting quality and food safety systems is one of the most critical barriers to adoption (Barbancho-Maya & L opez-Toro, 2022). One primary challenge smallholder dairy farmer face is the lack of access to adequate resources and infrastructure, such as modern equipment, proper storage facilities and transportation networks which can result in compromised hygiene practices, thus affecting the safety and quality of the milk produced.…”

A systematic review on recent trends and perspectives of biosensors in food industries

“…The electronic component can identify environmental chemicals or biological substances, as well as detect physiological changes, record them, and transmit the data. Biosensors are available in a variety of sizes and designs, and they can measure and detect even very low levels of certain diseases, harmful chemicals, and pH values (Barbancho-Maya & L opez-Toro, 2022). An analyte, a bio-receptor, a transducer, electronics, and a display make up a standard biosensor shown in Figure 1.…”

Food Safety Management System (FSMS) Model with Application of the PDCA Cycle and Risk Assessment as Requirements of the ISO 22000:2018 Standard

“…The establishment of an FSMS as required by the standard determines the application of a uniform approach on how to document the rules and define the scope of production in order to market safe food in harmonizing the requirements for commodities of plant origin nationally and internationally [32].…”