Logistics and Agri-Food: Digitization to Increase Competitive Advantage and Sustainability. Literature Review and the Case of Italy

Abstract

This paper examines the current challenges faced by logistics with a focus on the agri-food sector. After outlining the context, a review of the literature on the relationship between logistics and strategic management in gaining and increasing competitiveness in the agri-food sector is conducted. In particular, the flow of the paper is as follows: after examining the aforementioned managerial problem and its broader repercussions, the paper proceeds to address two main research questions. First, how and by which tools can digitization contribute to improving supply chain management and sustainability in logistics? Second, what are the main managerial and strategic implications and consequences of this for the agri-food sector in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, cost reduction, and supply chain optimization? Finally, the paper presents Italy as a case study, chosen both for its peculiar internal differences in logistical infrastructures and entrepreneurial management between Northern and Southern regions (which could be at least partially overcome with the use of new technologies and frameworks) and for the importance of the agri-food sector for the domestic economy (accounting about 25% of the country’s GDP), on which digitization should have positive effects in terms of value creation and sustainability.

The analytic hierarchy process as an innovative way to enable stakeholder engagement for sustainability reporting in the food industry

“…The experts ranked traceability of the integrated supply chain, from grain field to table (ST2) second (0.324), in alignment with efforts to increase digitisation in the food industry to promote sustainability (Remondino & Zanin, 2022) and increase consumer confidence through transparency in the supply chain. As described above, the remaining two criteria were ranked much lower: promotion of sustainable agricultural practices (ST1) (0.177) and selection of suppliers based on social and environmental criteria (ST3) (0.167).…”

Analisis Bibliometrik Transformasi Digital dalam Fungsional Bisnis: Tinjauan Komprehensif atas Penelitian dan Pendekatan Strategis

“…Logistik, khususnya di sektor agrikultur, telah mengalami peningkatan dalam manajemen rantai pasokan dan keberlanjutan melalui digitalisasi (Remondino & Zanin, 2022). Digitalisasi literatur sintesis kimia telah memfasilitasi otomatisasi kimia sintetis, menghemat waktu dan sumber daya (Rohrbach et al, 2022).…”

Blockchain Technology and Sustainability in Supply Chains and a Closer Look at Different Industries: A Mixed Method Approach

“…Since the adoption of blockchain is frequently extremely expensive [175], the investment costs to be incurred in the integration process may be more challenging [176]. The importance of infrastructure improvement that enables better and more efficient physical connectivity between related parties [177]. Moreover, there are still issues with security, technical, legislative, infrastructural, institutional, and other crucial factors and developing appropriate IoT solutions to address complex and unique issues in the agriculture sector is suggested [79,178,179].…”