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Conflict and violence are the main drivers of globally escalating humanitarian needs. Local grassroots initiatives are pivotal in distributing humanitarian supplies in the acute response phase until more established humanitarian aid organizations can enter. Nevertheless, scant research exists regarding the role of grassroots associations in providing humanitarian assistance during a military conflict. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of grassroots associations and identify important themes for effective operations.

This paper adopts a case-study approach of three Ukrainian grassroots associations that began operating in the immediate days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The findings are based on analyzing primary sources, including interviews with Ukrainian volunteers, and are supported by secondary sources.

Grassroots associations have local contacts and a contextual understanding of population needs and can respond more rapidly and effectively than large intergovernmental agencies. Four critical themes regarding the operations of grassroots associations emerged: information management, inventory management, coordination and performance measurement. Grassroots humanitarian response operations during conflict are challenged by personal security risks, the unpredictability of unsolicited supplies, emerging volunteer roles, dynamic transportation routes and shifting demands.

Grassroots responses are central to humanitarian responses during the acute phase of a military conflict. By examining the operations of grassroots associations in the early months of the 2022 war in Ukraine, the authors provide a unique perspective on humanitarian logistics. Nonetheless, more inclusive models of humanitarian responses are needed to harness the capacities and resilience of grassroots operations in practice.

What kinds of support do interstate rivals provide to domestic actors in ongoing civil wars? And how do domestic actors utilize the support they receive? This chapter answers these questions by comparing Iranian and Saudi military and non-military (mediation, foreign aid and religious soft-power promotion) support to the Houthis and to the Government of Yemen (GoY) during the Saada wars (2004–2010) and the internationalized civil war (2015–2018). It also focuses on the processes through which the GoY and the Houthis have utilized this support for their own strategic purposes. This chapter applies a structured, focused comparison methodology and relies on data from a review of both primary and secondary sources complemented by 14 interviews. This chapter finds that there were less external interventions in the conflict in Saada than in the internationalized civil war. During the latter, a broader set of intervention strategies enabled further instrumentalization by domestic actors, which in turn contributed to the protracted nature of the conflict. This chapter contributes to the literature on interstate rivalry and third-party intervention. The framework of analysis is applicable to civil wars that experience intervention by rivals, such as Syria or Libya.

Circular supply chain management (CSCM) is considered a promising solution to attain sustainability in the current industrial system. Despite the exigency of this approach, its application in the food industry is a challenge because of the nature of the industry and CSCM being a novel approach. The purpose of this study is to develop an industry-based systematic analysis of CSCM by examining the challenges for its application, exploring the effects of recognised challenges on various food supply chain (FSC) stages and investigating the business processes as drivers.

Stakeholder theory guided the need to consider stakeholders’ views in this research and key stakeholders directly from the food circular supply chain were identified and interviewed (n = 36) following qualitative methods.

Overall, the study reveals that knowledge, perception towards environmental initiatives and economic viability are the major barriers to circular supply chain transition in the UK FSC.

This research provides a holistic perspective analysing the loopholes in different stages of the supply chain and investigating the way a particular circular supply chain stage is affected by recognised challenges through stakeholder theory, which will be a contribution to designing management-level strategies. Reconceptualising this practice would be beneficial in bringing three-tier (economic, environmental and social) benefits and will be supportive to engage stakeholders in the sustainability agenda.

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants impacting consumer behaviour in organic food consumption in Bangladesh. This study aims to identify the key factors facilitating organic food consumption and establish a framework by analysing their contextual relationships.

The study used interpretive structural modelling (ISM), relying on expert perspectives from experienced academicians and marketing professionals. A Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqués à un Classement (MICMAC) analysis was performed to assess the driving forces and interdependencies among these determinants.

The MICMAC analysis grouped determinants influencing organic food purchases into four categories. The dependent factors, like attitude and food safety, showed moderate driving forces and high dependence. Linkage determinants, such as environmental concern and price, exerted considerable influence with moderate dependence. Independent variables, especially knowledge about organic food, had a strong impact with relatively low dependence.

This study’s insights offer valuable guidance for managers in the organic food industry, providing strategies to address consumer behaviour. Prioritising education on environmental benefits, transparent pricing, collaborating on policies, ensuring food safety and understanding determinants impacting purchase intent can aid in designing effective marketing strategies and product offerings aligned with consumer needs, ultimately promoting sustainability.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the interconnections and relative significance of determinants influencing organic food purchases, using the ISM approach and MICMAC analysis. It delves into the previously unexplored territory of understanding the relationships and hierarchical significance of these determinants in shaping consumer behaviour towards organic food purchases.

This study aims to enhance the knowledge by offering perspectives from an emerging market by reviewing the existing literature on food tourism. This study applies a multimethod analysis, providing insights into the advancement of food tourism in India, the contributions, critical findings and emerging research themes.

The study adopted a multimethod analysis using descriptive, narrative and bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer to analyze research papers published on food tourism in India shortlisted from Scopus and Google Scholar.

Future research should focus on gauging the potential of food tourism in different regions of the country, applying theoretical frameworks that have not been used. “Culinary Diversity and Heritage,” “Sustainable and Responsible Food Tourism,” “Consumer Behavior and Food Tourism Experiences,” “Rural Development and Economic Impact,” “Technology and Digitalization,” “Stakeholder Collaboration,” “Food Safety and Hygiene” and “Policy and Regulation” were the identified future research themes. These findings are significant for emerging economies across the globe.

This study summarized the progress of food tourism research in India, the contributions and emerging themes, supplementing the need to study food tourism in India. This study contributed methodologically to the literature by adopting a multimethod review combining descriptive, narrative and bibliometric analysis. Finally, by proposing ideas and constructs for future research, this study provides directions for future food tourism research from an emerging market’s perspective.

Findings will assist managers and stakeholders in comprehending the factors influencing tourists, destination marketing and branding, aiding in effective planning and executing food tourism strategies to promote destinations. The identified themes and keywords can help academicians and researchers dwell upon the emerging research themes in food tourism.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study analyzing food tourism research in India adopting a multimethod analysis. The study provides an in-depth analysis applying descriptive, narrative and bibliometric analysis, highlighting the critical trends and research themes. A framework for future studies was also proposed.

该研究旨在通过回顾有关美食旅游的现有文献, 提供来自新兴市场的观点, 从而强化现有的知识。本研究采用多方法分析, 深入了解印度美食旅游的发展、贡献、重要发现和新兴研究主题。

该研究采用了多种方法分析, 使用 VOSviewer 进行描述性、叙述性和文献计量分析, 以分析从 Scopus 和谷歌学术搜索中入围的关于印度美食旅游的研究论文。

未来的研究应侧重于衡量该国不同地区美食旅游的潜力, 应用尚未使用的理论框架。 “烹饪多样性和传统”、“可持续和负责任的美食旅游”、“消费者行为和美食旅游体验”、“农村发展和经济影响”、“技术和数字化”、“利益相关者协作”、“食品安全和卫生”, “政策与法规”是确定的未来研究主题。这些发现对全球新兴经济体具有重要意义。

本研究总结了印度美食旅游研究的进展、贡献和新兴主题, 补充了研究印度美食旅游的必要性。本研究采用结合描述性、叙述性和文献计量分析的多方法回顾, 在方法论上为文献做出了贡献。最后, 通过提出未来研究的思路和结构, 本研究从新兴市场的角度为未来的美食旅游研究提供了方向。

调查结果将帮助管理者和利益相关者理解影响游客、目的地营销和品牌的因素, 帮助有效规划和执行食品旅游战略以促进目的地。 确定的主题和关键词可以帮助院士和研究人员深入研究食品旅游中新兴的研究主题。

El estudio tiene como objetivo mejorar el conocimiento al ofrecer perspectivas de un mercado emergente mediante la revisión de la literatura existente sobre turismo gastronómico. Este estudio aplica un análisis de múltiples métodos, que proporciona información sobre el avance del turismo gastronómico en la India, las contribuciones, los hallazgos críticos y los temas de investigación emergentes.

El estudio adoptó un análisis multimétodo mediante un análisis descriptivo, narrativo y bibliométrico utilizando VOSviewer para analizar los artículos de investigación publicados sobre el turismo gastronómico en la India preseleccionados de Scopus y Google Scholar.

La investigación futura debería centrarse en calibrar el potencial del turismo gastronómico en las distintas regiones del país, aplicando marcos teóricos que no se han utilizado. “Diversidad culinaria y patrimonio”, “Turismo gastronómico sostenible y responsable”, “Comportamiento del consumidor y experiencias de turismo gastronómico”, “Desarrollo rural e impacto económico”, “Tecnología y digitalización”, “Colaboración de las partes interesadas”, “Seguridad e higiene alimentaria”, “Política y regulación” fueron los temas de investigación futura identificados. Estos hallazgos son significativos para las economías emergentes de todo el mundo.

Este estudio resumió el progreso de la investigación sobre turismo alimentario en la India, las contribuciones y los temas emergentes, complementando la necesidad de estudiar el turismo alimentario en la India. Este estudio contribuyó metodológicamente a la bibliografía al adoptar una revisión multimétodo que combina el análisis descriptivo, narrativo y bibliométrico. Por último, al proponer ideas y constructos para futuras investigaciones, este estudio proporciona orientaciones para futuras investigaciones sobre el turismo gastronómico desde la perspectiva de un mercado emergente.

Los resultados ayudarán a los gestores y a las partes interesadas a comprender los factores que influyen en los turistas, el marketing de los destinos y la creación de marcas, contribuyendo a una planificación y ejecución eficaces de las estrategias de turismo gastronómico para promocionar los destinos. Los temas y palabras clave identificados pueden ayudar a los académicos e investigadores a profundizar en los temas de investigación emergentes en el turismo gastronómico.

Se trata del primer estudio que analiza la investigación sobre turismo gastronómico en la India adoptando un análisis multimétodo. El estudio proporciona un análisis en profundidad aplicando un análisis descriptivo, narrativo y bibliométrico, destacando las tendencias críticas y los temas de investigación. También se propone un marco para futuros estudios.

Using critical disaster studies and state theory, we assess the disaster aid platform named Lebanon Reconstruction, Reform and Recovery Framework (3RF) that was put in place by international donors in the aftermath of the Beirut Port Blast in August 2020, in order to examine the effectiveness of its inclusive decision-making architecture, as well as its institutional building and legislative reform efforts.

The paper uses the case study approaach and relies on two original data sets compiled by authors, using desk reviews of academic literature and secondary data, in addition to 24 semi-structured expert interviews and participant observation for two years.

The aid platform appears innovative, participatory and effectively functioning toward recovery and reform. However, in practice, the government dismisses CSOs, undermines reforms and dodges state building, whereas the 3RF is structured in incoherent ways and operates according to conflicting logics, generating inertia and pitfalls that hinder effective participatory governance, prevent institutional building, and delay the making of projects.

The research contributes to critical scholarship as it addresses an important research gap concerning disaster aid platforms’ institutional design and governance that are under-studied in critical disaster studies and political studies. It also highlights the need for critical disaster studies to engage with state theory and vice-versa.

The research contributes to evaluations of disaster recovery processes and outcomes. It highlights the limits of disaster aid platforms’ claims for participatory decision-making, institutional-building and reforms.

The paper amplifies critical disaster studies, through the reflexive analysis of a case-study of an aid platform.

This paper aims to provide an overview of the application of blockchain to agri-food supply chains, including key issues and trends. It examines the state of the art and conceptual structure of the field and proposes an agenda to guide future research.

This article performs a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software on a sample of 205 articles from the WoS database to identify research trend topics.

The number of publications in this area has increased since 2020, which shows a growing research interest. The research hotspots are related to the integration of blockchain technology in the agri-food supply chain for traceability, coordination between all actors involved, transparency of operations and improvement of food safety. Furthermore, this is linked to sustainability and the achievement of the sustainable development gtoals (SDGs), while addressing key challenges in the implementation of blockchain-based technologies in the agri-food supply chain.

The application of blockchain in the agri-food supply chain may consider four key aspects. Firstly, the implementation of blockchain can improve the traceability of food products. Secondly, this technology supports sustainability issues and could avoid disruptions in the agri-food supply chain. Third, blockchain improves food quality and safety control throughout the supply chain. Fourthly, the findings show that regulation is needed to improve trust between stakeholders.

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the blockchain phenomenon in the agri-food supply chain by optimising the search criteria. Moreover, it serves to bridge to future research by identifying gaps in the field.

As host to over one million Syrian refugees, Lebanon continues to experience challenges addressing the needs of refugee families. This research examined the experiences of Syrian families with the refugee support system in Lebanon. The purpose of this study was to better understand the strengths and gaps in existing mechanisms of support for these Syrian families, including informal support from family, neighbors and community and more formalized support provided through entities such as nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies.

Data were collected from 46 families displaced by the war and living in Lebanon (N = 351 individuals within 46 families). Collaborative family interviews were conducted with parents, children and often extended family.

The data identified both strengths and gaps in the refugee support system in Lebanon. Gaps in the refugee support system included inadequate housing, a lack of financial and economic support, challenges with a lack of psychosocial support for pregnant women and support for disabled youth. Despite these challenges, families and community workers reported informal community support as a strong mediator of the challenges in Lebanon. Furthermore, the data find that organizations working with Syrian families are utilizing informal community support through capacity building, to create more effective and sustainable support services.

This study provides an overview of strengths and gaps in supports identified by refugees themselves. The research will inform the development and improvement of better support systems in Lebanon and in other refugee–hosting contexts.

Blockchain technology (BCT) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing transparency and trust. However, the relationship between the benefits of BCT and agri-food supply chain performance (AFSCperf) remains underexplored. Therefore, the current study investigates the influence of BCT on AFSCperf and sustainability issues.

Through a comprehensive literature review, various benefits of BCT are identified. Subsequently, a research framework is proposed based on data collected from questionnaire surveys and personal visits to professionals in the agri-food industry. The proposed framework is validated using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

The findings reveal that BCT positively impacts AFSCperf by improving traceability, transparency, food safety and quality, immutability and trust. Additionally, BCT adoption enhances stakeholder collaboration, provides a decentralised network, improves data accessibility and yields a better return on investment, resulting in the overall improvement in AFSCperf and socio-economic sustainability.

This study offers valuable practical insights for practitioners and academicians, establishing empirical links between the benefits of BCT and AFSCperf and providing a deeper understanding of BCT adoption.

Stakeholders, managers, policymakers and technology providers can leverage these findings to optimise the benefits of BCT in enhancing AFSCperf. Moreover, it utilises rigorous theoretical and empirical approaches, drawing on a multidisciplinary perspective encompassing food operations and supply chain literature, public policy, information technology, strategy, organisational theory and sustainability.