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This article examines the dairy value chain in Southern Peru and identifies four critical success factors that can enhance the local situation.

The study employed descriptive research using semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs from 17 cheese factories across eight districts, namely Azángaro, Ayaviri, Pucara, Lampa, Cabana, Acora, Pomata and Puno. Quantitative market data were also gathered and analyzed alongside qualitative views.

The study identified four critical issues: quality concerns in milk production, suboptimal managerial practices of cheese-processing plants, lack of compliance to regulations, particularly hygiene and environmental ones, and inadequate access to finance. The findings reveal a gap between the practices of the Puno region's dairy industry and world-class standards for cheese production. Urgent actions are required to improve product quality, increase access to finance, enhance managerial education and ensure compliance with regulations.

Results suggest critical issues to be prioritized, but the article does not propose how to solve the problems identified. External factors, such as economic changes, were also not considered. Interviews were conducted exclusively with cheese processing entrepreneurs, not milk producers.

This case study provides an insight into the interior of Peru, an under-researched region facing several development challenges. The findings have significant implications for dairy value chain stakeholders in Peru and other similar contexts.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate food supply chain stakeholders’ intention to use Industry 5.0 (I5.0) drones for cleaner production in food supply chains.

The authors used a quantitative research design and collected data using an online survey administered to a sample of 264 food supply chain stakeholders in Nigeria. The partial least square structural equation model was conducted to assess the research’s hypothesised relationships.

The authors provide empirical evidence to support the contributions of I5.0 drones for cleaner production. The findings showed that food supply chain stakeholders are more concerned with the use of I5.0 drones in specific operations, such as reducing plant diseases, which invariably enhances cleaner production. However, there is less inclination to drone adoption if the aim was pollution reduction, predicting seasonal output and addressing workers’ health and safety challenges. The findings outline the need for awareness to promote the use of drones for addressing workers’ hazard challenges and knowledge transfer on the potentials of I5.0 in emerging economies.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to address I5.0 drones’ adoption using a sustainability model. The authors contribute to existing literature by extending the sustainability model to identify the contributions of drone use in promoting cleaner production through addressing specific system operations. This study addresses the gap by augmenting a sustainability model, suggesting that technology adoption for sustainability is motivated by curbing challenges categorised as drivers and mediators.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a diversification by grape varieties may help wine producers reduce uncertainty in quantity and quality variations due to increasingly erratic climate conditions.

This study hand-collects granular quantity and quality data from wine harvest reports for vintages 2003 to 2017 for the Valais region in Switzerland. The data allows us to obtain detailed data on harvested kilograms/liters and Oechsle/Brix degrees. It is then merged with precise meteorological data over the same sample period. The authors use this data set to capture weather conditions and their impact on harvested quantities and quality. Finally, they build portfolios including different grape varieties to evaluate whether this reduces variations in quality and quantity over vintages.

The findings highlight that the weather varies relatively strongly over the sample period and that climate hazards such as hail, frost or ensuing vine diseases effectively occur. These strongly impact the harvested quantities but less the quality of the wine. The authors further show that planting different grape varieties allows for a significant reduction in the variation of harvested quantities over time and thus acts as a good solution against climate risk.

The effect of climate change on viticulture is becoming increasingly important and felt and bears real economic and social consequences. This study transposes portfolio diversification which is central to reducing risk in the finance industry, into the wine industry and shows that the same principle holds. The authors thus propose a novel idea on how to mitigate climate risk.

Nowadays, the agri-food industry is called to face several sustainability challenges that require the development of new sustainable models. The adoption of new technological assets from Industry 4.0 supports the companies during the implementation of sustainability practices. Several models design the operation management of the food supply chains (FSCs). Because none extant models resulted complete in technological and sustainability elements, this paper aims to propose an innovative and sustainable agri-food value chain model, contributing to extend understating of how supply chains can become more sustainable through the Industry 4.0 technologies.

Thanks to a well-structured and replicable systematic literature review and sequent content analysis, this work recognized and compared the extant FSC models, focusing on the interaction of five key elements: activities, flows, stakeholders, technologies and sustainability. The output of the comparison leading in the definition of the proposed model is discussed in a focus group of 10 experts and tested in a case study.

Fifteen extant models were recognized in literature and analysed to discover their features and to putt in light peculiarities and differences among them. This analysis provided useful insights to design and propose a new innovative and sustainable agri-food value chain model; an example for the olive oil business case is provided.

The adding value of the work is the proposed model which regards innovative elements such as recirculation flows, external stakeholders and Industry 4.0 technologies usage which allows enhancing the agri-FSCs operational efficiency and sustainability.

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of built environment professionals on the benefits and impediments limiting the widespread acceptance of vertical greening systems (VGSs) in Lagos, Nigeria. This study contributes to the knowledge on the adoption of VGSs from the socio-technical dimension.

The study employed a survey method. An online questionnaire was used to obtain information from the respondents. The questionnaire was divided into four (4) sections. The first section focused on the socio-demographic variables while the second section addressed knowledge of VGSs, willingness to educate clients on the use of VGS and the possibility of VGS improving city image in Lagos. Section three (3) focused on the VGS benefits, subdivided into environmental, economic and aesthetic qualities and measured on a five-point Likert scale. Lastly, section four (4) concentrated on the impediments to the use of VGS in Lagos.

Professionals are willing to adopt the use of VGSs if their clients agree to the benefits it delivers to occupants, the environment and the building fabric.

This paper fulfills an identified need to study the perceptions of professionals toward VGSs patronage.

The paper aims to provide an efficient dispatching schedule for ready-mix concrete (RMC) trucks and create a balance between batch plants and construction sites.

The paper focused on developing a new metaheuristic swarm intelligence algorithm using Java code. The paper used statistical criterion: mean, standard deviation, running time to verify the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method and compared its derivatives with other algorithms, such as genetic algorithm (GA), Tabu search (TS), bee colony optimization (BCO), ant lion optimizer (ALO), grey wolf optimizer (GWO), dragonfly algorithm (DA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO).

The paper proved that integrating GWO and DA yields better results than independent algorithms and some selected algorithms in the literature. It also suggests that multi-independent batch plants could effectively cooperate in a system to deliver RMC to various construction sites.

The paper provides a compelling new hybrid swarm intelligence algorithm and a model allowing multi-independent batch plants to work in a system to deliver RMC. It fulfills an identified need to study how batch plant managers can expand their dispatching network, increase their competitiveness and improve their supply chain operations.

This research examines the impact of governance structures within the Brazilian pork supply chain on the necessary controls for exportation. Specifically, the goal is to unravel the intricacies of this supply chain and decode its complexity.

Using transaction cost economics as a theoretical lens, we surveyed the main bodies responsible for the export and quality assurance sectors of Brazilian organizations that trade and export pork. Our sample comprises 53.5% of the country’s pork exporting companies during the period analyzed.

The presence of vertical and horizontal governance structures in the pork export chain stands out. While the vertical structure enables greater control due to command relations, there are trust and cooperation relations in the horizontal structure. This makes it possible to establish mechanisms to control health, quality, safety and traceability in both structures. We also identified each company’s characteristics: formation configuration (if the cooperative, publicly traded company, or other modality), capital stock, location, the average daily slaughter of pigs for export and sows per producer. We conclude that the organizations have concerns related to the food safety programs, as there are programs that seek transparency throughout the process in many supply chain stages.

Studies that relate the level of orientation to the export market with the occurrence or risk of corrupt and opportunistic behavior and the coordination mechanisms adopted may represent an interesting and important opportunity for studies.

This study helps to understand the complexity of the Brazilian pork supply chain.

This research attempted to establish the underlying dimensions of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology and supply chain performance in the Indian dairy industry. Additionally, the study proposes a conceptual model that shows the mediating effects of blockchain technology in the relationship between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance.

Structural equation modelling (SEM) is incorporated to examine the proposed model using SPSS and AMOS version 24. The study population includes 119 registered Indian dairy processing units operating in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi (source: Dairy – India). Individual registered dairy processing unit's top four executives, that is Head of the Dairy Processing Plant, Supply Chain head and Marketing Head, and IT head are chosen as the respondents of the study, which renders the sample size of 476. Judgmental sampling based on the organisation's market position and plant production capacity (i.e. one lakh litre per day) has been set as the benchmark for selecting the dairy processing units. The executives are selected as respondents as they are well-versed in the phenomenon of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology and supply chain performance compared to other staff working in the dairy industry. The data was collected from December 2021 to March 2022 through judgmental sampling. The target sample size was 476, but only 286 questionnaires were received in a completed state and were further used for analysis.

Manufacturing practices, information sharing, distribution management, inventory management and blockchain technology have a significant and positive impact on supply chain performance in the Indian dairy industry. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that blockchain technology partially mediates the relationship between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance in the context of the Indian dairy industry.

This research is focused on the Indian dairy industry operating in only two states, namely New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. More research is needed to determine whether SCM practices and the prospects for blockchain technology among channel members are universally applicable to merchants in non-dairy products. Similar investigations should be carried out on dairy industry operating in various formats and in numerous geographic locations. Further, case studies can be conducted by future researchers to learn how supply chain management methods are deployed, what precisely these practices entail and what costs and time demands are required by these practices in context of small independent retailers across different germane expanse.

While the available literature on the research area is spread out, the influence of blockchain technology in the Indian dairy industry has not yet been sufficiently analysed. Therefore, the research article focused on exploring underlying dimensions of the constructs of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology adoption and supply chain performance in the context of the Indian dairy industry.

The purpose of the study is to identify the factors affecting the entrepreneur's choice of the dairy value chain and evaluate the impact of the value chain on farm performance (profit).

Primary data were collected from dairy entrepreneurs in India, covering nine states. A multinomial treatment effect model (controlling for selection bias and endogeneity) was used to evaluate the impact of the choice of the value chain on entrepreneurs' profit.

Dairy entrepreneurs operating in any recognized value chain other than the value chain driven by the consumer household realize a comparatively lesser profit. Dairy farmers have established direct linkages with customers in urban areas – who could pay premium prices for safe and quality milk. Food safety compliance is positively associated with profit and entrepreneurs (who have undergone formal training in dairying) preferred partnerships with a formal value chain. The prospects of starting a dairy enterprise are slightly higher in villages compared to urban areas.

Dairy entrepreneurs can make a shift in accordance with the study's findings and boost their profitability. It aids in comprehending how trainees (who obtained advice and training for raising dairy animals from R&D organizations) and non-trainee dairy farmers make value chain selections, which ultimately affect profitability. However, purposive sampling and a small sample size limit the universal implications of the study.

Developing entrepreneurial behavior and startup culture is at the center of policymaking in India. The findings imply that the emerging value chain not only enhances the profit of dairy farmers by resolving consumer concerns about food safety and the quality of milk and milk products but also builds consumer trust.

This paper offers insight into how the benefits of dairy entrepreneurs vary with their participation in the different value chains. The impact of skill development/training programs on value chain selection and farm profitability has not yet been fully understood. Here is an attempt to fill this gap. This paper through light on how trained and educated dairy entrepreneurs are able to establish a territorial market by approaching premium customers – this is an addition to the existing literature.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain how cluster organisations have been fostering green transformation in Poland.

This paper adopts a multiple case study approach. Data collection methods involved in-depth interviews with cluster organisation managers and researchers to identify support measures for green transformation and to investigate the factors influencing their actions as well as a comprehensive analysis of documents, including cluster organisations‘ strategies.

Cluster organisations manage and participate in actions that create favourable conditions for pursuing low-carbon and circular economy ventures. They not only assist their members in overcoming obstacles related to green transformation but also engage non-members – which can lead to spillovers reaching beyond their borders. Their engagement takes place across all phases of the green transformation process.

For various reasons, the research was designed as qualitative to understand the opinions and experiences of various actors engaged in green transformation within cluster organisations’ ecosystems. The key factor influencing this decision stems from the fact that knowledge of the involvement of cluster organisations in supporting green transformation still needs to be completed and scattered. The limitations of the study include limited access to information and the fact that qualitative research allows for a certain amount of subjectivity, and the results should be generalised carefully. Moreover, the interviews were carried out with a non-random sample of participants. Another limitation of the study is related to biased views, which could have been shared by interviewees acting as representatives of the studied cluster organisations.

Cluster organisations have emerged as drivers of circular transition by promoting sustainable practices such as material recycling, biological recovery and parts harvesting. These initiatives contribute to reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimising the environmental footprint of industries. These organisations can be active agents of transformation, orchestrating collaborative efforts that have a far-reaching impact on industries and economies.

This is one of the first and most comprehensive studies on the role of cluster organisations in Poland in supporting green transformation. This paper identifies and systematises the actions undertaken to provide a clear understanding of the internal processes within cluster organisations.