A multi-actor ICT platform for increasing sustainability and resilience of small-scale farmers after pandemic crisis
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 4 April 2023
Issue publication date: 9 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform to increase the sustainability and resilience of smallholders to face supply chain disruptions in the event of COVID-like crises. The platform facilitates interactions between smallholders and buyers, workers and freight transport companies in agri-food ecosystems. Furthermore, this research work presents the implementation of the freight transport companies’ platform module.
Design/methodology/approach
The research work begins with a literature review aiming at analyzing current available ICT solutions supporting smallholders and other actors in the agri-food supply chain. This analysis identifies the research gaps which have to be filled by the platform. Then, the authors proceed with the analysis of the operational scenarios of each platform actor by interacting with experts and operators working in the agri-food sector. The results of such analysis resulted in a comprehensive, unambiguous and consistent set of specification being used to define the platform structure and modules architecture. The platform modules have been developed by using the web-application framework Laravel.
Findings
Preliminary tests show that the proposed platform is usable and promises to improve the resilience and economic, social and environmental sustainability of agri-food supply chains, with a focus on smallholders.
Originality/value
The research work allows players in the agri-food supply chain and in particular small local producers to react and mitigate the impact of COVID-like crises through development of a platform in which smallholders, citizens (buyers and workers) and freight transport companies are simultaneously present.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Digitization and innovation of the food and beverage industry in the post-pandemic era: challenges, drivers and opportunities”, guest edited by Vincenzo Corvello, Ciro Troise, Alberto Michele Felicetti and Paul Jones.
This work is part of the research project entitled “Smart Models for Agrifood Local vaLue chain based on Digital technologies for Enabling COVID-19 Resilience and Sustainability” (SMALLDERS), co-funded by the PRIMA Program–Section 2 Call multi-topics 2021.
Citation
Cimino, A., Longo, F., Solina, V. and Verteramo, S. (2024), "A multi-actor ICT platform for increasing sustainability and resilience of small-scale farmers after pandemic crisis", British Food Journal, Vol. 126 No. 5, pp. 1870-1886. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2023-0049
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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