Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Global Challenges Feed

The Strait of Hormuz as a supply chain resilience stress test: maritime chokepoints, energy logistics, and sustainability policy

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. This study uses a case-informed conceptual policy analysis and thematic review of 22 peer-reviewed articles to examine how chokepoint disruption transmits risk across global supply chains. The coding process produced 268 coded instances; five dominant categories accounted for 53.7% of the total and concerned structural chokepoint dependence, the efficiency-resilience tradeoff, energy-cost transmission, sustainability and social externalities, and multi-actor governance. The 2026 Hormuz disruption is used as a bounded contemporary case, updated through August 28, 2026, to connect the literature-derived themes with observed logistics and energy-market effects. The study develops a corridor-level resilience framework in which chokepoint exposure produces operational consequences and cascading effects that are moderated by firm, market, and government responses. The contribution is to position corridor resilience as a distinct complement to firm- and network-level supply chain resilience.

Corridor X: Strategic significance for logistics and transport in the Republic of Serbia

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Corridor X represents the backbone of the Republic of Serbia’s transport and logistics system, connecting the country with European markets and determining its economic competitiveness. This paper analyzes the multidimensional significance of Pan-European Corridor X for the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in the Republic of Serbia, with particular emphasis on economic, infrastructural, and regional aspects. The methodology encompasses analysis of secondary sources-scientific literature, SEETO, and European Commission documents-as well as spatial analysis of the route, logistics centers, and infrastructural characteristics. Corridor X integrates the main axis, Salzburg-Thessaloniki (2,300 km road, 2,528 km railway), with four branch routes, of which Branch B (Budapest-Belgrade) and Branch C (Niš-Sofia) are crucial for Serbia. Road transport dominates with a 70% share but generates five times higher external costs (31-54 EUR/1,000 tkm) compared to rail (8-15 EUR/1,000 tkm). Infrastructure modernization has reduced transport costs by 15-20% and delivery time (Belgrade-Niš from 5h to 3h). Along the corridor, 15 free zones have been developed, logistics centers with a capacity of 1.5 million m², and intermodal terminals (Batajnica-1.530 TEU). Over 40% of foreign investments are concentrated along the corridor, with employment growth in logistics of 30%. Corridor X is transforming Serbia into a regional logistics hub but requires continued investment in railway infrastructure, digitalization of customs procedures, and incentives for sustainable transport.

From crisis preparedness to sustainable development: integrating technology innovation in driving Africa's supply chain management in LASEMA

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This study examines how innovative technologies can be integrated into the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) supply chain management practices so as to improve crisis preparedness and promote sustainable development, highlighting challenges like inadequate infrastructure, poor information flow, limited coordination, and resource constraints. The study was grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory. The study employed the interpretivism philosophy, and a qualitative approach was adopted using forty semi-structured interviews for data collection and analysis. Secondary data were sourced from the internet, newspapers, and other reports. Study findings indicate that applying technological innovations can significantly reduce the time required for mobilising and distributing emergency resources. IoT sensors provide real-time visibility to the supply of emergency and humanitarian materials, reducing losses and bottlenecks, while blockchain technology improves transparency and traceability, drastically reducing the risk of fraud. AI and predictive analytics enhance demand forecasting, allowing LASEMA to allocate resources more efficiently, reducing overstocking and wastage. The study concludes that integrating these technologies would enhance collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and community stakeholders, promoting a collaborative ecosystem that promotes sustainable practices. The study recommends implementing data-driven decision-making through big data analytics to provide insights into risk patterns, resource allocation, and response tactics in real-time. It is germane to develop and train LASEMA's staff with the right skills, which can be achieved by collaborating with ac ademic institutions, tech startups, and international organisations. Hence, technology-driven advancements in supply chain management bolster LASEMA's initiatives in building resilient urban systems that align with SDGs 9 and 11. The study contributes to environmental sustainability, social equity, waste reduction, and long-term institutional resilience that are further examined alongside a phased technology-implementation roadmap that addresses cost, cybersecurity, infrastructure, data-quality, and staff-capability constraints.

Yard storage strategies, dwell time reduction, and performance outcomes in an emerging automated maritime terminal

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This research investigates how container dwell time affects the throughput and rehandling productivity at maritime terminals with focus on Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) - an emerging automated maritime hub in Nigeria. A deterministic slot-based rehandling structure is first established to characterize the vertical inefficiency embedded in dense stacking configurations, after which Monte Carlo Simulation is applied to capture uncertainty in container retrieval. Results show strong statistical consistency of the simulation, with the expected number of rehandles converging tightly to a theoretical mean of 2.00 as sample size increases. Scenario analysis reveals a nonlinear relationship between average stack height and rehandling intensity: expected rehandles rise from 0 at a stack height of 1.00 to 1.22 at 2.29 tiers. When heterogeneous retrieval behavior is introduced, expected rehandles increase substantially, exceeding 1.9 at low stack heights and remaining significantly higher than under equal-probability assumptions. These findings demonstrate that ignoring demand heterogeneity leads to systematic underestimation of congestion and handling costs. The study provides quantitative evidence to support stochastic, data-driven yard planning as a basis for improving operational efficiency and economic sustainability in emerging container terminals.

Exploring integrative collaborative governance in SME-based agri-food supply chains: mixed-methods insights from Indonesia

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Sustainability challenges in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) are particularly pronounced in emerging economies, where small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) dominate production yet operate within fragmented, institutionally plural, and power-imbalanced coordination environments. Prevailing approaches—ranging from firm-centric compliance regimes to technosolutionist digitalisation narratives—offer limited explanatory value in such contexts, as they often abstract sustainability from governance dynamics and political–economic conditions. This study advances an integrative collaborative governance perspective to examine how sustainability emerges not from isolated technical or organisational interventions, but from the interaction among relational governance, institutional facilitation, coordination processes, and technological enablers. Adopting a pragmatist mixed-methods design, the study combines survey data from 120 SME actors with 32 semi-structured interviews conducted across peri-urban agri-food clusters in East Java, Indonesia. The findings indicate that sustainability outcomes—economic, social, and environmental—are collective, emergent, and politically mediated, rather than the direct result of any single governance mechanism. Relational trust provides a necessary social foundation for cooperation; however, in the absence of institutional mediation and structured coordination, trust often stabilises asymmetrical dependencies rather than enabling transformative outcomes. Coordination processes emerge as the operational mechanism through which governance integration becomes actionable, while digital technologies function not as autonomous drivers of sustainability, but as governance amplifiers, reinforcing either inclusive collaboration or exclusionary practices depending on how data access, accountability, and decision-making authority are governed. By foregrounding interaction, power, and context, this study contributes to a Southern epistemology of sustainability governance that challenges depoliticised and technology-centric models of agri-food transformation. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to design inclusive, resilient, and contextually grounded AFSC governance arrangements in the Global South.

The most prominent environmental criteria for sustainable supplier selection

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Competitiveness is widely acknowledged as a fundamental determinant of organisational success, as it reflects the essential elements required for effective operations and sustained profitability. This paper addresses the challenge of achieving competitiveness through the selection of sustainable suppliers in business procurement processes. The primary objective of the study was to identify the most prominent environmental competitiveness criteria relevant to sustainable supplier selection (SSS). Furthermore, the paper aims to provide recommendations to guide enterprises in integrating these criteria into procurement strategies. Although the literature emphasises the importance of SSS, limited attention has been given to specifying environmental sustainability criteria and developing quantifiable approaches for their evaluation. To address this gap, a quantitative study was conducted within the South African manufacturing industry. The findings reveal that “Design for Environment” emerged as the most influential environmental criterion for SSS. The study contributes to both theory and practice by offering a structured understanding of environmental competitiveness in supplier evaluation, thereby supporting organisations in developing robust, sustainability-oriented procurement frameworks aligned with long-term economic and environmental objectives.

Digital readiness and market orientation as drivers of sustainable supply chain performance: a dynamic capability perspective

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This study examines how market orientation contributes to sustainable supply chain performance through process improvement and supply chain efficiency, and whether digital readiness strengthens these relationships. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study conceptualizes sustainability as a dynamic capability that connects operational efficiency with long-term strategic performance. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among manufacturing firms operating in an emerging economy, and the proposed relationships were tested using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that market orientation enhances strategic performance primarily through a sequential capabil ity chain involving process improvement and supply chain efficiency. Sustainability plays a mediating role by transforming efficiency gains into enduring competitive outcomes. In addition, digital readiness strengthens the impact of process improvement on supply chain efficiency, highlighting the importance of technological preparedness in capability transformation. This research contributes to supply chain management literature by integrating digital readiness and sustainability within a unified capability-based framework and offers practical insights for managers seeking to align digital transformation initiatives with sustainable performance objectives.

Climate change impacts’ mitigation strategies in sustainable supply chain management and pragmatism of data envelopment analysis and Malmquist index in its measurement

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The escalating consequences of climate change have highlighted the urgent necessity of integrating sustainability into supply chain management to mitigate environmental impacts while maintaining economic viability. This review systematically synthesizes the existing literature on mitigation strategies within Sustainable Supply Chain Management ( hereafter: SSCM), with a focus on the practicality of analytical application of Data Envelopment Analysis (hereafter: DEA) and the Malmquist Index (hereafter: MI) in assessing eco-efficiency, productivity, and technological progress. Drawing upon an in-depth review of the literature conducted during the preparation of this article in February-March 2025, felicitous and expedient studies published from 1984 to 2024 were reviewed. It identified four principal mitigation pathways: the adoption of green technologies, carbon emission reduction initiatives, resource optimization through circular economy practices, and resilience enhancement against climate -induced disruptions. The integration of knowledge-based, systems, and swift-flow theories provides a robust conceptual foundation for understanding the dynamic and adaptive nature of SSCM. The findings indicate that technological innovation, digital transformation, and stakeholder collaboration are critical enablers of sustainable performance and climate resilience . Furthermore, the study emphasizes methodological advancements through the combined use of DEA and MI in benchmarking performance and tracking sustainability trajectories over time. Despite significant progress, notable gaps remain regarding the standardization of DEA models, the inclusion of social sustainability indicators, and the empirical validation of digitalization impacts. This review contributes to the theoretical and methodological advancement of SSCM by developing an integrative conceptual framework that links climate change impacts, mitigation strategies, and quantitative performance evaluation. The insights derived offer valuable guidance for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to design resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible supply chains in an era of climate uncertainty.

Developing strategic supply chain pathways for application of agricultural crops as biobased construction materials, products and modular systems

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The construction sector accounts for 37% of global carbon emissions and 40% of EU waste, driving policy initiatives toward decarbonization and circularity. While biobased materials offer low-carbon alternatives, their limited adoption reflects systemic supply chain barriers rather than technical inadequacy. This research develops and applies a novel hierarchical supply chain mapping framework to identify strategic pathways for agri-crop biobased construction in Ireland, focusing on straw, hemp, and miscanthus. A novel four-stage supply chain mapping framework is developed integrating processing complexity and technological levels, applied in two national stakeholder workshops engaging multiple organizations across agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and policy sectors. Analysis reveals a range of potential supply chains spanning low-technology applications (bales, blown-in insulation) to industrialized products (boards, blocks, modular panels), with processing infrastructure and certification identified as critical bottlenecks. Irish workshops validate straw as the priority pathway, leveraging existing harvesting and chipping infrastructure for immediate market entry via timber-frame and modular systems, with staged expansion toward advanced fibre processing. Hemp presents high-value niche potential contingent on decortication capacity, while miscanthus offers long-term complementary benefits. Cross-cutting enablers include regional processing hubs, accelerated certification, public procurement, and coordinated policy frameworks. The novel hierarchical mapping framework and stakeholder-validated pathways provide a structured roadmap for translating agricultural by-products into viable construction resources, with applicability to similar regional and national contexts.

Q-Commerce vs. e-commerce in last-mile delivery: a data-driven comparison of emissions, costs, and efficiency – evidence from simulated scenarios

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Consumers’ demand for online shopping has increased manifold since the post-COVID-19 era. And, the rapid growth of quick-commerce (Q-commerce) has revolutionized last-mile delivery with the promise of ultra-fast service, but its environmental and operational impacts are still unexplored. This study uses a data-driven simulation to compare Q-commerce and traditional E-commerce in terms of emissions, operational costs, and delivery efficiency. The finding reveals that Q-commerce, with its short delivery distances and Electric-Vehicles reliance, is consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement goal and SDGs (11 & 13) of global warming by reducing transport-sector emissions. By analysing random iterations, the study evaluates key metrics such as carbon emissions, energy/fuel consumption, Operational cost, and delivery time on Q-commerce and E-commerce using Electric-Vehicles (EVs) (EV vans, E-Bike, and scooters) and International Combustion-Vehicles (CVs) (CV-Vans, CV-Bike, and CV-Cars). The findings of this study reveal that Q-commerce, with its shorter delivery distances and reliance on EVs, produces significantly less greenhouse gases (GHGs) than E-commerce. Additionally, Q-commerce exhibits cost advantages due to lower energy costs. Although last-mile delivery times are longer due to the lower average speed of EVs, the analysis of the data assesses the dependence of shorter delivery distances on faster last-mile deliveries. Prospective comparisons further quantify the potential for Q-commerce to outperform E-commerce in terms of sustainability and cost-efficiency. The study emphasizes the trade-offs between speed, cost, and environmental impact, suggesting that EV adoption and closer delivery distances can enhance the sustainability of last-mile logistics. These insights provide policymakers and businesses with effective strategies to balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility in the growing landscape of fast delivery services.

Green supply chain management framework for sustainable organizational performance and green management excellence

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Environmental sustainability has become a central strategic priority for organizations seeking long-term competitiveness. Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) has emerged as a core pillar of this transition, yet many firms still struggle to operationalize environmental practices, measure performance, and balance sustainability with economic growth. At the same time, rapid advancements in digital transformation technologies including IoT, cloud systems, big data analytics, and intelligent automation are reshaping the possibilities for supply chain visibility, resource efficiency, circular economy adoption, and green management. This manuscript integrates the foundational principles of GSCM with the transformative potential of digital technologies, supported by insights from industrial case evidence. The study expands the conceptual scope of traditional GSCM by incorporating digital transformation, green supply chain integration, absorptive capacity, and economic policy uncertainty as strategic variables influencing sustainable performance. The analysis highlights how digital transformation enhances environmental monitoring, supplier transparency, process optimization, and end-to-end circular flows. Findings reveal that organizations embracing green integration and digitalization achieve substantial reductions in emissions, waste, and water usage while gaining operational efficiency and competitive advantage. The manuscript proposes an integrated framework that unifies digital transformation and GSCM to accelerate sustainability outcomes and future-ready supply chain resilience.

Chinese automotive finance: development, policies, and regulations

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The rapid development of Chinese automotives, particularly in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, has garnered global attention. This study focuses on a niche area that has yet to be thoroughly examined: automotive finance This study adopts a qualitative policy and regulatory analysis based on national-level policy documents and industry data. First, it explores the evolution of automotive finance in China within the context of the broader automotive market. Second, it reviews key policy initiatives from Chinese authorities related to the automotive industry, automotive finance companies, and automotive consumption. Third, it analyzes recent regulations on automotive finance companies, concluding that these measures are designed to mitigate systemic risks within China’s financial system while supporting the NEV sector. Automotive finance in China functions not only as a consumer credit tool but as a policy-oriented financial mechanism that links industrial upgrading, consumption expansion, and financial risk governance.

Effects of Regulatory Capability on E-Waste Management in Reverse Logistics of Informal SMEs in Dodoma City

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This study examines how regulatory capability factors influence e-waste management performance in reverse logistics among informal small and medium enterprises (hereafter: SMEs) in Dodoma City, Tanzania. Regulatory capability is conceptualised to include the legal framework, technical capacity, stakeholder engagement, and cultural and behavioural factors. A quantitative survey design was used, collecting data from owners/managers of informal e-waste-related SMEs. Results indicate that certain dimensions of regulatory capability have significant positive effects on e-waste reverse logistics performance. In particular, enforcement of e-waste regulations, availability of skilled personnel and recycling infrastructure, public awareness, and cultural norms recognizing e-waste as hazardous each showed significant contributions. The study highlights the need for strengthening regulatory frameworks and enforcement, enhancing technical capabilities, improving stakeholder engagement, and fostering cultural change towards sustainable e-waste practices. Practically, policymakers should focus on clearer e-waste legislation enforcement and capacity building, while SME managers and community leaders should collaborate to improve collection and recycling initiatives. This research addresses a gap in empirical studies on e-waste reverse logistics in the context of informal economies in developing countries. It provides evidence on which regulatory capability factors most strongly impact reverse logistics performance for e-waste in a developing country, informing both theory and practice in circular economy and waste management fields.

Competencies in 4.0 logistics: a case of Slovenia

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This paper investigates the competencies demanded by employers in Slovenia’s logistics sector, as identified through the analysis of job advertisements in field of logistics and supply chains in Slovenia. The study begins with a theoretical framework, outlining the concept of competencies, their relevance within the field of logistics, and their evolving role in the context of Industry 4.0, or the so-called “smart industry.” The empirical component of the research focuses on identifying the competencies required of logistics and supply chain professionals in Slovenia. These competencies were systematically categorized into three groups—technical, managerial, and social—according to the model proposed by Grodek-Szostak et al. (2020). For each category, the five most frequently cited competencies were determined and ranked. The findings suggest that technical competencies, particularly those aligned with emerging and developing technologies and industry innovations, are extremely important in the Slovenian logistics and supply chain sector. The results stress the necessity for continuous professional development and lifelong learning, as most competencies are acquired through combination of formal education and work experiences. The analysis also highlights a discrepancy: many job advertisements do not explicitly require certain technical competencies that are essential for the successful implementation and advancement of smart industry principles.

Sustainable Manufacturing in Industry 4.0 by Artificial Intelligent and Internet of Things, A Review

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Artificial Intelligent (hereafter: AI), Internet of Things (hereafter: IoT) and data analytics are used to provide real-time resource utilization monitoring and optimization within Industry 4.0 era. As a result, waste is decreased and resource efficiency is improved which can minimize environmental impact and supports sustainability goals. By growing concerns of environmental issues, sustainability was converted to fundamental prerequisite of contemporary industrial systems. In order to present advanced models and methodologies of AI and IoT applications in sustainability enhancement of part manufacturing within Industry 4.0, the review of recent developments is presented in the study. It analyzes the applications of AI, IoT and data analytics in terms of resource optimization and decision-making regarding sustainability concerns of part manufacturing procedures. This study investigates how Industry 4.0 can be applied for sustainable manufacturing by improving resource efficiency, integrating renewable energy, allowing circular economy practices and promoting supply chain transparency. The study synthesizes data from recent research works in order to explain the contributions of smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, virtual machining and blockchain supported supply chain management in terms of waste, energy usage and environmental impact minimization of advanced manufacturing. The article also discusses AI and IoT technology applications in terms of enhancing traceability, visibility, and efficiency within supply chain management processes. Applications of decentralized manufacturing, human-centric design, and collaborative industrial ecosystems are also presented and discussed. Also, key challenges including rising e-waste, data privacy threats, talent shortages and the demand of supporting legislative frameworks and resilient digital infrastructures are discussed in the study. Moreover, to provide the potential future research directions from AI and IoT applications in achieving sustainability within industry 4.0 paradigm, novel ideas are presented and discussed. As a result, the study provides practical insights and recommendations which enable researchers, industry stakeholders and lawmakers to analyze and develop sustainability strategies inside industrial contexts within Industry 4.0 era.

Assessing lean practices within third-party logistics services providers in Jordan

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This paper aims to evaluate the effect of Muda (waste) practices on warehouse efficiency within third-party logistics providers (hereafter: 3PLs) operations using Data Envelopment Analysis (hereafter: DEA). The study employs a quantitative method to evaluate the impact of Lean (Muda) practices on warehouse efficiency within 3PL operations. A descriptive and correlational design is used, integrating DEA for efficiency calculation and regression analyses to assess the relationships between Lean practices and performance metrics. Data collection involved structured questionnaires. The study found significant variations in efficiency among the decision-making units (hereafter: DMUs), with a few achieving optimal performance (100%) while many showed inefficiencies below 50%, highlighting substantial room for improvement. Regression analysis confirmed a strong positive correlation between total waste reduction practices with operational efficiency (R2 = 0.894, p < 0.001). Among specific stages, waste reduction practices at Put-away, Picking, and Dispatching significantly improved efficiency, while Receiving practices had no meaningful impact. The originality of this study is in its integration of DEA and regression analysis for comprehensively assessing the impact of stage-specific waste reduction practices on 3PL operational efficiency in Jordan, a region with limited prior research.

Extending the theory of planned behavior to understand hotel managers pro-enviromental behavior in supply procurement process: Sustainable resourcing to alleviate global warming

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Hotel managers’ behaviour and decision making significantly impacts hotel energy consumption, operating costs, and environmental issues. Encouraging pro-environmental behaviours among hotel managers is vital for sustainable development in the hotel and tourism sector. This study aims to understand the factors that drive hotel managers to adopt sustainable practices, especially in supply chain management, to combat global warming. An expanded model based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was developed, incorporating elements like global warming consciousness, actions to alleviate global warming, emotional responses, and varying supply expenses. An online survey was conducted with 479 hotel managers involved in the supply chain procurement process. Data analysis utilized partial least squares-structural equation modelling techniques, revealing that global warming consciousness greatly influences managers’ attitudes and purposes to engage in sustainable practices. Fostering actions to reduce global warming also positively impacts these purposes. Additionally, anticipated emotions such as remorse are critical in shaping behavioural purposes. Findings also indicate that personal attitudes, subjective social standards, and perceived self-control over sustainability efforts influence managers’ purposes in practising sustainable resourcing. Notably, varying food and beverage supply expenditure levels moderate seven out of nine of the proposed hypotheses. This research identifies a substantial gap in the current literature regarding the relationship between hotel managers’ sustainable practices and global warming within the hotel and tourism sector. By employing an extended Theory of Planned Behavior framework, this research makes a meaningful contribution to the ongoing effort to improve sustainability in the hotel and tourism sector, particularly in Malaysia.

The Integration of Blockchain Technology and Internet of Things in realising Sustainable Agro food Supply Chains: An insight into small to medium scale Soya Beans farmers in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The world population is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, which is 34% higher than it is now and the demand for agricultural food is expected to increase as well. Research has shown that the demand for soya beans is on the increase owing to its contribution in cooking oil, stock feed and other by-products. On average, Zimbabwe’s soya bean national output production is only enough to meet 30% of national demand, which is supplemented by imports from South Africa, Zambia and Malawi. Constraints in information gathering, storage, safeguarding, and sharing, environmental changes and escalations in input prices has become a catch phrase for soya bean supply systems failure. This study’s objective is to explore strategies which can be adopted by soya bean small to medium scale farmers to realise sustainability in their supply chains and build food security in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe. This study therefore proposes the integration of Blockchain Technology (hereafter: BCT) and Internet of Things (hereafter: IoT) to improve sustainability in the soya bean supply chain systems in Zimbabwe. The researchers adopted a pragmatism research philosophy premised on the mixed methods research approach because quantitative data alone is not sufficient to answer the research questions. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA 15 and NVivo version 16 was used to analyse qualitative data. Using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) a sample size of 375 farmers was randomly selected to respond to questionnaires. Six (6) AGRITEX officers and two (2) Agronomists were purposefully selected from the six (6) districts of Mashonaland Central Province and were interviewed. Findings from the research showed that there is minimal uptake of Artificial Intelligence (hereafter: AI) technologies in soya bean supply chains in Mashonaland Central Province which has slowed the improvements in production and sustainability of agro-supply chains. The study recommends the integration of blockchain and IoT technologies to improve sustainability in soya bean production in Zimbabwe.

The Relationship Between Population Aging and Travel Demand: Evidence from Taiwan

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This study employed a recursive mixed-process model to analyze how sociodemographic characteristics affected household transportation expenditures and car ownership in Taiwan. Transportation expenditures were segmented into those for private vehicle use and those for public transport services. Data on households were sourced from Taiwan’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey for the years 2002 and 2022. The principal findings were as follows. First, household travel demand varied by household life cycle stage, with middle-aged households exhibiting the highest travel demand. Older households also exhibited substantial travel demand and had higher transportation expenditures and car ownership rates than households headed by individuals under 29 years old did. A finding of increased mobility among households headed by older adults reflected longer life expectancy, improved health, and greater wealth. Second, household composition considerably affected transportation expenditures and car ownership. For example, additional family members were typically associated with increased transportation expenditures. However, additional members aged 14 years or younger were associated with reduced public transportation expenditures because private vehicles often replaced public transit because they were used for caregiving and delivery. By contrast, additional older family members (aged 65 years or older) were associated with reduced private transportation expenditures and increased public transportation expenditures, reflecting older individuals’ limited wealth and the high costs of private vehicle use. These results clarify the determinants of transportation expenditures and highlight the characteristics of Taiwanese households reliant on private vehicles. As family structures change and population aging continues, age-friendly public transportation systems should be prioritized in the development of transportation.

Supply chain integrity: Addressing Ethical Concerns in Agricultural Supply Chains

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Ethics has become a trending phenomenon in most disciplines as a result of the sustainability wave enshrined in the United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs). In business circles procurement ethics have become topical as a result of the rising malpractices whose ripple effects have far reaching economic, social and environmental consequences. In the agricultural supply chains procurement ethics have been called to question due to outcries from the tobacco contract farmers whose livelihoods are affected by supplier development washing in the form of exorbitantly priced contract farming inputs. The unethical practice of supplier development washing in the form of exorbitantly priced tobacco contract farming inputs has some ripple effects which this study sought to determine. Twenty-five contracted tobacco farmers were interviewed and the results indicated that farmers subjected to tobacco merchants’ unethical conduct tend to practice contractor switching, side marketing, become insolvent, and indulge in unorthodox cost cutting measures. The study recommended that the regulatory authorities should intervene to bring sanity to the tobacco supply chains through enforcing contract farming mechanisms that reflect genuine supplier development.