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This article explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) tools across the agricultural value chain, highlighting their applications, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. With global food demand projected to increase by 70% by 2050, AI technologies—including machine learning, big data analytics, and the Internet of things (IoT)—offer critical solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and resource efficiency. The study provides a comprehensive review of AI applications at multiple stages of the agricultural value chain, including land use planning, crop selection, resource management, disease detection, yield prediction, and market integration. It also discusses the significant challenges to AI adoption, such as data accessibility, technological infrastructure, and the need for specialized skills. By examining case studies and empirical evidence, the article demonstrates how AI-driven solutions can optimize decision-making and operational efficiency in agriculture. The findings underscore AI's pivotal role in addressing global agricultural challenges, with implications for farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, and researchers. This article aims to advance the evolving research and discussions on sustainable agriculture, contributing insights that promote the adoption of AI technologies and influence the future of farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Allium is a prominent member of the Amaryllidaceae family and encompasses approximately 1,063 species worldwide. These diverse species vary in appearance and flavor but they share biochemical similarities. Underutilized Alliums present a promising alternative to onion and garlic in various Indian regions, given their adaptability, versatile utility, and nutraceutical properties. Their adaptation in the plains of India is a great opportunity to add medicinal and nutraceutical value to Indian cuisine. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the underutilized raw Allium leaves for their sensory perception by hedonic test (n = 60), consumer perceptions and willingness to purchase (n = 180), and the development and validation of value chain model (n = 30) to popularize these species in plains. For the various sensory attributes evaluated, Allium tuberosum Kazakhstan CGN-1587 emerged out to be the most suitable for its advancement into the consumer survey. The consumer perception study recorded 74.44% willingness to purchase of total respondents and a majority preference for consuming it in cooked form (38.30%). A value chain model of Allium tuberosum Kazakhstan CGN-1587 with supply chain agencies was subsequently developed. Validation of this value chain model was done with a panel of different stakeholders. Panelists perceived the value chain as highly valid, particularly in terms of economic feasibility (4.30 ± 0.70) and sustainability (4.20 ± 0.81). Thus, the present study provides valuable insights that can support and promote the use of underutilized Alliums in non-traditional areas of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractVibrational spectroscopy is a nondestructive analysis technique that depends on the periodic variations in dipole moments and polarizabilities resulting from the molecular vibrations of molecules/atoms. These methods have important advantages over conventional analytical techniques, including (a) their simplicity in terms of implementation and operation, (b) their adaptability to on-line and on-farm applications, (c) making measurement in a few minutes, and (d) the absence of dangerous solvents throughout sample preparation or measurement. Food safety is a concept that requires the assurance that food is free from any physical, chemical, or biological hazards at all stages, from farm to fork. Continuous monitoring should be provided in order to guarantee the safety of the food. Regarding their advantages, vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), near-infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy, are considered reliable and rapid techniques to track food safety- and food authenticity-related issues throughout the food chain. Furthermore, coupling spectral data with chemometric approaches also enables the discrimination of samples with different kinds of food safety-related hazards. This review deals with the recent application of vibrational spectroscopic techniques to monitor various hazards related to various foods, including crops, fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, meat, seafood, and poultry, throughout harvesting, transportation, processing, distribution, and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social and environmental challenges are forcing organizations to develop sustainable business models (SBMs). Literature on SBMs has identified the importance of stakeholders and collaboration. Collaboration and positions of stakeholders within the value‐chain opens the discussion about organizational boundaries and their role in enhancing or hindering sustainable business model innovation. Through a literature review, this study analyzes 53 papers at the intersection of SBMs and boundaries to clarify how SBMs change organizational boundaries, and how these boundaries affect the sustainability values of organizations. We aim to identify key stakeholders, who hold negotiation power at organizational boundaries. The paper identifies important managerial questions that may assist organizations in the process of unpacking sustainable value and broaden their scope of key stakeholders. Finally, we formulate future research areas to advance research at the intersection of SBMs and organizational boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are an important component of an ecologically sustainable approach to addressing food and nutrition security in Africa. This review aims to identify the scope of the knowledge translation literature that exists across multiple aspects of the TAV value chain and to identify gaps in knowledge translation research. A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was conducted. The Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework was used to guide the development of inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. The Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and ABI/Inform databases were searched to identify the relevant studies which were then screened using the Covidence 2024 online software to select studies and extract information for analysis and reporting. A total of 182 studies/articles were selected and examined. The most significant knowledge documented about TAVs pertains to their vast genetic diversity contributing to their rich nutritional and medicinal properties, their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as drought, pests, and diseases, as well as the effects of various post-handling techniques on the nutrient content of TAVs, with the production phase of the TAV value chain being the most studied. This review found that, although a breadth of knowledge about TAVs has been generated, there is still little documentation about transferring and utilizing this knowledge across the TAV value chain. This review identified that more research is needed to document the strategies and practices for the transfer and utilization of knowledge to ensure that it is utilized to enhance nutritional outcomes across Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much innovation and development in the Norwegian salmon industry, the focus has largely been on building volume and reducing costs. Limited attention has been paid to develop value added products and differentiation strategies in Norway to reap stable profits associated with such strategies. In depth-interviews with a supply chain containing Norwegian salmon producers, one exporter and one feed producer, industrial buyers representing two Polish processing companies and two German retailers, aimed to provide insight into why more differentiation is not happening in the Norwegian salmon industry. Results from this supply chain reveals lack of communication and asymmetric power-dependence relations between the Norwegian salmon business actors and their industrial buyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated vegetables grown and consumed in cities of the global South have adverse public health consequences. Through interviews with farmers, traders, consumers and institutional representatives, this article explores why stakeholders in the irrigated vegetable value chain in Accra continue unsafe practices. The multi-stakeholder data are analysed by combining a behavioural model with a framework of complex stakeholder interactions. Arguably, a systemic approach would help meet stakeholders' opportunity, capability and motivation needs and actualise current efforts to promote safe practices. Findings indicate the need for all stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of each other's practices and co-design flexible arrangements that better integrate their diverse rationales, knowledge and constraints. Improving hygiene and food safety from farm to fork requires political commitment that accounts for land tenure insecurity and the high cost of safe water. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Digital platforms represent a major technological change that affects the entire value chain of a company and requires digital resources and a flexible organizational structure. Given the resource limitations that SMEs have, it is interesting to find out to what extent they have adopted digital platforms. The aim of this paper is to explore the level of SMEs' digitalization and how sophisticated these businesses are in using various digital platforms in primary and secondary value creation activities. Additionally, we set out to identify clusters with different needs and behaviors when considering digital platforms. Methodology/Approach: To address these research questions, we conducted a survey using a quota sampling procedure to reflect the SMEs' structure in size and industry. We analyzed the data collected from 194 respondents using a two-step clustering procedure to identify different groups of SMEs with respect to the use of digital platforms. For business activities, we used Porter's value chain and for assessing the adoption rate, we applied the Moore and Benbasat scale to measure adopters' perceptions of the technology. Findings: Most SMEs use general digital platforms while less than 20% have developed their own platforms or use the platforms of business partners. Organizations with a hybrid structure use the largest number of digital platforms, while enterprises with a fluid structure use the fewest. Companies are using their own platforms or partners' platforms for primary activities while for support activities are employing general platforms. The most important factor which influences the adoption rate of digital platforms is the image and then comes the advantages they bring. Regarding the clusters, four distinct groups were identified with specific value creation behaviors Digital Pathfinders, Basic Techies, Tech Blend, and Flexible Adopters. Practical implications: Practical implications concern both the companies that use digital platforms and the companies that develop them. From the user perspective, this study sets a benchmark for different industries and presents the most common practices Regarding the companies that develop digital platforms, it is important to know the main deterrence factors, namely the lack of testing possibilities and the difficulty in choosing the most suitable solution. Taking into account the specific needs of the four clusters, developers can adapt their product and value proposition to stimulate the adoption of the digital platform. Originality/Value/Contribution: This paper contributes to research on digital platforms in the context of transformational entrepreneurship related to crisis or catastrophic events such as pandemics or wars. Furthermore, it adds to existing literature on digital transformation by providing recommendations considering specific value chain activities. Although there are numerous studies on digital platforms, most of them come from developed countries, which makes them less relevant for developing/underdeveloped ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the benefits of experiential learning are well established throughout management and business courses, they are used less often when teaching strategic management. Yet, many concepts in strategy, such as the value chain, are difficult for students to understand. The abstract nature of these topics, coupled with the limited real-life exposure to strategy, make these topics difficult for students to understand and apply. The Golden Ticket exercise is designed to help students correctly apply the VRIO framework and conduct a value chain analysis. This exercise uses redirection as a learning tool, incorporating several independent myopic parts to create ambiguity, where students are initially unable to see how the exercise connects to the "big picture." It is not until the end of the exercise that students can see how these parts connect (creating the big picture perspective), as they are able to identify the firm's value creating activities, core competencies, and create the value chain for the firm. This exercise can be used in undergraduate and graduate-level strategy, marketing, and management classes, and can be taught face-to-face or online. Student feedback suggests that this exercise is engaging, practical, and an enlightening way to learn about value chain analysis and core competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that will demonstrate how the integration of Salam (exclusive agricultural commodity trade) with Takaful (micro-Takaful – a subdivision of Islamic insurance) and value chain can address major challenges facing the agricultural sector in Kano State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – The study conducted a thorough and critical analysis of relevant literature and existing models of financing agriculture in Nigeria to come up with the proposed model. Findings – The findings indicate that measures undertaken to address the major challenges fail. In view of this, this study proposed Bay-Salam with Takaful and value chain model to solve a number of challenges such as poor access to financing, poor marketing and pricing, delay, collateral requirement and risk issues in order to avail farmers with easy access to finance and provide effective security to financial institutions. Research limitations/implications – The paper is limited to using secondary data. Therefore, empirical investigation can be carried out to strengthen the validation of the model. Practical implications – The study outcome seeks to improve the productivity of the farmers through enhancing their access to finance. This will increase their level of production and provide more employment opportunities. In addition, it will boost financial inclusion, income generation, poverty alleviation, standard of living, food security and overall economic growth and development. Originality/value – The novelty of this study lies in the integration of classical Bay-Salam with Takaful and value chain and create a unique model structure which the researchers do not come across in any research that presented it in Nigeria.

Copyright of Sustainable Earth Review is the property of Shahid Beheshti University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The object of the study is the value chain of the bank. The purpose of the study is to identify the possibility of applying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the value chain stages of commercial banks and transform value chains under the influence of these technologies. It uses both general scientific methods — analysis, synthesis, abstraction, induction and deduction, and graphical and statistical analysis, the methodology of value chain creation. The main approaches to the formation of the value chain in the banking industry, as well as the key characteristics of the business processes included in it, were studied. Particular attention is paid to the technological component as the basis for the development of modern digital banking. During the research, the main directions for the implementation of modern artificial intelligence technologies, both applied and generative. Analysis of the value chain showed that the creation and use of AI models is an independent supporting process, the work of which not only affects the core activities of the bank, but also requires a certain level of technology development and risk-management in the bank. Data from the AI Russia case library demonstrates the actual impact of AI models on the value chain phases of marketing and sales, customer support and communications, operational processing and risk management. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the introduction of innovations in the field of artificial intelligence increases the value of the company by increasing the efficiency of business processes. The introduction of artificial intelligence into processes requires the technological maturity of the enterprise, and its use is an independent technological process that requires the participation of auxiliary processes, for example, risk management. The results of the study are of practical importance for companies in the banking industry, since methods for analyzing the impact of AI technologies on the value chain can be used when making decisions about their implementation.

Abstract Highland bamboo has been traditionally used in building construction, wall partitioning, ceiling, doors, windows, and roofs and has contributed in people’s livelihoods. This paper focuses on pinpointing bamboo value chain, its opportunities, and challenges. Site selection and observation, review of existing knowledge, key informant interview and market assessment in the value chain, stakeholders’ consultation workshop, processors workspace visit, and group discussion were performed. We found that highland bamboo is a raw material, semi-processed and processed product and sold at different locations passing through different routes based on the request and demand of the customers in the value chain. We identified different bamboo landraces in the studied areas. However, there are knowledge gaps by processors on the use of the different races for different purposes. Traders buy bamboo culms based on their sizes by giving different grades. The price of the product varied from product to product depending on the quality of bamboo raw material/culm used and the time (man-days) required to make the finished product. Local processors’ capacity to produce well-finished products is affected due to lack of important machineries and tools. Therefore, introducing and promoting modern processing tools and machines through credit support systems are crucial to make processors more competitive in the value chain. Moreover, the study identified major challenges faced by bamboo growers, culm traders, and processors that have effects on bamboo value chain development. Therefore, it is important to work towards alleviating/minimizing the major challenges in the bamboo value chain considering all actors to strive towards improving the value chain.

AbstractThis paper uses the mixed-methods approach to analyze farmer position in contract farming (CF) value chain, challenging simplistic “win-win” narratives that ignore power dynamics and “win-lose” ones that overlook economic factors. PepsiCo hires intermediaries as principal agents to control many smallholders, thereby reducing transaction costs and exerting control over quality raw materials. Through secure commissions to agents and fixed prices to farmers, PepsiCo transfers capital and production risks, respectively. The value chain analysis at each farming stage reveals that although CF addressed specific inputs and output constraints for smallholders, the unequal power dynamics and monopsony position of PepsiCo and intermediaries raise sustainability concerns. The existing unequal power relations within CF value chains underline the urgency of establishing a regulatory mechanism. Without such oversight, individual farmers may find it challenging to advocate for their interests in the face of corporations and intermediaries in cultivating high-value crops, for which demand is rising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 4‐year study (2018–2021) aimed at investigating the effects of flowering areas inserted at the margin of soft wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.) in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The action formed part of a multidisciplinary initiative promoted by the Barilla food company, aimed at promoting the sustainable production of soft wheat.Specific aims were to study the effects of flowering areas on (i) the abundance and species richness of insect pollinators, including wild bees, syrphids and butterflies; (ii) the levels of wheat aphid and bug infestations and (iii) the assemblages of biological control agents of aphids (coccinellids and aphid mummies as a result of parasitization).Insect surveys were carried out on 61 wheat‐growing farms located in Northern Italy. Insect pollinators were sampled on all farms, whereas wheat aphids, wheat bugs and aphid biological control agents were investigated in a sub‐sample of 20 farms.Results generally indicated a positive impact of flowering areas on multiple taxa in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The abundance of pollinators and coccinellids was significantly enhanced by the flowering areas. Aphid mummies showed an interaction between strategies and distances with more mummies at 5 m in wheat plots close to flowering areas and at 50 m in the plots close to spontaneous field margin (control).Flowering areas were validated as an important tool for promoting beneficial taxa in agro‐ecosystems. However, the successful establishment of this ecological infrastructure was suggested to rely on several factors, which included both the selection of suitable flowering plant species and the implementation of appropriate management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been significant effort and a growing need to develop innovative and costeffective solutions for real-time monitoring and operation of value chains and supply chains, especially to enhance the predictability and optimisation of complex production systems for a better adaptation to disruptions and market fluctuations as well as improved sustainability. This is particularly important when taking into account the impacts and emerging advancements of smart agriculture, smart manufacturing, Digital Twins, and Industry 5.0, where data-driven solutions and AI-enabled decision-making play an important role for improving real-time monitoring, quality control and management, and operational efficiency. This study presents a conceptual framework for integrating Digital Twins into a smart agriculture platform, focusing on the real-time monitoring and operation of the coffee value chain and supply chain, to demonstrate the potential of Digital Twins in advancing smart agriculture and digital supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a mathematical model for agri-food industry residual streams flow management, which serves as a decision support tool for optimizing their valorization. The aim is to determine, under a cost-benefit analysis approach, the best strategy at a global level. The proposed mathematical model provides the optimal valorization scenario, namely the set of routes followed by agri-food industry residual streams that maximizes the total profit obtained. The model takes into account the complete stoichiometry of the residual stream at each step of the valorization route. Furthermore, the model allows for the calculations of different scenarios to support decision-making. The proposed approach is illustrated through a case study using a real-case network of a region. The case study bears evidence that the use of the model can lead to significant profit increases compared to those obtained with current practices. Moreover, notable profit improvements are obtained in the case study if the selling price of all the value-added products considered increases or if the processing cost of the animal feed producer decreases. Therefore, our model enables the detection of key factors that influence the optimal strategy, making it a powerful decision-support tool for optimizing the valorization of agri-food industry residual streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ocean practices, intended as a wide spectrum of methodologies supporting ocean-related research, operations, and applications, are constantly developed and improved to enable informed decision-making. Practices start from the idea of an individual or a group and often evolve towards what can be called good or best practices. This bottom-up approach may in principle result in different paths for the evolution of each practice, and ultimately generate situations where it is not clear to a new user how to compare two practices aiming at the same objective, and determine which one is best. Also, although a best practice is supposed to be the result of a multi-institutional collaborative effort based on the principles of evidence, repeatability and comparability, a set of individual requirements is not yet defined in literature for a practice to be considered a good, better, and ultimately a best practice. This paper proposes a method for addressing those questions and presents a new maturity model for ocean practices, built upon existing maturity models for systems and software, developed and adopted in the last decades. The model provides attributes for assessing both the maturity of the practice description and its implementation. It also provides a framework for analyzing gaps and suggesting actions for practice evolution. The model has been tested against a series of widely adopted practices and the results are reported and discussed. This work facilitates a common approach for developing and assessing practices, from which greater interoperability and trust can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain Technology (BCT) offers several possible applications in the field of electronic commerce (e-commerce), such as decentralised marketplaces or payments in cryptocurrencies. Even though these applications of BCT have already been explored in the academic literature, a comprehensive collection along the whole e-commerce value chain is still missing. Furthermore, the existing comprehensive reviews are based on the academic literature whilst the evolution and further development of BCT is highly driven by practitioners. Therefore, we aim to understand how and why BCT is used in e-commerce based on a qualitative content analysis of news articles, i.e., we apply scientific methods to content which reports the latest developments in the field. As a result, we describe the multiple application domains of BCT along the e-commerce value chain. Subsequently, we discuss the main underlying principles of BCT usage across all the value chain steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate actors in capitalist food systems continue to consolidate ownership of the means of production in ever fewer hands, posing a critical barrier to food sovereignty and to an agroecological transition. Further, corporate influence on the state is often direct and blatant, but there are also more insidious governance barriers– hegemonic structures of power and 'common sense' theories of value that exclude smallholders and local communities from participation in decision-making processes. This is especially pertinent in land use planning and in building processing facilities, usually referred to as 'value chain infrastructure', or what I call the 'intrinsic infrastructure of agroecology'. Using a case study approach, I evaluate the successes and failures of two campaigns for agrarian reform in the Australian state of Victoria, concluding that civil society must act collectively to gain the thick legitimacy needed to work with the state to enact enabling policies for an agroecological transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Value chain interventions have become widespread throughout the international development sector over the last 20 years, and there is a need to evaluate their effectiveness in improving women's welfare across multiple dimensions. Agricultural value chains are influenced by socio‐cultural norms and gender dynamics that have an impact on the distribution of resources, benefits, and access to opportunities. While women play a critical role in agriculture, they are generally confined to the least‐valued parts of the value chain with the lowest economic returns, depending on the local, social and institutional contexts. Objectives: The review assesses the effectiveness of approaches, strategies and interventions focused on women's engagement in agricultural value chains that lead to women's economic empowerment in low‐ and middle‐income countries. It explores the contextual barriers and facilitators that determine women's participation in value chains and ultimately impact their effectiveness. Search Methods: We searched completed and on‐going studies from Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection (Social Sciences Citation Index [SSCI], Science Citation Index Expanded [SCI‐EXPANDED], Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science [CPCI‐S], Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Social Science & Humanities [CPCI‐SSH], and Emerging Sources Citation Index [ESCI]), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, EconLit, Business Source Premier, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane, Database of Systematic Reviews, CAB Abstracts and Sociological Abstracts. We also searched relevant websites such as Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR); the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); AgriProFocus; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); Donor Committee for Enterprise Development; the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the International Labour Organisation (ILO); the Netherlands Development Organisation; USAID; the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; the International Food Policy Research Institute; World Agroforestry; the International Livestock Research Institute; the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; the British Library for Development Studies (BLDS); AGRIS; the IMMANA grant database; the 3ie impact evaluation database; Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA); The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J‐PAL); the World Bank IEG evaluations; the USAID Development Data Library; Experience Clearinghouse; the proceedings of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy conference; the proceedings of the Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) Conference; the proceedings of the North East Universities Development Consortium (NEUDC) Conference; and the World Bank Economic Review. The database search was conducted in March 2022, and the website search was completed in August 2022. Selection Criteria: The review includes value chain interventions evaluating the economic empowerment outcomes. The review includes effectiveness studies (experimental and non‐experimental studies with a comparison group) and process evaluations. Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, critically appraised the studies, and synthesised findings. Results: We found that value chain interventions are successful in improving the economic conditions of their intended beneficiaries. The interventions were found to improve women's economic outcomes such as income, assets holdings, productivity, and savings, but these effects were small in size and limited by low confidence in methodological quality. The meta‐analysis suggests that this occurs more via the acquisition of skills and improved inputs, rather than through improvement in access to profitable markets. The qualitative evidence on interventions points to the persistence of cultural barriers and other constraints. Those interventions implemented in Sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia are consistently more successful for all outcomes considered, although there are few studies conducted in other areas of the world. Conclusions: The review concludes that value chain interventions empower women, but perhaps to a lesser extent than expected. Economic empowerment does not immediately translate into empowerment within families and communities. Interventions should either moderate their expectations of empowerment goals, or they should be implemented in a way that ensures higher rates of participation among women and the acquisition of greater decision‐making power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Economics & Social Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of fourth-generation digital industry platforms makes it possible to integrate production and business processes of digital enterprises. To increase the flexibility of forming value chains of interacting enterprises based on digital platforms, the use of multiagent technology is proposed. To organize a multiagent production system that provides the implementation of the component structure of products and services of a digital enterprise, a set of microservices is justified in the active part of the administrative shells of assets. The article proposes a role model of interaction between agents (administrative shells) of a digital enterprise based on the domain ontology and business model, as determined depending on the stage of the life cycle of products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, banks are facing challenges in fulfilling the interests of stakeholders, not only from an economic point of view, but also in terms of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. This is due to the increasing concern for sustainability issues, including lending activities. Lending activities constitute the largest portion of bank assets and are the largest contributor to bank revenues. Thus, banks need certain business models and strategies to encourage sustainable lending growth; otherwise, it will be difficult for banks to fulfill stakeholder's interests and support sustainable development goals. This study aimed to build a sustainable business model and select sustainable lending strategies in state-owned banks in Indonesia using a value chain approach. The development of a sustainable business model utilizing a triple-layer business model canvas (TLBMC) is based on the results of previous research and sustainability report data of the three state-owned banks. The formulation of strategy selection as the key driver of sustainable lending utilized the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on expert respondent data collected through questionnaires. This research showed that the lending distribution business model at state-owned banks in Indonesia, which was built using the TLBMC framework, can realize sustainability goals in the form of a sustainable lending business model. Furthermore, this sustainable business model can be used as a basis for selecting sustainable strategies. In addition, the AHP results yielded alternative strategies in the form of the market development and penetration of green loans and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the key drivers of sustainable lending growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Lean production has been proved to be a cost-effective and efficient means of production that reduces non-valve added activities. Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is a technology-driven platform that allows machines to interact with other systems through artificial intelligence, machine learning, industrial Internet of Things (IoT), etc. that improve the production system with flexibility, quality and customization throughout the whole value chain. New approaches to digitization of lean production have recently been emerged and they are transforming the industry and increasing productivity throughout the value chain. Through this article, an effort has been made to review the research published in this field. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviews the literature published in various journals, the databases Web of science (WoS), ScienceDirect, Scopus, Emerald etc. were referred with a focus on lean concepts and tools and I4.0 technologies; it has been noticed that the integration of the lean tools with I4.0 technologies is a very effective tool for the industry. Findings: It has been found in the literature published earlier in various journals that lean manufacturing (LM) is commonly acknowledged and considered a best practice to improve the productivity. It is concerned with the tight integration of people into the industrial process through continuous improvement which leads to value addition throughout the whole value chain by eliminating non vale added activities. The findings show that organizations can improve their productivity and flexibility with speed and accuracy by integrating I4.0 technologies with LM, which is foremost need of any industry across the world. Originality/value: This article accentuates the connections between the principles and tools developed under the umbrella of I4.0 and those developed by the LM techniques, with a specific emphasis on how some of the principles and tools of I4.0 improve the implementation of lean principles dependent on the competence levels of the technology. Very few articles have been published in this area, and this paper is an original piece of research covering a review of extant research published in various journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highland bamboo has been traditionally used in building construction, wall partitioning, ceiling, doors, windows, and roofs and has contributed in people's livelihoods. This paper focuses on pinpointing bamboo value chain, its opportunities, and challenges. Site selection and observation, review of existing knowledge, key informant interview and market assessment in the value chain, stakeholders' consultation workshop, processors workspace visit, and group discussion were performed. We found that highland bamboo is a raw material, semi-processed and processed product and sold at different locations passing through different routes based on the request and demand of the customers in the value chain. We identified different bamboo landraces in the studied areas. However, there are knowledge gaps by processors on the use of the different races for different purposes. Traders buy bamboo culms based on their sizes by giving different grades. The price of the product varied from product to product depending on the quality of bamboo raw material/culm used and the time (man-days) required to make the finished product. Local processors' capacity to produce well-finished products is affected due to lack of important machineries and tools. Therefore, introducing and promoting modern processing tools and machines through credit support systems are crucial to make processors more competitive in the value chain. Moreover, the study identified major challenges faced by bamboo growers, culm traders, and processors that have effects on bamboo value chain development. Therefore, it is important to work towards alleviating/minimizing the major challenges in the bamboo value chain considering all actors to strive towards improving the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the aquaculture value chain, what is the status of gender equality and women's empowerment with a particular emphasis on aquaculture? What can be done to bring about gender equality and women's empowerment in the aquaculture sector? This article explores these questions through a systematic review of the extant literature on gender and aquaculture using Nigeria as a case study. A total of 78 articles are analyzed based on the reach-benefitempower-transform framework. The findings show that there is gender inequality within the aquaculture value chain. In most cases, women are mainly concentrated at the nodes of the value chain, which require fewer resources to operate; furthermore, in most cases, women earn less profits compared with their male counterparts. Women's empowerment is still at the nascent stages, while gender related transformation has yet to take root. We recommend that pro-equality gender policies in aquaculture be created and implemented. This calls for the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data and for work at the grassroots level to ensure that the manner in which women, men, boys and girls are treated and allowed to live and function in the communities they reside engenders development, harmony, gender equality and prosperity. Finally, we recommend that the reach-benefit-empowertransform framework be expanded to facilitate the evaluation of program/project-based studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that Norwegian aquaculture firms strongly emphasize environmental and social sustainability, and this study aims to assess if the pattern is consistent across the value chain and consistent independent of suppliers' amount of sales to fish farming. Also, it studies if value chain position and sales to fish farming are associated with innovation activities. Empirically, the study compares survey data between firms in the aquaculture industry and other industries as reference groups. The results show that aquaculture firms across the value chain overall emphasize environmental and social sustainability more than actors in the reference industries. For suppliers, the emphasis is strongest for those with high sales to fish farming. Another finding is that aquaculture firms' innovation activities are relatively strong among firms providing services and input factors, particularly among suppliers with high sales to fish farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, third largest fish producer, and second largest aquaculture producer. There have been numerous studies of aquaculture and fisheries in Nigeria, but no study to date has analyzed aquaculture and capture fisheries value chains together, while giving equal weight to all value chain segments and systematically capturing information on temporal trends in value chain structure, conduct, and performance. This paper does so. Methods: We conducted a structured, qualitative, rapid reconnaissance survey of 180 actors from eight segments of the aquatic food value chain in three Nigerian states with contrasting geographies, Ebonyi, Kebbi, and Oyo. Results: Results particularly important for future research and policy are as follows. (1) Partial vertical integration is a common feature of the organization of firms in all value chain segments, as a risk reduction strategy to overcome market imperfections and frictions. Scarcity and high cost of imported intermediate inputs is stimulating local innovation and import substitution manufacturing of feeds and fabricated items. (2) Inter-sectoral spillovers from the poultry industry have hastened the development of fish value chains, while improvements in power supply have enabled the expansion of cold storage capacity, facilitating the geographical lengthening of frozen fish value chains. (3) Rapid technological and/or institutional change is occurring in all value chain segments, including those usually viewed as traditional, such as processing and fishing. Logistics services are becoming more specialized and sophisticated, and digital communications technologies including social media play an increasingly important role in value chain coordination and marketing. (4) Increasing opportunity costs of time drive demand for convenience foods such as smoked and fried fish, which require little further preparation and can be stored at room temperature. Demand for farmed catfish is linked to growing consumption of food away from home at bars and restaurants. (5) Significant opportunities exist to improve the performance of value chains in terms of gender equity, environmental impacts, and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are an evolving field to produce sustainable nutritious food with low environmental impact. To shape the emerging European value chain in a sustainable way, all actors and processes need to be considered. This article builds on the results of multi-stakeholder scenario workshops organised within the EC-H2020-funded project ProFuture. It investigates the roles different actors along the microalgae value chain hold to shape it. A qualitative analysis identified three actor groups: (1) microalgae producers and processors, and researchers who work with microalgae and their development, (2) policy makers, and large industrial players, who influence the political and economic possibilities of the microalgae value chain and (3) consumers, who play a key role in order to root sustainable microalgae food products in the market. The paper shows how these groups interlink and draws conclusions about their roles for shaping the European microalgae value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural research for development agencies in sub-Saharan Africa increasingly implements innovation platforms (IPs) to address institutional barriers to innovation in smallholder agriculture. This research aims to understand the activities, actions or arrangements that were mediated by a multilevel set of IPs to sustain the use of livestock feeding practices in the Ethiopian Highlands. Data was collected two years after the multilevel IPs had been phased out to ascertain if innovation outcomes had been sustained beyond the life of the project. The study identified specific IP interventions that constrained or enabled sustained use of the livestock innovations among two groups of smallholders based on their livestock production objective, i.e., commercially oriented or subsistence. Where the feed innovations had been tailored to specific enterprises and aligned to farmers' production goals, such as improved dairy farming, they were sustained. Transitioning to a livestock feed system was enabled in the case of commercially oriented smallholders and remained a challenge for subsistence-oriented smallholders, especially where access to forage seeds and affordable input services is limited. Finally mechanisms and strategies to inform similar future interventions to support the development of different groups of farmers along the value chain to achieve impact beyond project period are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on data, as one of the creative economy sectors, the game industry has much potential to boost the Indonesian economy. The total market value of the games industry in Indonesia is US$ 1.92 billion or 25 trillion rupiah. However, This qualitative research uses interview methods with key informants, observation, and literature study, with purposive sampling as a sampling technique. The results show that the core industry value chain of the game industry cluster consists of Game Developers and Game Publishers and is supported by Supply industries (hardware providers, HR, digital content, and financial services) and supporting industries (marketing, logistics, law, and networks). There are related institutions/institutions such as the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Indonesian Game Association. This industry is also related to animation, music, e-sports and tourism. This value chain ends with buyers. This research recommends concrete steps for relevant agencies to enhance the gaming industry ecosystem through human resource development, increasing access to financing, promotion and providing technological infrastructure. Collaboration across industries is expected to increase the global competitiveness and contribute significantly to the national creative economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food industry is facing crises, such as loss of habitat for biodiversity and poor working conditions for farm workers, as well as pressures, especially from external stakeholders, that are leading companies in the sector to move toward responsible sourcing. The literature on this topic has grown considerably over the last ten years and sheds light on the processes and practices for responsible sourcing that food companies have developed. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, no systematic review has attempted to bring together this scattered literature. Based on 92 articles, this scoping review provides a comprehensive map of the current literature and highlights the main practices in this area. The findings show that critical aspects of responsible sourcing—such as supplier selection methods, the involvement of top management and the consideration of specific issues such as forced labor and diversity—are overlooked in the literature, while other issues are widely covered, such as collaborative relationships between companies and suppliers, certification and labeling, the development of new processes and products, and sustainable transport. This literature review can serve as a guide for all those interested in responsible sourcing practices. Interesting avenues for future research are suggested based on the literature review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue d'Économie Régionale & urbaine is the property of Librairie Armand Colin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Indian economy has been growing rapidly in the post liberalisation period since 1991. India's share of global GDP has grown between 2017 and 2023, rising from 3.2% to 7.59%. However, India's export performance lags in comparison to the growth of its GDP. India's export performance marginally improved from 1.7% in 2018 to 2.1% in 2022, despite exports having expanded to 115 countries. While the ranking of merchandise export advanced to 17th, share of value-added improved only marginally from 1.7% in 2014 to 1.82% in 2023. The FDI inflows and GVC participation delivers a plethora of benefits such as knowledge spill overs, access to technology, productivity growth, job creation and improved competitiveness. India with its specialisation and comparative advantage in low, medium and high-skilled labour and technology-intensive manufacturing has benefited from both FDI inflows and GVC participation. Nevertheless, India's integration into GVC is slow and significantly lower compared to other emerging economies. This descriptive study attempts to identify the determinants of GVC participation, and constraints faced by MSMEs in GVC integration. The study recommends intensive augmentation of service inputs to increase MSME involvement for higher capacity utilisation and improve integration of both Domestic Value Chain (DVC) and Global Value Chains (GVC) for improving the overall performance of the MSMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyzes the profiles of Ecuadorian companies according to the maturity of the value chain in the fields of planning, installed capacity, maintenance, and technology. Cluster analysis was used with a sample of 120 microenterprises located in the south of Ecuador. The study showed that technology is a differentiating factor in innovation performance, and planning is a factor highly related to the innovative and organizational performance levels in microenterprises. The findings contribute to the resource-based view (RBV) and provide relevant information for Ecuadorian enterprise managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquefied natural gas (LNG), recognized as the fossil fuel with the lowest carbon emission intensity, is a crucial transitional energy source in the global shift towards low-carbon energy. As the natural gas industry undergoes rapid expansion, the complexity of investment business models has increased significantly. Optimizing the combination of various segments within the value chain has become standard practice, making it essential to control risks and enhance economic benefits in these multifaceted scenarios. This paper introduces an integrated economic model encompassing upstream, liquefaction, shipping, regasification, and consumption, suitable for both upstream and downstream integration. The model offers a comprehensive analysis of the primary business models and key factors across each segment of the value chain. By constructing a robust economic evaluation framework, the study aims to provide a holistic approach to understanding the economic feasibility of LNG projects. Two detailed case studies are conducted to demonstrate the application and effectiveness of the proposed model, highlighting its capability to guide investment decisions, support risk management, and optimize asset portfolios. The integrated economic model developed in this study serves as a valuable tool for stakeholders in the LNG industry. It not only facilitates informed investment decision-making but also enhances the strategic management of risks and resources. By leveraging this model, investors and managers can better navigate the complexities of the LNG business, ensuring sustainable and economically viable operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the financial performance of cotton processing plants. Adilabad and Nalgonda Districts in Telangana state were selected as study locations and data were gathered from a sample of 10 ginning mills, 10 spinning mills, 10 weaving mills, one dyeing and printing mill and one garment manufacturing unit by using the personal interview technique. To analyze the collected data breakeven analysis and profitability ratios namely gross profit margin, operating profit margin, pre-tax margin and net profit margin were worked out. The study revealed that all cotton processing plants are processing enough additional cotton than is required to achieve breakeven point and profitable ratios are also shown positive financial position and shock absorbing capacity of the processing units. The highest gross profit margin was observed in garment manufacturing unit (23.11%) followed by spinning mills (21.92%). Whereas, highest net profit margin was seen in weaving mills (8.13%) followed by garment manufacturing unit (7.02%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green innovation value chain is a key step in transforming green, innovative scientific, and technological achievements into productive forces. The establishment of green innovation value chains based on value distribution rather than technical conditions can effectively overcome the common bottleneck faced by different nations during their green innovation endeavors, namely, the substitution of conventional products with green alternatives. This study investigates the impeded diffusion of green products and their underlying causes, analyzes the internal structure and mechanism of the green innovation value chain, and explores the establishment of regional green innovation value chains and the models available for value chain upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]