Purpose This study systematically maps the intellectual structure and evolution of food supply chain research over three decades (1995–2026), identifying key themes, influential sources, and emerging trends to guide future research directions. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted on 2,125 documents from 628 sources contributed by 6,903 authors. Four advanced bibliometric techniques were systematically employed: Bradford's Law analysis to identify core publication sources, keyword co-occurrence mapping to reveal thematic clusters, citation network analysis to determine influential works, and temporal trend examination to track research evolution. All analyses were performed using the R-based bibliometrix package (version 4.1.0), ensuring methodological transparency and reproducibility. Findings The analysis reveals a sustained 9.3% annual growth rate in publications and an average of 34.13 citations per document, confirming the field's scholarly impact. Two primary research clusters emerged: a sustainability-oriented cluster focusing on food waste, circular economy, and supply chain resilience; and a technology-oriented cluster emphasizing blockchain, traceability, and food safety. Temporal analysis demonstrates the emergence of digital technologies—particularly blockchain, artificial intelligence, and machine learning—after 2020, alongside heightened attention to COVID-19 impacts and supply chain resilience. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive bibliometric study spanning three decades of food supply chain research. The study makes three distinct contributions: it provides a systematic science map of the field's intellectual structure; generates empirical evidence for the convergence of technology and sustainability paradigms in food supply chain scholarship; and delivers a structured, evidence-based research agenda identifying specific gaps for future inquiry. These contributions offer researchers, practitioners, and policymakers a rigorous foundation for evidence-based decision-making in this critical domain.
This study examines how data-driven decision-making and information systems shape supply chain efficiency, sustainability practices, and technological integration in an urban agriculture enterprise, with a focus on rejection and redistribution procedures as a decision-support mechanism for waste management. The objectives were to assess how real-time monitoring tools, IT-based order-processing platforms, and other information systems support supply chain and sustainability decision-making, and how such systems inform the firm's waste-management strategy. A quantitative approach was adopted, stratifying 100 stakeholders consumers, suppliers, farm operators, and distribution partners using structured questionnaires, with descriptive statistics applied to assess performance across key decision areas. A purposively selected agribusiness enterprise committed to supply chain performance was found to have moderate-to-high efficacy in timely delivery management, real-time monitoring tools, and order-processing IT platforms that collectively support operational decision-making. Sustainability is improved through decisions favouring biodegradable packaging and local, seasonal sourcing. Technological integration, including transparency mechanisms and smart packaging, informs the firm's decision processes, although blockchain adoption remains limited in practice. Effective rejection and redistribution decision processes reduce waste, divert surplus to productive channels, and directly support the company's zero-waste objectives. The findings show that supply chain excellence and environmental responsibility are mutually reinforcing when decision-making is supported by the right information systems: biodegradable packaging, in-house waste-management systems, and selective use of emerging technologies collectively strengthen operational performance. By embedding data-driven decision-support at every stage of its supply chain, the enterprise offers a model for responsible, information-systems-enabled agritech decision-making that balances efficiency, food safety, and long-term environmental sustainability.
Open access
Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Circular economy (CE) has become prevalent worldwide due to its economic and environmental benefits. More and more practitioners have deployed CE in supply chains to improve operational efficiency and sustainability. Thus, the integration of CE and supply chain has developed a new concept: circular supply chain (CSC). In particular, the CE model could remarkably reduce food waste within food supply chains (FSCs) and diminish the environmental impact from FSCs. Such a FSC that adopts CE principle is known as circular food supply chain (CFSC). However, lack of technical support for effective communication is a significant difficulty in developing CFSCs. Blockchain technology (BCT) could be the potential solution to this problem because of its decentralisation, public information sharing, high traceability and transparency, high security etc. Although many researchers have studied CFSCs in recent years, few studies investigate BCT as an impetus for CFSC development. Therefore, this research will fill this gap, focusing on the feasibility of BCT-based CFSCs, how BCT can establish CFSCs, and possible barriers. In addition, a few recommendations on developing BCT-based CFSCs will be provided.