The Adoption of Blockchain In Supply Chain: Is Supply Chain Ready?

Recently, blockchain technology is getting its recognition in the supply chain. After the existence of bitcoin, which blockchain acts as its underlying technology, people started to recognise the advantages of the blockchain. Blockchain has been expected to eliminate unnecessary cost and at the same time, help in improving productivity by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness in daily operation. In the era of Industrial 4.0, the collaboration of blockchain technology with other autonomous technology is necessary to achieve customer satisfaction. However, based on the current practices, blockchain is yet to be adopted by all the parties in the supply chain. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the factors which are affecting the adoption of blockchain technology in the supply chain. Factors identified are perceived benefits, top management support and supply chain partner readiness. The primary data has been collected through a structured questionnaire survey. The simple random sampling method has been used to target and collect data from suitable respondents. In conclusion, the outcome of this study is expected to identify the factors affecting the adoption of the blockchain as well as to guide the organisation to act according to increase the level of adoption

Managing E-Waste Using the Symbiosis Perspective

The production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) specifically mobile devices is one of the fastest growing global manufacturing activities. This development has resulted in an increase of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). Rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and growing demand for consumer goods, has increased both the consumption of EEE and the production of WEEE, which can be a source of hazardous wastes that pose a risk to the environment and to sustainable economic growth. WEEE includes discarded electronic and electrical equipment. Managing WEEE typically is complex and requires a structured disposal method. However, the process of disposal WEEE sustainably started with a proper sorting and separating from the source, therefore the consumers are under assumption should be aware of the WEEE disposal method. The paper has found consumers are required to have higher awareness level and this awareness level is influenced by two situational factors which are engagement process and supporting facilities and consumers knowledge on the WEEE itself. Both situational and personal factors are concomitantly necessary to improve the recapturing of WEEE back into the supply chain. This phenomenon is considered symbiotic whereby both factors are equally important in order to acquire sustainability in improving the backwards movement in the logistics

A 'symbiosis effect' perspective to understand reverse logistics and household recycling waste systems

Paper presented at 19th ISL, 2014, Ho Chi Minh The essence of the problem with waste is that it is by definition something that is not wanted. We argue here that achieving a sustainable solution requires consideration of both regulatory responsibilities and social norms (Deutz and Frostick, 2009). Landfill costs levy a high financial impact on municipalities due to the environmental directives that compel them to collect and recycle household waste. More efficient and effective systems are therefore crucial for municipalities from both a financial and environmental perspective. Thus, householders and municipalities “symbiotically” working together in a natural system could enhance sustainable living (Fennell and Weaver, 2005; Ehrenreich, 2002). This paper reports on the first two stages of a PhD research study project conducted within the two municipalities in the North of England. This research investigates the relationship between the sustainability and effectiveness of household recycling systems and household recycling behavior, reveals how factors associated with household recycling systems affect household recycling behaviour, and how household recycling behaviour affect the provision of household recycling systems by the local authorities. The main objective is to reveal and explain the interaction and symbiosis. In fact, this study has found that a ‘symbiosis effect’ perspective appears to be a robust framework to bring together effective household waste recycling systems and sustainable development considerations to enhance both sustainability and the economy. Further, the study provides empirical evidence examining both situational and personal factors of households and their interactions, which were previously not well-understood. This study has incorporated behavioural aspects in the reverse logistics process that should help improve the municipalities’ planning processes. Also, municipalities may be more adaptive to the changing behaviour of their constituents and more willing to change their waste and recycling strategies to more sustainable methods. The paper is structured as follows. The literature reviews from multiple lenses of multiple disciplines and research design that accessible for interdisciplinary study and the current findings with discussion as well as conclusion that explain and encapsulate symbiosis effect perspective in understanding reverse logistics and household waste recycling system (HRWS)

Editorial: CRISPR-Cas in Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges

CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology is developing at a rapid pace and new molecular tools, such as CRISPR nucleases, are becoming regularly available. As part of this Research Topic, Bandyopadhyay et al. provide a comprehensive overview of Cas12a, a CRISPR nuclease formerly known as Cpf1. In their review article, the authors cover structural and mechanistic aspects of Cas12a in comparison with Cas9, the most commonly used CRISPR nuclease. They also highlight uses of Cas12a for the purpose of improving agriculturally important traits in various crops. An overview of Cas9 genome editing applications in plants is provided by El-Mounadi et al. who introduce the reader to the mechanism of Cas9 activity, methods of its delivery to plant cells (i.e., transformation techniques), give examples of improving crop traits using CRISPR-Cas9, and touch on biosafety and regulatory aspects associated with genome editing. A number of countries (e.g., the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Japan) have already exempted genome edited crops, which do not carry transgenic DNA or novel combination of genetic material (i.e., not similarly achievable through conventional breeding), from being regulated similarly to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as genetically engineered (GE) organisms (Schmidt et al., 2020). Although the above-mentioned countries have passed legislation allowing cultivation of genome edited crops without GE regulation, the public dialogue and policy developments on the issue are evolving. In the case of Japan, Tabei et al. analyse Twitter conversation on genome-edited foods and their labelling over the period from May to October 2019. The analysis reveals that 54.5% of relevant tweets were statements opposed to food produced using genome edited crops, while only 7% were statements in favour of it. The remaining 38.5% of tweets were statements deemed neutral. Although the analysis was not necessarily representative of the wider Japanese society due to bias among Twitter users, the study underlines the importance of a continuous public dialogue on the issue of genome edited crops in Japan and the rest of the world

The impact of access to finance in boosting agricultural performance of small and medium farmers: Literature review

The study proposes a model that shows the moderating effect of managerial competency on the relationship between access to finance and agricultural performance. After a critical review of the relevant literature, the proposed model was developed. From the model we argue that access to finance has a direct impact on agricultural performance, but the impact will be stronger when managerial competency is put into consideration by the small and medium farmers. Farmers who possess the needed managerial competency have the opportunity to achieve a competitive edge over their competitors

What's Up Omni? The Relationship Between Omni-Channel Supply Chain and Logistics Service Quality In Influencing Online Purchasing Behaviour

Consumer behavior had been affected by the evolution of digital technologies and the internet. Online shopping is becoming more popular, with e-commerce market growth that encourages the involvement of retailers. However, consumers' satisfaction is still the same as they request for a seamless and frictionless shopping experience, an 'Omni-channel supply chain.' Retailers need to understand the new phenomenon and how the concept is influencing customer purchasing behavior, especially online shopping. Several types of research had highlighted the importance of logistics service quality in predicting online purchasing behavior. Thus, this study investigates the relationship between the Omni-channel supply chain and logistics service quality in influencing online purchasing behavior. A survey-based approach is used to collect data from consumers about their perceptions. Overall, the study had enhanced the understanding of the relationship between the Omni-channel supply chain and logistics service quality with online purchasing behavior. Besides, the knowledge of online purchasing behavior in the Omni-channel context has enabled a retailer to allocate resources in designing new strategies. 

Recycling behaviour among Malaysian tertiary students

Tertiary institutions are considered as “small cities” and the enculturation of sustainable practices are vital due to its size and the impact that campus activities have on the environment and society.The sustainable practices such as recycling and reduction of carbon footprint are one of the examples that may lead to greening the tertiary institution and sustainable quest for UI Green Metric achievement.The tertiary campus is seen as offering an ideal setting for exploring and practicing sustainability.This study explored the current recycling behaviour in a tertiary setting; using a survey design to address the research questions and objectives.Study found that the tertiary students are prone to recycling due to the situational factors which are convenience and incentive as well as personal factors which included knowledge and social norm.Study concluded that in achieving the UI Green Metric, tertiary institutions should offer a convenience setting that indirectly enculturates the sustainable practices among the campus community

The influence factors of e-logistics implementation in China: The conceptual framework

Since from last decade, the e-logistic industry of China facing different issues due to high volume worldwide.To address this issue, this study introducing a framework to mitigate various issues of e-logistic in China. Therefore, the prime objective of the current study is to examine the factors influencing e-logistics in China.To achieve this objective, the current study examines the effect of distribution rate, transit time, payment and information and communication technology (ICT) on e-logistic.It is found that distribution rate and transit time has a significant positive relationship with e-logistic. Moreover, it is found that ICT playing a mediating role between payment and e-logistic. Hence, this study contributes to the body of knowledge by introducing a research framework to enhance the performance of e-logistic, particularly in China. Furthermore, this research study introduced information and communication technology (ICT) by updating the concept of IT (information technology).Thus, the current study is beneficial for the e-logistic industry to enhance the performance by employing the current model

Reverse logistics in household recycling and waste systems : a symbiosis perspective.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the proposition that there is a symbiosis effect for exchanges between household waste recycling systems (HWRSs) and household recycling behaviour (HRB) within the reverse logistics (RL) discourse. Design/methodology/approach – The paper contains empirical findings from a two phase, multi-method approach comprising consecutive inductive and deductive investigations. The qualitative and quantitative data underpin exploratory and explanatory findings which broaden and deepen the understanding of this phenomenon. Findings – Analysis identified significant interactions between situational and personal factors, specifically demographic factors, affecting HRB with key factors identified as engagement, convenience, availability and accessibility. Research limitations/implications – Findings confirm the existence of a symbiosis effect between situational and personal factors and inform current research trends in the environmental sciences, behavioural and logistics literature, particularly identifying consumers as being an important pivot point between forward and RL flows. Practical implications – Findings should inform RL-HWRSs design by municipalities looking to more effectively manage MSW and enhance recycling and sustainability. RL practitioners should introduce systems to support recovery of MSW in sympathy with communication and education initiatives to affect HRB and should also appreciate a symbiosis effect in the design of HWRSs. Social implications – The social implications of improved recycling performances in municipalities are profound. Even incremental improvements in the performance of HWRSs can lead to enhanced sustainability through higher recycling rates, reduced diversion of MSW to landfill, decreases in pollution levels, reduced carbon footprints and reduction in depletion of scarce natural resources. Originality/value – The paper marks an early contribution to the study of symbiosis in HWRSs and HRB pertaining to RL. Findings are offered that identify the key situational and personal factors that interact to affect enhanced HWRSs and also offer insights above those available in current multi-disciplinary literature that has largely examined such factors in isolation. Conclusions offer the possibility of an epistemological bridge between the social and natural sciences