Transparency and value creation in agri-food chains : a multi-stakeholder perspective

The global agri-food system is a highly complex and rapidly evolving network, involving numerous stakeholders and facing a multitude of challenges. On the supply side, farmers often hold economically vulnerable positions. Despite their essential role in production, they typically contribute only a small portion of the added value and consequently capture a limited share, which diminishes their financial returns and weakens their bargaining power. On the demand side, consumers are increasingly seeking transparency regarding the origin and production methods of their food, driven by growing concerns about quality, safety and sustainability. Contextual factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have further amplified this demand, particularly as consumers became more sensitive to health risks. In response to these complexities, transparency has emerged as a critical factor in modern agri-food supply chains, serving as a fundamental requirement for improving efficiency, equity and trust across this increasingly globalized system. In this context, this dissertation explores how transparency can drive value creation in agri-food supply chains in two key ways: by enhancing the distribution of value and by fostering additional value creation. This research examines transparency from three different angles: the supply side, investigating how greater transparency between farmers and buyers can improve outcomes for farmers; the demand side, focusing on how experiential elements in short food supply chains can enhance transparency; and contextual factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing whether transparent communication can address evolving safety concerns

COVID-19 safety measures in the food service sector : consumers’ attitudes and transparency perceptions at three different stages of the pandemic

The food service sector was among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine consumers' attitudes towards and transparency perceptions of COVID-19-related safety measures and to identify determinants of consumers' intentions and behaviour regarding visiting restaurants and bars once reopened. By also surveying food service businesses, this study allows for comparison between both target groups. A total of 1697 consumers and 780 businesses participated in this study, conducted in Belgium both during and in between waves of infections. The findings demonstrate that consumers evaluated safety measures as important when revisiting restaurants and bars, against business owners' expectations. Both consumers' revisit intentions and behaviours are influenced by the perceived importance of hygiene measures (negatively) and past visit frequency (positively). This study highlights the importance of good compliance with safety measures as a strategy to attract customers during the reopening period. Further, our findings emphasize the importance of transparent communication by food service businesses and the government