Urban Freight Last Mile Logistics-Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Sustainability: A Literature Review

Last mile logistics (LML) is the least efficient and complex part of supply chain. The main objective of this study was to identify major challenges of urban freight LML and opportunities for intervention. For this, 42 peer-reviewed full papers published after 2010 and three additional references were used. The findings indicated that urban freight flow has a trend of steady growth. The main driving forces behind this steady growth are population growth, urbanization, densification, globalization, online and omni-channel (OC) retailing, and urban economic development. Using typology analysis, three main potential freight LML configurations were mapped and discussed. Freight LML configurations that involve light cargo vehicles and cargo bike-based delivery schemes could be more attractive freight LML models if the delivery failure is minimized. The LML challenges were categorized as technological, infrastructural, LML system and management, and logistic cost related challenges, and discussed broadly. Similarly, the potential opportunities were discussed from environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects. Finally, this report has pinpointed future potential research agendas related to LML. The study could be a knowledge base useful for academicians and practitioners, logistics and technical service providers, policy makers, and customers

Prodotti alimentari biologici: definizione, principi e regole

I contenuti principali includono: - Definizione di alimenti biologici - Norme e procedure per la produzione di alimenti biologici - Percezione dei consumatori sul prodotto biologico - Vincoli e opportunità del metodo di produzione di alimenti biologic

The role of blockchain technology in promoting traceability systems in agri-food production and supply chains

Due to recurring food quality and safety issues, growing segments of consumers, especially in developed markets, and regulators in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) require a fast and trustworthy system to retrieve necessary information on their food products. With the existing centralized traceability systems used in AFSCs, it is difficult to acquire full traceability information, and there are risks of information loss and data tampering. To address these challenges, research on the application of blockchain technology (BCT) for traceability systems in the agri-food sector is increasing, and startup companies have emerged in recent years. However, there have been only a limited number of reviews on the application of BCT in the agriculture sector, especially those that focus on the BCT-based traceability of agricultural goods. To bridge this knowledge gap, we reviewed 78 studies that integrated BCT into traceability systems in AFSCs and additional relevant papers, mapping out the main types of food traceability information. The findings indicated that the existing BCT-based traceability systems focus more on fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, and milk. A BCT-based traceability system enables one to develop and implement a decentralized, immutable, transparent, and reliable system in which process automation facilitates the monitoring of real-time data and decision-making activities. We also mapped out the main traceability information, key information providers, and challenges and benefits of the BCT-based traceability systems in AFSCs. These helped to design, develop, and implement BCT-based traceability systems, which, in turn, will contribute to the transition to smart AFSC systems. This study comprehensively illustrated that implementing BCT-based traceability systems also has important, positive implications for improving AFSC management, e.g., reductions in food loss and food recall incidents and the achievement of the United Nations SDGs (1, 3, 5, 9, 12). This will contribute to existing knowledge and be useful for academicians, managers, and practitioners in AFSCs, as well as policymakers

Swedish Consumers’ Perception of Food Quality and Sustainability in Relation to Organic Food Production

Consumers’ demand for locally produced and organic foods has increased in Sweden. This paper presents the results obtained from the analysis of data acquired from 100 consumers in Sweden who participated in an online survey during March to June 2016. The objective was to identify consumers’ demand in relation to organic food and sustainable food production, and to understand how the consumers evaluate food quality and make buying decisions. Qualitative descriptions, descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi-square test (with alpha value of p < 0.05 as level of significance), and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for analysis. About 72% of participants have the perception that organic food production method is more sustainable than conventional methods. Female consumers have more positive attitudes than men towards organic food. However, age difference, household size and income level do not significantly influence the consumers’ perception of sustainable food production concepts. Regionality, sustainable methods of production and organic production are the most important parameters to characterize the food as high quality and make buying decisions. On the other hand, product uniformity, appearance, and price were found to be relatively less important parameters. Food buying decisions and food quality were found to be highly related with Pearson’s correlation coefficient of r = 0.99

Klusterbildning och logistik network integration av lokal mat supply chain

In the agriculture sector, globalization of food production has considerably influenced the food supply system by increasing distance the food has to be transported to reach consumers. This situation not only has increased emissions of greenhouse gases but also has reduced the relationship between local food producers and consumers, affecting local food producers, their environment and culture. In this study, local food supply chain characteristics were investigated using data from some local food producers and existing large-scale food distribution centers from entire Sweden. A coordinated distribution system of locally produced food was developed to improve logistics efficiency; reduce environmental impact; increase potential market for local food producers and to improve traceability of food origin for consumers. For this, integrated logistics networks were developed by forming clusters of producers and determining the optimum collection centers of food products for each cluster. These food collection centers could be linked to food producers, food distributors and consumers/retailers enabling coordinated distribution of local food products and facilitated the integration of food distribution from the collection centers into large scale food distribution channels. The analysis carried out using tools such as Geographic Information System and Route LogiX software indicated that integrating the logistics activities in the delivery system of local food has advantages. It reduced the transport distance and time and the number routes of food collection and distribution. The possibility of integration of local food distributions into large scale food distribution channels increased the potential market for local food producers. These indicate its positive impact on environmental issue and traceability of food quality and origin. However, in this study, the locations of the customers of each producer and the existing delivery routes from producers to customers could not be mapped due to the shortage of data. Therefore, site specific and more detailed further studies have been recommended

Module 8 Sustainability of Organic products/Nachhaltigkeitskonzepte ökologischer Produkte/Concetti di sostenibilità nell'industria alimentare

Sustainability in the food value chain (FVC) is becoming a challenge due to increasing world population, urbanisation, scarcity of resources, spatial and temporal fluctuations in food availability

Evaluation of a smart system for the optimization of logistics performance of a pruning biomass value chain

The paper presents a report on the performance evaluation of a newly developed smart logistics system (SLS). Field tests were conducted in Spain, Germany, and Sweden. The evaluation focused on the performance of a smart box tool (used to capture information during biomass transport) and a web-based information platform (used to monitor the flow of agricultural pruning from farms to end users and associated information flow). The tests were performed following a product usability testing approach, considering both qualitative and quantitative parameters. The detailed performance evaluation included the following: systematic analysis of 41 recordable parameters (stored in a spreadsheet database), analysis of feedback and problems encountered during the tests, and overall quality analysis applying the product quality model adapted from ISO/IEC FDIS 9126-1 standard. The data recording and storage and the capability to support product traceability and supply chain management were found to be very satisfactory, while assembly of smart box components (mainly the associated cables), data transferring intervals, and manageability could be improved. From the data retrieved during test activities, in more than 95% of the parameters within 41 columns, the expected values were displayed correctly. Some errors were observed, which might have been caused mainly by barriers that could hinder proper data recording and transfer from the smart box to the central database. These problems can be counteracted and the performance of the SLS can be improved so that it can be upgraded to be a marketable tool that can promote sustainable biomass-to-energy value chains

Concetti di sostenibilità nell'industria alimentare

I contenuti principali includono: 1. Aspetti generali 2. Impatti dei prodotti biologici selezionati 3. Aspetti economici dei prodotti biologici selezionat

Modul 1: Organic products/Biolebensmittel/ Prodotti alimentari biologici

Organic food production sector should be linked to sustainable food production and it should mainly use locally available renewable resources as well as wastes and by-products of plant and animal origin