The impact of adopting blockchain in the food supply chain: a scoping review

Background: Blockchain technology, which is identified as the top trend in next generation supply chain development, facilitates the distribution of products, increases organizational flexibility in the face of changing demand or supply situations, and boosts the efficiency of the supply chain. Blockchain technology is still in the process of being accepted by small and medium-sized organizations in the food supply chain. This has the effect of creating a gap between them and large organizations and slowing down the adoption of new technologies that can make organizations more efficient. The objective of this review is to produce a comprehensive mapping of the impact of blockchain on the food supply chain. Method: This scoping review of the literature was conducted using two databases, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus, to identify the nature of the published scientific literature on this topic and the emerging themes related to blockchain in food supply chain studies. Result: This study found five main themes and eleven sub-themes in relation to blockchain technology in the context of the food supply chain. The main themes are Empowering Transparency, Optimizing Operations, Navigating Success, Cultivating Resilience, and Elevating Accountability. The review indicates that most of the studies seek to understand the impact of blockchain on the food supply chain. Conclusion: Several advantages, such as system workflow, management commitment, supply chain partners, supply chain disruption, and technology, are conferred on companies by blockchain technology. As a result, companies that adopt blockchain are able to achieve more efficient and effective results. The findings from this scoping review indicate that blockchain technology has a significant impact on the food supply chain. Therefore, organizations should consider blockchain technology as a platform for increasing efficiency. It also provides a comprehensive overview of how an organization can effectively manage its internal or external environment, making it more prepared to deal with any changes that may occur. This offers avenues for future research, as more comprehensive research is required to further investigate the effect of blockchain on food supply chain competitiveness in the context of SMEs.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki (2025).