Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

journal homepage: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-agriculture-and-food-research

Food cold chain logistics and management: A review of current

development and emerging trends
Muhammad Firdaus Mujibuddin Syah Mustafa * , Namasivayam Navaranjan , Amer Demirovic
School of Applied Sciences and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Purpose: This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of Food Cold Chain Logistics and Management (FCCLM)
Food cold chain logistic management literature to identify key discussions influencing its development and highlight current and emerging trends. The
Food supply chain study aims to uncover major research themes, trends, and gaps, providing a comprehensive overview of FCCLM
bibliometric analysis
research.
sustainability
Agriculture
Design/methodology/approach: Using bibliometric analysis via VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, data from over 114
academic publications in Scopus is examined to identify influential contributors and patterns in FCCLM litera-
ture. The study involves several stages, including data acquisition, preprocessing, and bibliometric assessments
like co-occurrence, citation, and co-citation analyses.
Findings: The research reveals significant growth in FCCLM literature, particularly contributions from developed
nations. The study identifies six primary research clusters: (1) Integrated Cold Chain and Logistics Management,
(2) Sustainable Cold Chain Logistics, (3) Cold Chain Logistics for Food Safety, (4) Optimizing Food Storage and
Shelf Life, (5) Blockchain and Digital Solutions in Food Supply Chain, and (6) Leveraging AI and RFID for Cost-
Effective Quality Control. Key findings include the increasing emphasis on sustainability and technological ad-
vancements, such as RFID and IoT, that enhance traceability and operational efficiency. Despite these ad-
vancements, significant gaps remain in understanding the practical application of these technologies, the impact
of climate change, and the need for better human factors and training in cold chain logistics.
Practical implications: The insights are crucial for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners involved in FCCLM.
Understanding the current research landscape will help identify research needs, promote sustainable, tech-
advanced practices, and foster collaboration to improve the global food supply chain’s efficiency and resilience.
Originality: This study comprehensively reviews FCCLM literature, identifying trends and highlighting future
research areas. It offers a unique perspective on the evolution of FCCLM research, emphasizing the importance of
sustainability and technological advancements in overcoming challenges.

1. Introduction standards of quality and safety [2].

FCCLM extends beyond simple logistics, embracing a wide array of
Food Cold Chain Logistics and Management (FCCLM) are compre- necessary facilities and methods involved in transportation, storage and
hensive approaches that ensure the preservation, quality, and safety of distribution. These components work in concert to preserve not only the
perishable goods to be delivered effectively from the point of origin to physical quality but also the quantity of perishable food products as they
the consumer. This multifaceted system encompasses the strategic move through every link of the supply chain [3]. The intricacies of
implementation of infrastructure, stakeholder integration, and the FCCLM also include the careful orchestration of a value chain that caters
enhancement of both value and performance across the cold chain [1]. to both food items and pharmaceuticals, highlighting criteria such as
At its core, FCCLM maintains perishable foods within optimal temper- transportation efficiency, warehousing costs, logistics infrastructure,
ature ranges throughout their transport and storage, thereby ensuring and customer service, alongside the reliability and network manage-
these items reach consumers in a condition that meets the highest ment crucial for sustaining the cold chain’s integrity [4]. A particular

* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected] (M.F.M.S. Mustafa), [email protected] (N. Navaranjan), [email protected]
(A. Demirovic).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101343
Received 6 July 2024; Received in revised form 30 July 2024; Accepted 3 August 2024
Available online 5 August 2024
2666-1543/© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc/4.0/).
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

focus within FCCLM is temperature management for chilled products, Moreover, the capabilities related to refrigeration and loading, along
like meats, dairy, fish, fruits, and vegetables, emphasizing the system’s with the management of knowledge and information technology, are
role in mitigating food waste [5]. Technological advancements, such as vital components that support the seamless operation of the cold chain
RFID and WSN-based systems, further augment FCCLM by enhancing [15]. The balance between optimal temperature and pricing also
traceability, assuring quality, and improving operational efficiency. emerges as essential for enhancing the cold chain’s efficiency and
These innovations are vital for ensuring that perishable goods are pre- ecological impact [16]. The characteristics of vehicles, cooling tech-
served properly and arrive at the market in excellent condition on time nologies, and the experience and training of drivers, coupled with the
[6]. Moreover, FCCLM’s strategies continue to evolve, particularly in management of loading delays and the implementation of comprehen-
terms of refrigeration and management practices within the commercial sive systems for temperature monitoring, are indispensable for the
sector, to better preserve the perishability and safety of food products effective management of the cold chain [17]. The identification and
throughout the distribution process [7]. management of safety risk factors throughout every link of the cold
However, FCCLM faces several major weaknesses that span across its chain, analyzed through methodologies such as the Analytic Hierarchy
entire process, from the precooling stages to the final steps of com- Process (AHP) and Risk Priority Number (RPN), further illustrate the
mercial handling to deliver a product. These challenges include critical complex nature of FCCLM [18]. Inventory management, logistics system
shortcomings in areas such as the initial cooling of products, operations planning, ensuring food safety and quality, establishing effective coor-
on the ground during transit, maintaining appropriate conditions during dination mechanisms, and addressing key technical issues are also in-
product display, and practices in commercial management [2]. One way tegral components of a robust FCCLM system [19]. Addressing the
to enhance FCCLM involves the meticulous measurement, analysis, and challenges faced in managing food and drink supply chains requires
management of time-temperature conditions. This strategy suggests a focused attention on relationship management, aligning supply with
blend of experimental and modelling research as a path toward world- demand, process management, quality and safety assurance, and the
wide enhancement of the cold chain process [2]. Additionally, auto- adoption of innovative technologies [20]. To mitigate food loss and
mating processes and fostering innovation among logistics providers waste, particularly at the later stages of the cold chain, including retail
have been identified as effective means to advance FCCLM [4]. The and consumer handling, improved refrigeration and better management
adoption of Biogeography-based Optimization (BBO) and genetic algo- practices are imperative [7].
rithms also presents a promising avenue for refining cold chain food The activity of conducting research and publishing articles on
distribution, aiming to meet customer requirements and maintain FCCLM is indeed on an upward trajectory. Between 2001 and 2016, a
quality at minimized costs [8]. Furthermore, developing comprehensive notable increase was observed with 89 research articles being published
improvement plans has been shown to significantly mitigate risks on the subject, signalling a burgeoning interest among a diverse group of
related to food quality and safety within the cold chain, addressing is- stakeholders, including practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and
sues such as prolonged cargo handling times, temperature abuse, and academicians [1]. This trend has continued to accelerate in recent years,
suboptimal driving conditions [9]. particularly within the last one and a half-decade, marking a significant
There has been growing concern about FCCLM in recent years, momentum in research focused on FCCLM [21].
particularly highlighted by the destabilizing effects and safety chal- Despite the growing body of research on Food Cold Chain Logistics
lenges posed by major risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These and Management (FCCLM), comprehensive bibliometric analyses in this
concerns necessitate targeted risk management and control strategies to area are relatively scarce. Bibliometric analysis, unlike conventional
ensure the cold chain’s stability and safety [10]. Additionally, the loss reviews, helps researchers understand evolutionary trends and de-
and wastage of food attributed to improper temperature control have velopments by evaluating a large volume of publications within a spe-
been identified as significant issues. Factors contributing to this include cific field [22]. This quantitative approach provides an unbiased insight
the inadequate performance of refrigeration equipment, mishandling of into the discipline, using indicators like citation counts, journal impact
perishable goods, and the ineffective implementation of food safety factors, and authorship patterns [23]. Investigating the complexities of
protocols, leading to temperature abuse [11]. The management de- FCCLM requires a thorough analysis of research patterns, trends, and
ficiencies in the cold chain have also been linked to the potential for key contributors.
foodborne illness outbreaks and increased greenhouse gas emissions, a The driving force behind this study is to shed light on the research
situation exacerbated by the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. This dynamics within the realm of FCCLM, with a particular emphasis on
is due to the decay of organic matter, underscoring the critical need for identifying the leading discussions that significantly influence its
improved cold chain practices [12]. Furthermore, the trade-off between development, highlighting current and emerging trends, and identifying
reducing food loss and minimizing environmental impact has emerged unexplored areas in the research. Gaining an understanding of the
as a key area of focus. This has sparked a considerable amount of existing research landscape in this sector holds significance for multiple
research aimed at developing efficient, sustainable solutions for green reasons. Initially, it aids in pinpointing research gaps or areas necessi-
food cold chain logistics [13]. tating further exploration. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for
To address these challenges, it is important to understand the key policymakers and professionals involved in the food supply and cold
components of FCCLM, which are foundational to enhancing its effec- chain logistic sectors regarding prevailing trends and advancements.
tiveness and efficiency. These components span a wide range of factors, Lastly, it offers an avenue for researchers and academics to discover
from the foundational infrastructure and the integration of various prospective collaborative opportunities or new directions for forth-
stakeholders’ interests to the value-added through improved perfor- coming studies.
mance at all stages of the cold chain. Notably, the overall FCCLM per- This study is novel in a number of respects; Using a thorough bib-
formance is critical, underpinning the system’s effectiveness in liometric analysis, it pinpoints six main research clusters within FCCLM,
delivering perishable goods to consumers in optimal condition [1]. A highlighting the key ideas and new developments in the discipline. The
central aspect of FCCLM is the management of temperature for chilled study offers a distinctive viewpoint on the development of FCCLM
food products such as meats, dairy, and produce. Effective temperature research by utilizing resources like VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, high-
control not only maintains the quality and safety of these foods but also lighting the significance of sustainability and technical breakthroughs.
offers significant potential for reducing food waste [5]. Technological Researchers, decision-makers, and practitioners who want to compre-
advancements, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tech- hend and enhance the global food supply chain must take note of these
nologies and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), play a pivotal role in insights. The objective of this review is to present the key discussions in
monitoring and managing the cold chain more efficiently, addressing food cold chain logistics and management that significantly influence
existing inefficiencies [14]. the development, highlight current and emerging trends, and identify

2
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

unexplored research areas. for future investigation and innovation. Furthermore, bibliometric
A bibliometric study has been conducted on the literature of food analysis plays a pivotal role in recognizing prominent scholars and in-
cold chain logistics and management, utilizing data extracted from stitutions within this sphere, thereby promoting collaborative engage-
reputed databases. Tools such as VOSviewer and Biblioshiny has been ments and fostering a culture of knowledge exchange among
deployed to analyze over 114 scholarly articles, aiming to uncover professionals [22]. It is also adept at cataloguing publications based on
patterns and trends within this domain. This analysis is crucial for their country of origin and publishing source, offering a perspective on
advancing our comprehension of the FCCLM and devising strategies to the research’s geographic and publication outlet distribution. Moreover,
mitigate the challenges it faces. The structure of this document has been it facilitates the identification of the most prolific articles, institutions,
organized in the following manner: Section 2 elaborates on the data and journals within this research area.
source and methodology applied in this study. Subsequently, various Phase 4: Keyword Analysis: The analysis of keyword co-occurrence
analytical techniques, including co-occurrence, citation, and co-citation was executed using VOSviewer, notably incorporating a network graph
analysis, have been utilized to identify influential articles, countries, and to visually depict keyword interrelations. This stage of analysis, con-
institutions within the field. The discussion has shifted to identifying ducted via VOSviewer’s mapping functionality, entails calculating the
current research voids and potential avenues for future inquiry, as prevalence of specific keywords. This process is crucial for discerning
revealed by the bibliometric analysis. The concluding section has sum- the most commonly addressed themes within food supply chain logistics
marized the study’s findings, its limitations, and its core contributions to and management research. The outcomes of this analysis are instru-
the field. mental in highlighting the focal points of study within the field.
Phase 5: Cluster and Content Analysis: Cluster analysis, a technique
2. Data source and methodology for categorizing similar entities within a dataset, was employed to
organize keywords into groups according to their co-occurrence pat-
Bibliometric analysis is delineated into two distinct domains: per- terns. The outcome of the cluster analysis in VOSviewer is visually
formance analysis and science mapping, each serving a unique purpose represented by a clustered heatmap, which illustrates the connections
in the scholarly inquiry. Performance analysis is concerned with quan- among keywords and their aggregation into coherent groups. Such
tifying the scholarly output and influence of research entities, utilizing clustering is pivotal for unveiling patterns, trends, and relationships
metrics such as the number of publications and citation frequency per within textual data that might not be readily discernible through mere
year or per entity. These metrics serve as proxies for research produc- textual review. The objective of conducting cluster analysis was to
tivity and its consequential impact within the academic community. The pinpoint predominant clusters and themes, thereby guiding the delin-
research methodology was segmented into five distinct phases: initiating eation of prospective research trajectories grounded in these thematic
with a literature review, followed by data gathering and pre-processing, clusters. This endeavour entailed a thorough examination and inter-
proceeding with bibliometric analysis, then conducting keyword anal- pretation of the scholarly articles to extract and synthesize principal
ysis, and culminating with cluster and content analysis. concepts.
Phase 1: Literature review: an exhaustive search for relevant liter- The selection of this methodological framework was predicated on
ature was undertaken to utilize the reputed international database. The its capacity to facilitate a holistic and detailed scrutiny of the prevailing
selection of Scopus as the preferred database was informed by its status scholarly discourse on food cold chain management. By integrating both
as the most extensive abstract and citation repository of peer-reviewed bibliometric and content analytical techniques, this approach enabled
materials, widely recognized and utilized by the global academic com- the identification of salient trends, patterns, and future research avenues
munity [24,25]. A carefully curated array of keywords was employed to within the ambit of this field.
sift through the database, focusing on their occurrence within the titles,
abstracts, or keywords of the research articles. 3. Findings: Bibliometric analysis result
Search Criteria: The query was structured as TITLE-ABS-KEY, tar-
geting the conjunction of “food,” “cold,” “chain*," “logistic*“, “man- 3.1. Publication by year
agement,” and “supply chain*." The search yielded a total of 118
scholarly articles spanning from 2002, marking the year of publication The inaugural article on this subject was disseminated in 2012; since
of the inaugural document, to 2024, defining the period under review. that time, particularly in the latter years, there has been a notable surge
Initially, The Scope of the search was intentionally broad, not confined in the volume of publications addressing this topic and the period from
to any specific document types, however, to analyze the articles in 2016 to 2020 witnessed a relative dearth of literature, characterized by
several software such as VOSviewer and for accessibility purposes. variability in annual publication rates. Nonetheless, a significant uptick
Phase 2: Data Acquisition and Preprocessing: The procedure for data in scholarly works concerning food cold chain management was
acquisition involved the extraction of various data points, such as titles, observed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic globally from 2020
subject domains, types of documents, affiliations, geographical origins, onward. The data reveal that a substantial proportion, precisely 38.6 %
and years of publication. This data underwent a preprocessing phase to of the articles were published in the most recent four years, with an
ensure its uniformity and precision for subsequent analytical processes. allocation of 10 papers (8.8 %) in both 2021, 15 papers (13.5 %) in 2022
The cleansing of the dataset was meticulously carried out by reviewing and 2023, and 4 papers (3.5 %) in 2024 (Fig. 1). Such findings align with
the abstracts or keywords of the articles, which facilitated the exclusion anticipations of an augmented publication frequency in research areas
of 114 articles. The criteria for exclusion encompassed articles not encompassing food supply chain management, cold chain logistics, and
authored in English and non-open access documents, those irrelevant to cold storage, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic-
the theme of the FCCLM (i.e., off-topic papers), and instances of dupli- induced disruptions have underscored the critical challenges of food
cate entries. spoilage and degradation within the food supply chain, necessitating
Phase 3: Bibliometric Analysis: Employing VOSviewer software, a heightened scholarly attention.
bibliometric analysis was performed to explore the domain of food cold
chain management. This analytical approach is instrumental in delin- 3.2. Contribution by journals
eating the primary research foci, uncovering gaps in the existing body of
knowledge, and observing the developmental trajectory of the field over Table 1 delineates the performance metrics and standings of the
time [26]. Such insights are invaluable for both researchers and industry foremost ten journals highly regarded in food cold chain management.
practitioners, enhancing their comprehension of the prevailing chal- This evaluation encompasses document counts, citation frequencies,
lenges within food supply chain management and pinpointing avenues SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), CiteScore, and Source Normalized Impact

3
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Fig. 1. Time distribution of publications (taken from Scopus analysis).

per Paper (SNIP) metrics, barring instances where data is not available
Table 1
(denoted as NA). Notably, SJR quantifies the journal’s citation impact by
Scores and ranking of the top 10 most cited journals (scores: Scopus and
weighting the prestige of the citing entities and their respective subject
VOSviewer).
areas. Conversely, CiteScore evaluates the mean citations per document,
Source Publisher TP TC SJR SNIP Cite
while SNIP assesses the citation impact by comparing actual citations to
Score
the expected citation rate in the journal’s subject area. The standings
Advanced Materials Trans Tech 4 3 N/A N/A N/A reveal a spectrum of ranks and calibers among journals within this
Research Publications
discipline, underscoring the topic’s significance and the editorial and
Ltd.
Acta Horticulturae International 3 9 0.151 0.169 0.6 publishing communities’ interest. From an analysis of 58 journals and
Society for proceedings, it was discerned that the top 10 entities account for
Horticultural approximately 39 % of the scholarly outputs in this domain. Moreover,
Science
the Journal of Advanced Materials Research emerged as the leading
Applied Sciences MDPI 3 15 0.508 0.924 5.3
Switzerland publication in terms of the aggregate number of documents and the
International Emerald 3 257 1.757 1.753 12.2 International Journal of Logistics Management for the highest citations
Journal of Publishing received.
Logistics
Management
IOP Conference IOP Publishing 3 33 N/A 0.605 N/A
3.3. Research areas on food cold chain logistics and management
Series Material
Science and Fig. 2 presents an overview of the research efforts spanning various
Engineering disciplines within the realm of FCCLM. The depicted data underscore the
Sustainability MDPI 3 30 0.672 1.086 6.8
substantial volume of research currently underway, evidencing the
Switzerland
Applied Mechanics Trans Tech 2 5 N/A N/A N/A active engagement of numerous research collectives worldwide in this
and Materials Publications sphere. Moreover, the illustration reveals that a considerable 58 % of all
Ltd. scholarly outputs in this area are predominantly distributed among four
British Food Journal Emerald 2 37 0.792 1.044 6.9 distinct disciplines: Engineering, accounting for 20 %; Business, Man-
Publishing
Communications In Springer 2 14 0.203 0.246 1.1
agement and Accounting, contributing 15 %; Computer Science for 13
Computer and %, and Decision Sciences at 10 %. The ‘Others’ element represents small
Information proposition subjects including Chemical engineering; Earth and Plane-
Science tary Sciences; Physics and Astronomy; Biochemistry, Genetics and Mo-
Computers Materials Tech Science 2 8 0.46 0.73 5.3
lecular biology; Medicine; Economics, Econometrics and Finance;
and Continua Press
Health professions; Multidisciplinary; Veterinary. These findings un-
TP represents the Total Publications by a source, indicating the volume of derscore the inherently interdisciplinary nature of FCCLM, drawing on
scholarly works disseminated by that publication outlet. TC denotes the Total insights and methodologies from a diverse array of academic fields.
Citations of a source, reflecting the aggregate number of times the publication’s
articles have been cited in other works, serving as an indicator of its influence
3.4. Country analysis
and impact within the academic community. SJR, or SCImago Journal Rank,
gauges the prestige of a journal by analyzing both the quantity and quality of
citations it accrues, incorporating the significance of the citing journals along- An investigation into the varying degrees of interest across different
side their subject fields. SNIP, standing for ‘Source Normalized Impact per nations was undertaken to elucidate the worldwide patterns character-
Paper,’ quantifies a journal’s citation impact by normalizing for differences izing the field of FCCLM. Assigning individual papers to a specific
across subject fields and geographical regions, offering a comparative measure country or continent presents challenges, primarily due to the preva-
of a journal’s citation performance. CiteScore, a metric developed by Scopus, lence of international collaborations that feature authors from multiple
computes the average citations received by documents published in a journal countries [26]. However, an analysis based on the nationality of the
during the latest year recorded in Scopus, providing a contemporary snapshot of corresponding author reveals a trend: a significant portion of the
a journal’s citation influence
research originates from developed countries.
Fig. 3 showcases the geographical spread of scholarly work on

4
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Fig. 2. Document by subject area (created by authors on Microsoft Excel).

Fig. 3. Paper distribution per country. (created by authors on Biblioshiny (accessed on February 19, 2024)).

FCCLM, with the map’s color intensity reflecting the volume of contri- 3.5. Most relevant contributions
butions. Notably, countries with the highest research output are
distinguished on the map, marked by their respective document counts. Table 2 showcases the outcomes of an evaluative study aimed at
This field’s research endeavors are characterized by broad international pinpointing pivotal research within the realm of FCCLM. This assess-
participation, with over 32 countries contributing to its development. ment entailed a thorough examination of the most frequently cited
Yet, detailed scrutiny of the data indicates that a considerable bulk of scholarly articles within this specialty, capturing the citation frequency
scholarly output is predominantly concentrated in a handful of leading as a metric of their scholarly impact and recognition by peers. The
nations. In particular, China (25 %); India and The United States (USA) scrutiny encompassed 114 distinct pieces of literature. The findings
(both 6.5 %); Italy and the United Kingdom (both 5 %); Mexico, Spain elucidated that the most impactful studies predominantly delve into
and Thailand (3 %) emerge as pivotal contributors, collectively repre- facets of FCCLM. These aspects include the regulation of time and
senting around 57 % of the global publications in this domain. The temperature, mitigation of postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables,
collaboration line can be seen on the map below, the ticker indicating reduction of food wastage through intelligent logistics solutions, and
that the higher the frequency, the more pronounced the line appears. enhancements in supply chain operations via an array of technological
The pivotal role of these countries underscores their influence in and managerial innovations. Collectively, these papers contribute to the
defining the current body of knowledge and steering the trajectory of ongoing discourse on technological progress, strategic management, and
future research in the area of FCCLM. analytical methods aimed at curtailing food spoilage, boosting

5
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Table 2 functionality of VOSviewer, with a threshold of at least three occur-

Top 10 most relevant contributions. rences of keyword co-occurrence, we embarked on an examination of
Document Citations Title Journal the scholarly works related to FCCLM. The temporal display elucidates
three critical characteristics of the scholarly dialogue: the magnitude of
[27] 240 Postharvest losses of fruit Postharvest Biology and
and Vegetables during Technology the nodes on the co-word map accentuates the topic frequency; the
retail and in consumers’ spatial arrangement and connections depicted in the co-citation map
homes: Quantification, shed light on the thematic interrelations; and the color variations of
causes, and means of nodes on the co-word map signify the chronological emergence of topics
prevention
[28] 197 Reducing food losses by Philosophical Transactions
within the analyzed articles. This temporal scrutiny is instrumental in
intelligent food logistics of the Royal Society A: pinpointing nascent themes or what the academic discourse terms the
Mathematical, Physical and ‘research front’ [34]. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the interplay of keywords
Engineering Sciences. within the examined literature facilitates the delineation of research
[29] 180 Developing an advanced Food Control
domains that have attracted heightened attention in recent times and
Multi-Temperature Joint
Distribution System for the their interconnections.
food cold chain
[4] 148 Third party logistics (3 PL) Annals of Operations 4.2. Cluster analysis
selection for cold chain Research
management: a fuzzy AHP
and fuzzy TOPSIS approach
Employing keyword co-occurrence analysis, this study aimed to
[1] 127 Food cold chain International Journal of delineate the evolving research frontier within the domain of FCCLM.
management: From a Logistics Management Utilizing cluster visualization techniques, as depicted in Fig. 5, we
structured literature review constructed a comprehensive intellectual framework for this field. This
to a conceptual framework
technique of co-occurrence served as a pivotal instrument for deci-
and research agenda
[30] 114 Digital twins probe into Resources, Conservation phering patterns within the corpus of analyzed documents, enabling the
food cooling and and Recycling identification of six distinct clusters. Each cluster, characterized by a
biochemical quality unique set of keywords exhibiting similar patterns of co-occurrence, was
changes for reducing losses
visually represented in VOSviewer through distinct numbers and colors,
in refrigerated supply
chains
thereby facilitating a nuanced understanding of the thematic concen-
[15] 113 Improvement in the food Operations Research tration within each group.
losses in fruits and Perspective To enhance the interpretability of these clusters, we assigned
vegetable supply chain – a descriptive labels that encapsulate the principal research focus of each
perspective of cold third-
cluster, as detailed in Table 3. These labels were carefully selected to
party logistics approach.
[31] 112 Shelf life modelling for first- Philosophical Transactions reflect the core themes and components identified within the clusters.
expired-first-out warehouse of the Royal Society A: For instance, in Fig. 5 below, Cluster 1, designated by the color red and
management Mathematical, Physical and titled “Integrated Cold Chain and Logistics Management: Economic,
Engineering Sciences Social, and Technological Perspectives,” encompasses 12 items. The
[32]. 105 Decision-making in cold International Journal of
chain logistics using data Logistics Management
subsequent clusters were similarly annotated, with Cluster 2 (Green)
analytics: a literature focusing on “Sustainable Cold Chain Logistics: Decision Support, Effi-
review ciency, and Environmental Impact,” Cluster 3 (Blue) on “Cold Chain
[33] 101 Logistics and distribution Journal of Cleaner Logistics for Food Safety: Current Practices and Engineering Solutions,”
challenges to managing Production
Cluster 4 (Yellow) on “Optimizing Food Storage and Shelf Life:
operations for corporate
sustainability: a study on Addressing Food Loss and Temperature Monitoring in Warehouses,”
leading Indian dairy Cluster 5 (Purple) on “Blockchain and Digital Solutions in Food Supply
organizations. Chain: Enhancing Information and Quality Management,” and Cluster 6
(Light Blue turquoise) on “Leveraging AI and RFID for Cost-Effective
Quality Control in Fresh Foods Inventory Management”.
operational efficiency, and promoting sustainability across the global
food cold chain network.
4.2.1. Cluster 1
The term “Integrated Cold Chain and Logistics Management”
4. Analysis of research trends
effectively captures the intricate relationships and collective importance
of the various components within this category, underscoring their
This section utilizes the method of keyword co-occurrence analysis to
critical roles in the food supply continuum. This particular cluster deals
delineate the scope of research within the domain of FCCLM. The
with managing perishable items, focusing on minimizing logistics costs,
objective is to delineate the primary research themes through the
reducing cargo damage, and enhancing client satisfaction [35]. Cold
development of keyword networks and the categorization of these
chain management (CCM) emerges as a critical factor in prolonging the
keywords into clusters.
shelf life of perishables, reducing spoilage, and ensuring food remains
safe for consumption. To understand the dynamic nature of these logistic
4.1. Keyword analysis of research hotspots on FCCLM operations, the Theory of Dynamic Capabilities is highly relevant.
This theory emphasizes how organizations can develop dynamic capa-
The method of keyword co-occurrence analysis holds a significant bilities to adapt and reconfigure their resources, such as advanced
position in bibliometric and scientometrics studies for uncovering the technologies (e.g., RFID, IoT), to respond to changing market demands
prevailing research directions and emergent trends across various dis- and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the Resource Dependence
ciplines [22,26]. This technique serves as a crucial auxiliary tool in Theory explores how dependence on external resources, including
scientific investigation, unveiling the most frequently utilized and governmental policies and technological innovations, impacts strategic
pertinent terms within a specified research area [23]. In our analysis, we decisions in cold chain logistics. These theoretical frameworks highlight
took into consideration all forms of keywords, encompassing both the multifaceted approach required to effectively manage cold chain
author keywords and index keywords. Utilizing the ‘temporal display’ logistics, integrating technological, economic, and social perspectives.

6
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Fig. 4. Keyword co-occurrence network.

Fig. 5. Cluster density visualization.

Recent advancements highlight the significance of coordination be- policies are essential to balance food quality and safety with environ-
tween cold chain logistics and economic development. For instance, in mental impacts [13]. This integration of cutting-edge technology high-
China, factors such as added value in the tertiary industry, GDP, and lights the potential for significant improvements in logistics efficiency
household consumption levels significantly impact logistics develop- and transparency.
ment [36]. The interplay between economic factors and logistics effi- Furthermore, green business growth in BRICS countries emphasizes
ciency underscores the need for integrated strategies that promote both the positive relationship between green logistics indices and per capita
economic growth and logistical excellence. However, addressing envi- income, suggesting that economic prosperity and sustainable practices
ronmental concerns alongside market demands necessitates innovative, can coexist and mutually reinforce each other [38]. Virtual system
low-carbon strategies and intelligent solutions, with national policies integration within logistics platforms enhances supply chain efficiency,
and financial interventions playing crucial roles in infrastructure reno- transparency, and competitiveness, thereby reducing costs and
vation and standardization [37]. Sustainable food cold chain logistics increasing competitiveness in the digital economy [39]. This demon-
require a multifaceted approach incorporating intelligent, systematic, strates that digital transformation is not merely a trend but a necessity
and low-carbon technologies. Global cooperation and appropriate for modern logistics management. The use of RFID and sensors in cold

7
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

chain logistics represents another layer of technological advancement, emissions and worker variations. Despite a maximum cost increase of 9
offering low-cost, efficient tracking of products, and increased trans- %, the model shows that sustainable practices can be economically
parency for customers [40]. The hybrid Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS viable and environmentally beneficial [44]. The product delivery pro-
approach effectively select third-party logistics providers for cold chain cesses in food cold supply chains, which incur the highest total cost and
management, underscoring the need for automation and innovation environmental impact, underscore the need for managers to focus on
within cold chain processes [4]. These technological tools not only reducing inefficiencies and enhancing sustainability [45]. This focus is
enhance operational efficiency but also contribute to more informed and especially pertinent in regions like Asia, where logistics performance
strategic decision-making. significantly impacts environmental degradation. International ship-
Innovations in 5G technology and NB-IoT networks further revolu- ments tend to decrease CO2 emissions, while timeliness of shipments
tionize cold chain logistics by enabling real-time temperature control intensifies emissions, indicating the complexity of balancing logistical
and facilitating participation in blockchain technology and bookkeeping efficiency with environmental goals [46].
methods [41]. Increased government intervention and subsidies for Technological advancements play a crucial role in this balance. For
sustainable development technologies in cold chain logistics can instance, hybrid algorithms have proven more effective than genetic
decrease costs and lead to synergistic benefits among enterprises, gov- algorithms in optimizing cold chain logistics transportation for fresh
ernments, and consumers [42]. This intersection of technology and products, significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emis-
policy intervention highlights the multifaceted approach required for sions [47]. The proposed bi-objective model further underscores this
effective cold chain management. Optimal lot sizing and shipping pol- potential by effectively minimizing total logistics costs and reducing
icies in cold supply chains can significantly reduce carbon footprints and cargo damage while improving client satisfaction [35]. Such models
save costs. Although carbon tax regulations may result in minor in- highlight the dual benefits of cost efficiency and environmental sus-
creases in operational costs, they offer substantial savings in tainability, promoting their adoption across the industry. In the context
carbon-related costs, thereby promoting more sustainable logistics of service providers, the study identifying Yoshida Saigon Cold Logistic
practices [43]. Additionally, the use of data analytics in cold chain lo- (CPL-05) as the best cold chain logistics service provider in Vietnam,
gistics enables real-time assessment of product quality and shelf life by based on criteria such as product quality, logistics costs, innovation,
analyzing temperature, humidity, and vibration data, thus enhancing effectiveness, customer experience, and CO2 emissions, exemplifies how
decision-making and operational efficiency [32]. comprehensive evaluation frameworks can drive industry standards
Therefore, integrated cold chain and logistics management encom- toward sustainability [48]. Additionally, optimal replenishment policies
passes a comprehensive approach that leverages economic, social, and and transportation schedules can minimize operational and emissions
technological perspectives. The integration of advanced technologies costs in cold supply chains under uncertain demand and carbon tax
such as RFID, 5G, and IoT, coupled with strategic economic policies and regulation, further illustrating the role of strategic planning in achieving
environmental considerations, underscores the potential for significant sustainable outcomes [49].
advancements in this field. By addressing the critical intersections of Therefore, the “Sustainable Cold Chain Logistics: Decision Support,
logistics efficiency, economic development, and environmental sus- Efficiency, and Environmental Impact” cluster highlights the multi-
tainability, integrated cold chain management can achieve a balance faceted approach required to achieve sustainability in cold chain logis-
that promotes both corporate profitability and public welfare. tics. By integrating advanced technologies, supportive policies, and
strategic decision-making frameworks, the industry can balance eco-
4.2.2. Cluster 2 nomic efficiency with environmental stewardship. This integrated
The “Sustainable Cold Chain Logistics: Decision Support, Effi- approach is essential for addressing the complex challenges of modern
ciency, and Environmental Impact” cluster is a comprehensive logistics and ensuring the sustainable development of global food supply
exploration of the innovative strategies required to balance food quality chains.
and safety with environmental concerns. This cluster emphasizes the
integration of intelligent, systematic, and low-carbon technologies, 4.2.3. Cluster 3
along with global cooperation and appropriate policies [13]. These el- The “Cold Chain Logistics for Food Safety: Current Practices and
ements are crucial for developing a sustainable cold chain that meets the Engineering Solutions” cluster is the cornerstone of maintaining the
rising demand for food safety while mitigating environmental impacts. quality and safety of perishable food products. This field is fundamental
Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Theory is crucial here as it highlights the to reducing food waste and preventing foodborne illnesses through
importance of balancing economic, environmental, and social di- meticulous time-temperature management. However, the implementa-
mensions in developing sustainable cold chain logistics practices. tion of these measures faces significant technical and practical chal-
Stakeholder Theory is also pivotal, as it examines how various stake- lenges [2]. Sustainable food cold chain logistics necessitates intelligent,
holders, including consumers, governments, and suppliers, influence systematic, and low-carbon technologies, coupled with global coopera-
and are influenced by sustainable logistics practices. These theories tion and appropriate policies to balance food quality and safety with
collectively illustrate that achieving sustainability in cold chain logistics environmental impact [13].
requires comprehensive strategies that integrate technological ad- Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) is essential in identifying,
vancements, supportive policies, and the active engagement of diverse assessing, and mitigating risks associated with maintaining food safety
stakeholders. in cold chains. Furthermore, Contingency Theory explores how
China’s cold chain logistics sector illustrates the necessity for low- different environmental and operational contingencies affect the
carbon strategies and intelligent innovations to address environmental implementation of cold chain logistics solutions. These theoretical per-
concerns and market needs. National policies and financial interventions spectives underscore the importance of adopting a risk-aware approach
play pivotal roles in infrastructure renovation and standardization, and tailoring logistics solutions to specific environmental and opera-
highlighting the importance of governmental support in achieving sus- tional contexts to ensure food safety.
tainable logistics [37]. The implementation of a cold-chain-based One of the critical advancements in this area is the development of
low-carbon location-routing-problem optimization model, which mini- cost optimization models for cold chain logistics. These models aim to
mizes total logistics costs and client and vehicle waiting time, demon- balance energy consumption and damage costs, ultimately resulting in
strates the potential for improving client satisfaction and network cost-effective solutions that uphold food safety standards [50]. Cold
efficiency through innovative logistical solutions [35]. The cold supply chain logistics not only effectively maintains food quality and reduces
chain planning model is another critical innovation, optimizing pro- losses but also prevents microbial spoilage and contamination, a concern
duction, distribution, and worker stability while reducing CO2 that has become even more pressing with the advent of the COVID-19

8
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Table 3 logistics by improving food safety and boosting the competitiveness of

Authors keywords’ co-occurrence network. agricultural products, particularly in regions like China where agricul-
Cluster Color 61 Main Items Cluster Label tural product competitiveness is critical [53]. A closed-loop manage-
items ment and control system for road cold-chain transportation exemplifies
Cluster Red 12 Chain management, Integrated Cold Chain such innovations, improving service quality and reducing agricultural
1 cold chain, cold and Logistics product loss while contributing to a resource-saving society [54]. The
supply chain, Management: integration of radio frequency technologies and wireless sensor net-
economic and social Economic, Social, and works has also been shown to significantly improve cold chain man-
effects, food chain, Technological
food industries, food Perspectives
agement and reduce food waste, underscoring the importance of
logistics, Investments, adopting advanced technologies in this field [14].
multiobjective Therefore, the “Cold Chain Logistics for Food Safety: Current Prac-
optimization, tices and Engineering Solutions” cluster highlights the pivotal role of
perishable product,
technological and engineering solutions in maintaining the safety and
supply chains, System
dynamics. quality of perishable food products. By integrating AI, big data, and
Cluster Green 14 Decision making, Sustainable Cold closed-loop systems, and optimizing cost models, cold chain logistics can
2 decision support Chain Logistics: achieve greater efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure food safety. How-
system, economics, Decision Support, ever, addressing the persistent technical and practical challenges re-
efficiency, Efficiency, and
environmental Environmental Impact
quires continuous innovation, global cooperation, and supportive
impact, food supply, policies. This integrated approach is essential for advancing cold chain
fresh product, green logistics and safeguarding public health in an increasingly complex and
logistics, internet of interconnected world.
things, postharvest,
sustainability,
sustainable 4.2.4. Cluster 4
development, The term “Optimizing Food Storage and Shelf Life: Addressing
vegetables, waste Food Loss and Temperature Monitoring in Warehouses” encapsu-
management lates the essential strategies and technological advancements aimed at
Cluster Blue 13 Agricultural products, Cold Chain Logistics
reducing food waste and enhancing the efficiency of warehouse man-
3 cold chain logistics, for Food Safety:
cold storage, Current Practices and agement. Lean Management principles can be applied to optimize food
developed countries, Engineering Solutions storage processes, reduce waste, and improve efficiency by eliminating
food, food cold chain, non-value-adding activities. Additionally, the Technology Acceptance
food products, food
Model (TAM) provides insights into factors influencing the acceptance
safety, fresh
agricultural products, and adoption of new technologies (e.g., WSN, TTI) in warehouse man-
present situation, agement. These theories highlight that optimizing food storage and
refrigeration, safety extending shelf life requires not only technological innovation but also
engineering, supply an understanding of how these technologies is perceived and adopted by
chain engineering
users in the food supply chain.
Cluster Yellow 10 Catering service, food Optimizing Food
4 loss, food storage, Storage and Shelf Life: The research proposed WSN-based architecture improves the shelf
fruits, optimization, Addressing Food Loss life of perishable goods by maximizing shelf-life predictions through the
sales, shelf life, and Temperature use of environmental parameters, which reduces food waste and maxi-
storage, temperature Monitoring in
mizes efficiency in warehouse management [55]. By optimizing ware-
monitoring Warehouses
warehouses.
house management systems using shelf-life modelling, significant
Cluster Purple 6 Blockchain, digital Blockchain and Digital reductions in food losses and increases in handling efficiency can be
5 storage, food supply Solutions in Food achieved in perishable food supply chains [31]. Advances in shelf-life
chain, information Supply Chain: estimation technology have shown potential to improve food safety,
management, quality Enhancing
reliability, and sustainability by providing accurate, real-time estima-
management, supply Information and
chain logistics Quality Management tions that consider environmental conditions and handling practices
Cluster Light Blue 6 Artificial intelligence, Leveraging AI and [56]. A real-time monitoring system developed for this purpose effec-
6 turquoise cost-effectiveness, RFID for Cost- tively estimates shelf-life losses of fruits and vegetables during storage
fresh foods, inventory Effective Quality
and transportation, aiding in quality assurance and reducing food waste
cost, quality control, Control in Fresh Foods
Radio Frequency Inventory
[57]. Such systems are crucial in ensuring that perishable goods remain
Identification (RFID) Management safe and viable throughout their storage and distribution lifecycle. The
adoption of WSN-based architecture, particularly in non-refrigerated
warehouses, has proven effective in optimizing the shelf life of perish-
pandemic [12]. The preservation of food and health products during able goods. This approach involves monitoring environmental parame-
transportation and distribution underscores the crucial role of cold chain ters and predicting optimal storage positions using a 1st order kinetic
technology in ensuring their quality and safety. Artificial intelligence model, thereby enhancing storage efficiency and reducing spoilage [58].
(AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in cold chain transportation, Implementing shelf-life-based picking policies and pricing strategies
capable of reducing food loss, improving transportation efficiency, and within perishable food warehouses can further reduce waste and
enhancing customer satisfaction. By leveraging AI, logistics providers ecological impacts while maintaining economic feasibility and trace-
can reduce costs while ensuring food safety, highlighting the dual ben- ability [59].
efits of technological integration (S [51]). Modern cold chain shipping Time-temperature indicator (TTI) technology has also emerged as a
solutions, designed to improve temperature control, flexibility, safety, valuable tool in predicting food shelf life and reducing food waste. This
and sustainability, also contribute to enhanced knowledge sharing. technology benefits various industries by promoting food safety and
Despite these advancements, limitations and challenges remain, neces- enabling better management of perishable goods [60]. Temperature
sitating ongoing innovation and adaptation [52]. monitoring along cold food supply chains plays a critical role in
Big data technology further enhances the efficiency of cold chain improving food quality and safety by enhancing dynamic shelf-life

9
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

prediction and reducing food waste [61]. This approach ensures that chain operations [69]. Blockchain-based smart contracts, for example,
perishable items are stored and transported under optimal conditions, can significantly enhance soybean traceability in agricultural supply
thereby minimizing spoilage and extending shelf life. Innovative de- chains, improving efficiency and safety while reducing reliance on
velopments in cold storage devices that monitor essential food storage trusted centralized authorities [70]. This reduction in intermediaries not
specifications and alert users when parameters exceed threshold values only streamlines operations but also reduces the risk of fraud and errors.
further contribute to prolonging shelf life and enabling remote control Despite the clear benefits, the sustainability improvements offered by
[62]. Additionally, the implementation of digital twins in refrigerated blockchain-based technologies in the food supply chain require further
food warehouses has shown promise in optimizing energy use, main- research. While these technologies increase transparency, traceability,
taining product quality, and improving economic profitability through and trust, their long-term impact on sustainability metrics needs more
automatic supervision and optimization of cold generation [63]. These empirical validation [71]. The adoption of blockchain systems can
digital solutions provide a comprehensive approach to managing the improve food supply chain management by providing faster and more
complexities of cold storage, ensuring that food products remain safe reliable traceability, promoting fair trade, and reducing environmental
and viable for consumption. impacts. However, the large-scale adoption of these systems remains
Therefore, the term “Optimizing Food Storage and Shelf Life: immature due to limited policies and standards [72]. This immaturity
Addressing Food Loss and Temperature Monitoring in Warehouses” re- calls for more pilot projects and case studies to demonstrate the practical
flects the critical importance of integrating advanced technologies and benefits and overcome skepticism within the industry.
strategies to enhance the management of perishable goods. By The combination of blockchain technology with IoT devices repre-
leveraging WSN-based architectures, real-time monitoring systems, TTI sents a significant advancement in food safety and quality certification.
technology, and digital twins, the food industry can significantly reduce This integration allows for comprehensive traceability from the source
food waste, improve food safety, and increase operational efficiency. to the customer’s table, ensuring that food products meet safety and
These advancements not only support economic feasibility but also quality standards throughout the supply chain[29]. By providing a
promote sustainability and environmental stewardship in managing transparent and immutable record of each transaction, blockchain
perishable food products. technology enhances trust and accountability among supply chain par-
ticipants. This transparency is particularly valuable in the context of
4.2.5. Cluster 5 recalls, where the ability to quickly trace and isolate affected products
The term “Blockchain and Digital Solutions in Food Supply can prevent widespread harm.
Chain: Enhancing Information and Quality Management” encapsu- Therefore, the term “Blockchain and Digital Solutions in Food Supply
lates the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the agri- Chain: Enhancing Information and Quality Management” highlights the
food industry. This innovative approach enhances traceability, trust, transformative potential of blockchain technology in improving the ef-
and delivery mechanisms while ensuring efficiency, security, and reli- ficiency, transparency, and sustainability of food supply chains. While
ability within the industry [64]. Blockchain technology can significantly significant progress has been made, addressing adoption barriers and
improve food supply chain sustainability by providing transparency, establishing robust policies and standards are crucial for realizing the
traceability, and reduced environmental impact, aligning with the UN full potential of blockchain in this sector. By integrating advanced dig-
Sustainable Development Goals [65]. ital solutions, the food industry can achieve greater operational effi-
Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) theory is particularly relevant ciency, enhanced food safety, and improved sustainability, ultimately
as it analyzes how blockchain technology reduces transaction costs and benefiting consumers and producers alike. The journey toward wide-
enhances trust and transparency in the food supply chain. The Diffusion spread adoption may be challenging, but the potential rewards make it a
of Innovation (DOI) Theory explores the adoption process of block- worthwhile endeavor for the entire industry.
chain and other digital solutions in the food supply chain. These theo-
retical perspectives suggest that blockchain technology can significantly 4.2.6. Cluster 6
improve supply chain operations by enhancing transparency, reducing The term “Leveraging AI and RFID for Cost-Effective Quality
transaction costs, and facilitating the adoption of innovative digital Control in Fresh Foods Inventory Management” reflects the growing
solutions. importance of integrating advanced technologies to enhance the effi-
Integrating blockchain technology into supply chain management ciency and accuracy of inventory management in the agri-food sector.
offers numerous benefits, including enhanced transparency, traceability, IoT technology combined with RFID technology significantly improves
efficiency, and information security. The coupling of blockchain with the management of fresh agricultural products, reduces inventory loss,
emerging technologies such as IoT and smart contracts further amplifies and enhances consumer trust in products[73]. This synergy of technol-
these benefits, facilitating more secure and efficient supply chain oper- ogies enables real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and automated
ations [66]. The ability to trace products through every stage of the replenishment, addressing traditional challenges in inventory manage-
supply chain improves accountability and helps quickly identify and ment while introducing new concerns around data privacy and security
resolve issues, thereby enhancing overall supply chain resilience. [74].
However, the potential of blockchain technology extends beyond mere Real-Time Supply Chain Analytics contributes by discussing the
operational enhancements. It holds the promise of improving supply application of AI and RFID technologies for real-time data analytics and
chain sustainability performance in areas such as environmental pro- decision-making in inventory management. Furthermore, the Infor-
tection, social equity, and governance efficiency [67]. For instance, the mation Systems Success Model contributes by evaluating the success
immutable nature of blockchain records ensures that environmental of integrating AI and RFID technologies based on system quality, in-
practices are transparent and verifiable, fostering greater corporate re- formation quality, and service quality. These theories indicate that
sponsibility. Despite this promise, several adoption barriers must be leveraging AI and RFID can transform inventory management by
addressed, including high initial costs, regulatory uncertainties, and the providing real-time insights, improving decision-making processes, and
need for industry-wide standards [68]. These challenges highlight the enhancing overall supply chain resilience.
importance of a coordinated effort between stakeholders to unlock the RFID technology adoption in supply chains, particularly those with
full potential of blockchain technology. inventory inaccuracies, has been shown to improve inventory control
The impact of blockchain technology on agri-food supply chains is policies and profitability. Retailers, in particular, exhibit greater sensi-
multifaceted, increasing profit, food quality, and information manage- tivity to cost-sharing proportions compared to manufacturers, high-
ment. Additionally, it improves behavioral uncertainty management lighting the importance of strategic investment decisions [75]. The
and firm knowledge, indicating a comprehensive enhancement of supply agri-food sector benefits greatly from RFID technology, which offers

10
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

improved efficiency, reduced inventory losses, and increased informa- enhance operational effectiveness and sustainability. Key areas for
tion accuracy [76]. These benefits are crucial for maintaining the sta- future research include:
bility of inventory control policies, especially in scenarios where Technological Integration and Adoption: IoT, blockchain, and AI
inventory misplacement and shrinkage are significant issues [77]. have the potential to transform FCCLM, but their practical imple-
Optimizing multi-echelon inventory control for fresh products using mentation is challenging. Future studies should concentrate on creating
deterioration rates and genetic algorithms has emerged as a powerful scalable, affordable solutions for small and medium-sized businesses
approach to reducing costs in supply chain management [78]. Such (SMEs) and carry out longitudinal analyses to assess risks and advan-
optimization models not only improve efficiency but also contribute to tages over the long run. For instance, Chen et al. [73] shows how uti-
sustainability by minimizing waste. The implementation of these models lizing RFID and IoT technology can significantly improve the
can be complex, requiring sophisticated algorithms and robust data. management of fresh agricultural products. For SMEs, these technolo-
However, the long-term benefits of cost savings and enhanced opera- gies’ high costs and complex technical requirements are a hurdle,
tional efficiency make these investments worthwhile. nevertheless. According to Moosavi et al. [66], further study is required
Simulation-based optimization models further support inventory to solve these issues by creating more widely available technologies and
control policy formulation, effectively reducing inventory costs and assessing how they will affect the efficiency and sustainability of the
enhancing the overall efficiency of supply chains for fresh agricultural cold chain over time. Impact of Climate Change: There is a need for
products [79]. These models provide a robust framework for managing localized research on how specific climatic changes affect different
the complexities associated with perishable goods, ensuring that in- segments of the cold chain. Climate change impacts can vary signifi-
ventory levels are optimized to minimize waste and maximize profit- cantly by region, affecting the infrastructure and technologies used in
ability. By simulating various scenarios, these models help cold chain logistics. For example, Chen et al. [13] discuss how micro-
decision-makers to anticipate potential issues and devise strategies to environmental monitoring can mitigate the effects of climate change on
mitigate them. AI integration in inventory management has revolu- food quality and safety. Future research should develop adaptive stra-
tionized supply chain operations, offering enhanced efficiency and ac- tegies to enhance the resilience of cold chain infrastructure and tech-
curacy. The use of AI in platforms such as Odoo improves inventory nologies under extreme weather conditions [37]. Such strategies may
control, forecasting accuracy, and decision-making processes, thereby include the development of climate-resilient storage facilities and
enhancing customer satisfaction [80]. However, challenges such as data transportation systems that can maintain optimal conditions even under
quality and model transparency must be addressed to ensure the suc- adverse weather conditions.
cessful integration and deployment of AI solutions (N [80]). The Human Factors and Training: The role of human factors in cold
complexity of AI algorithms and the need for high-quality data inputs chain efficacy is underexplored. Investigating the impact of training,
mean that organizations must invest in proper data management prac- human-machine interaction, and protocol adherence can significantly
tices and ensure transparency in AI operations to gain the trust of improve efficiency and reliability, especially in diverse cultural con-
stakeholders. texts. Mercier et al. [2] stress the importance of proper training and the
RFID investment in fresh food supply chains is profitable, provided implementation of standardized protocols to ensure consistent temper-
the investment costs are not prohibitively high and both manufacturers ature management across the cold chain. Future research should explore
and retailers share the benefits [81]. The promise of RFID technology the human dimensions of cold chain logistics, such as the influence of
lies in its ability to provide accurate, real-time data on inventory levels, cultural differences on training effectiveness and the development of
thereby reducing the likelihood of stockouts and overstock situations. user-friendly technologies that enhance human-machine interaction.
When combined with AI, these technologies offer a comprehensive so- Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics: Developing more adapt-
lution for managing the intricate dynamics of fresh food supply chains. able logistics systems can be aided by an understanding of the rela-
This integration enables proactive management of inventory, reducing tionship between consumer needs and cold chain operations,
losses due to spoilage and enhancing overall supply chain resilience. AI particularly in times of global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
in e-commerce and finance demonstrates its potential to improve Arriaga-Lorenzo et al. [12] draw attention to how the COVID-19
customer experience, supply chain management, and operational effi- pandemic has highlighted the necessity for flexible and agile cold
ciency while reducing waste and enhancing product quality control chain systems that can react to unforeseen changes in consumer
[82]. The cross-sector application of AI highlights its versatility and behavior and market situations. Future studies should concentrate on
effectiveness in various domains, underscoring its value in inventory creating predictive models that can foresee changes in customer demand
management. The ability of AI to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and modify cold chain operations appropriately to maintain the supply
and accurately provides a competitive edge to businesses, allowing them of perishable commodities even in the face of disruptions.
to respond swiftly to market changes and consumer demands. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Future studies should
Hence, leveraging AI and RFID for cost-effective quality control in examine how the rules in place help or hinder the development of the
fresh foods inventory management represents a significant advancement cold chain. Analyzing regulatory frameworks from different places
in supply chain technology. By integrating these technologies, com- might give light on best practices and possible areas for policy innova-
panies can achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, and profitability in tion. Blockchain technology provides both potential and challenges to
managing perishable goods. However, the successful adoption of these enhance the transparency and traceability of the food supply chain[68].
technologies requires addressing challenges related to data privacy, According to Park & Li [67], boosting regulatory frameworks serves as
security, and investment costs. As the agri-food sector continues to critical for encouraging the implementation of sustainable supply chain
evolve, the strategic implementation of AI and RFID will be crucial for strategies. Future studies should examine the efficacy of various regu-
maintaining competitive advantage and meeting consumer demands for lation strategies and offer policy suggestions that support innovation
high-quality, fresh products. Additionally, the continuous improvement while maintaining environmental sustainability and food safety.
in these technologies and the development of comprehensive regulatory Economic Implications and Cost-Benefit Analysis: Comprehen-
frameworks will further enhance their adoption and effectiveness in the sive economic studies are needed to offer cost-benefit perspectives,
supply chain. including direct and indirect impacts of cold chain adaptations. Devel-
oping economic models that account for these factors can guide in-
5. Research gaps and future research opportunities vestments and policy decisions [81]. illustrate how RFID investment in
fresh food supply chains can improve profitability by reducing inventory
Despite notable advancements in Food Cold Chain Logistics and inaccuracies and enhancing traceability. Future research should expand
Management (FCCLM), several critical research gaps need addressing to on this by considering the broader economic impacts of cold chain

11
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

technologies, including their effects on employment, food prices, and By employing quantitative bibliometric methods such as algorithms
supply chain resilience. Sustainability and Environmental Impact: and software tools, we have mapped the informational progression over
Studies should look into how cold chain logistics affect the environment time, providing a comprehensive overview of FCCLM to aid researchers
and come up with plans to reduce carbon footprints, such as exploring and industry stakeholders in identifying new research avenues and
the possibilities of renewable energy sources and more effective refrig- developing fresh perspectives. This study represents a holistic literature
eration technology. Adopting sophisticated cold chain technology can review on FCCLM, incorporating bibliometric analysis, thematic content
reduce food waste and energy consumption, among other positive analysis, and detailed information on the food cold chain. Moreover, we
environmental effects [45,73]. Subsequent research endeavors have to have outlined a structured approach and proposed a future research
concentrate on refining the refrigeration systems that can function agenda based on our findings. Nevertheless, it is important to
sustainably in diverse climate scenarios and maximizing the utilization acknowledge certain limitations for future exploration. The reliance on
of renewable energy sources in cold chain operations. Scopus for data collection might have excluded some relevant articles.
Supply Chain Resilience: To prevent disruptions and maintain Expanding the data sources to include more diverse publications could
continued operations, it is important to identify cold chain vulnerabil- enrich the analysis. While bibliometric analysis offers valuable field
ities and put in place measures that improve resilience, such as utilizing insights, it does not delve into the underlying causes behind observed
digital twins and predictive analytics. According to Defraeye et al. [30] trends, suggesting the integration of qualitative methods such as ob-
digital twins offer the ability to monitor and optimize cold chain oper- servations and interviews in future research. Additionally, the meth-
ations in in real time. Future studies should examine how predictive odology employed in co-occurrence analysis, particularly the selection
analytics may be used to foresee and reduce risks, ensuring that cold process in VOSviewer, might omit specific publications, indicating the
chain logistics are resilient to disturbances like pandemics and natural potential utility of alternative bibliometric tools for comprehensive
catastrophes. future investigations.
Addressing these research gaps will provide a holistic understanding The conclusions derived from this study provide a robust foundation
of FCCLM, supporting the development of strategies that enhance for future research and policy initiatives aimed at improving the FCCLM.
resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in global food supply chains. By addressing the identified research gaps and leveraging the proposed
Future studies can significantly contribute to robust and adaptive cold theoretical frameworks, future studies can significantly enhance the
chain logistics systems capable of meeting dynamic global challenges. understanding and operational efficiency of cold chain logistics, ulti-
mately contributing to global food security, sustainability, and eco-
6. Conclusions nomic development.

This study underscores the pivotal role of Food Cold Chain Logistics Fundings
and Management (FCCLM) in safeguarding global food security,
ensuring food quality, and advancing sustainability initiatives. Through This research received no external funding.
extensive bibliometric and content analysis, we reveal the complex
interplay among technological advancements, sustainability issues, and Informed consent statement
the ongoing challenge of reducing food waste.
Our bibliometric analysis highlights several key insights: (1) a steady Not applicable.
increase in FCCLM research from 2010 to 2024, with a notable surge
between 2020 and 2023, correlating with the global onset of the COVID- CRediT authorship contribution statement
19 pandemic; (2) among 58 journals and proceedings analyzed, the top
10 accounted for approximately 39 % of the field’s literature, with Muhammad Firdaus Mujibuddin Syah Mustafa: Writing – review
“Advanced Materials Research” leading in document volume and the & editing, Writing – original draft, Software, Methodology, Investiga-
“International Journal of Logistics Management” in citations received; tion, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Namasivayam Navaranjan:
(3) FCCLM is an interdisciplinary area incorporating insights from en- Writing – review & editing, Validation, Supervision. Amer Demirovic:
gineering, business management, accounting, computer science, and Writing – review & editing, Validation, Supervision.
decision sciences; (4) significant research contributions predominantly
originate from China, India, the US, Italy, the UK, Mexico, Spain, and
Declaration of competing interest
Thailand, collectively accounting for 57 % of global publications on the
subject; (5) literature primarily focuses on enhancing FCCLM, including
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
the regulation of time and temperature, mitigating postharvest losses,
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
reducing food wastage through intelligent logistics solutions, and ad-
the work reported in this paper.
vancements in supply chain operations through technological and
managerial innovations; (6) ‘Supply chain management’ emerged as a
Data availability
central theme, underscoring its significance within FCCLM research
alongside ‘supply chains,’ ‘food supply,’ and ‘cold chain’; (7) Six distinct
No data was used for the research described in the article.
clusters identified through co-citation analysis suggest various future
research directions, particularly concerning resilience in FCCLM.
Our investigation significantly enriches the FCCLM literature by of- Acknowledgement
fering an exhaustive bibliometric review. The findings provide valuable
insights for future research and policy formulation aimed at fortifying The authors express gratitude to Universiti Teknologi Brunei, School
the food cold chain, especially considering the challenges presented by of Applied Science and Mathematics, for their invaluable support and
the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis underlines the rising trend in resources, which were instrumental in the successful completion of this
FCCLM research, with contributions spanning globally and emphasizing research.
the need for multidisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, it connects
FCCLM research closely with critical themes like food waste, sustain- References
ability, food losses, and food security, highlighting the importance of
[1] Shashi, R. Cerchione, R. Singh, P. Centobelli, A. Shabani, Food cold chain
understanding these interrelations to devise effective strategies for management: from a structured literature review to a conceptual framework and
enhancing FCCLM’s operational efficiency. research agenda, in: International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 29,

12
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

Emerald Group Holdings Ltd, 2018, pp. 792–821, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM- [31] M.L.A.T.M. Hertog, I. Uysal, U. McCarthy, B.M. Verlinden, B.M. Nicolaï, Shelf life
01-2017-0007. modelling for first-expired-first-out warehouse management, Phil. Trans. Math.
[2] S. Mercier, S. Villeneuve, M. Mondor, I. Uysal, Time–temperature management Phys. Eng. Sci. (2014) 372, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2013.0306.
along the food cold chain: a review of recent developments, Compr. Rev. Food Sci. [32] A. Chaudhuri, I. Dukovska-Popovska, N. Subramanian, H.K. Chan, R. Bai, Decision-
Food Saf. 16 (4) (2017) 647–667, https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12269. making in cold chain logistics using data analytics: a literature review, Int. J.
[3] M.M. Aung, Y.S. Chang, Temperature management for the quality assurance of a Logist. Manag. 29 (3) (2018) 839–861.
perishable food supply chain, Food Control 40 (2014) 198–207. [33] S.K. Mangla, Y.K. Sharma, P.P. Patil, G. Yadav, J. Xu, Logistics and distribution
[4] R.K. Singh, A. Gunasekaran, P. Kumar, Third party logistics (3PL) selection for cold challenges to managing operations for corporate sustainability: study on leading
chain management: a fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS approach, Ann. Oper. Res. 267 Indian diary organizations, J. Clean. Prod. 238 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
(1–2) (2018) 531–553, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-017-2591-3. jclepro.2019.117620.
[5] N. Ndraha, H.-I. Hsiao, J. Vlajic, M.-F. Yang, H.-T.V. Lin, Time-temperature abuse [34] S. Xu, X. Zhang, L. Feng, W. Yang, Disruption risks in supply chain management: a
in the food cold chain: review of issues, challenges, and recommendations, Food literature review based on bibliometric analysis, Int. J. Prod. Res. 58 (11) (2020)
Control 89 (2018) 12–21, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.01.027. 3508–3526.
[6] M.M. Aung, F.W. Liang, Y.S. Chang, C. Makatsoris, J. Chang, RFID-and WSN-based [35] L. Leng, C. Zhang, Y. Zhao, W. Wang, J. Zhang, G. Li, Biobjective low-carbon
intelligent cold chain management, Int. J. Manuf. Res. 6 (2) (2011) 91–109. location-routing problem for cold chain logistics: formulation and heuristic
[7] S. Mercier, M. Mondor, U. McCarthy, S. Villeneuve, G. Alvarez, I. Uysal, Optimized approaches, J. Clean. Prod. 273 (2020).
cold chain to save food, Saving Food (2019) 203–236. [36] R. Xie, H.H. Id, Y. Zhang, P. Yu, Coupling relationship between cold chain logistics
[8] Y.H. Hsiao, M.C. Chen, C.L. Chin, Distribution planning for perishable foods in cold and economic development : a investigation from China, PLoS One 17 (2) (2022)
chains with quality concerns: formulation and solution procedure, Trends Food Sci. 1–19, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264561.
Technol. 61 (2017) 80–93. [37] J.W. Han, M. Zuo, W.Y. Zhu, J.H. Zuo, E.L. Lü, X.T. Yang, A comprehensive review
[9] J.Y. Wu, H.I. Hsiao, Food quality and safety risk diagnosis in the food cold chain of cold chain logistics for fresh agricultural products: current status, challenges,
through failure mode and effect analysis, Food Control 120 (2021). and future trends, Trends Food Sci. Technol. 109 (2021) 536–551.
[10] Y. Shen, K. Liao, An application of analytic Hierarchy process and entropy weight [38] A.M. Aldakhil, A.A. Nassani, U. Awan, M.M.Q. Abro, K. Zaman, Determinants of
method in food cold chain risk evaluation model, Front. Psychol. (2022). green logistics in BRICS countries: an integrated supply chain model for green
[11] N. Ndraha, J. Vlajic, C.-C. Chang, H.-I. Hsiao, Challenges with food waste business aldakhil abdullah mohammed, nassani abdelmohsen A., awan usama,
management in the food cold chains, in: Food Industry Wastes: Assessment and abro muhammad moinuddin qazi, zaman khalid, J. Clean. Prod. 195 (2018)
Recuperation of Commodities, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817121- 861–868, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.248.
9.00022-X. [39] V. Shcherbakov, G. Silkina, Supply chain management open innovation: virtual
[12] P. Arriaga-Lorenzo, E. de Jesús Maldonado-Simán, R. Ramírez-Valverde, P. integration in the network logistics system, Journal of Open Innovation:
A. Martínez-Hernández, D.N. Tirado-González, L.A. Saavedra-Jiménez, Cold chain Technology, Market, and Complexity 7 (1) (2021) 1–22.
relevance in the food safety of perishable products, Foods and Raw Materials [40] Y. Zhang, T. Ma, R.K.S. Abdul, S. Arshian, The study on efficient cold chain
(2023) 116–128, https://doi.org/10.21603/2308-4057-2023-1-559. logistics, in: 2nd International Conference on Economic Development and
[13] Q. Chen, J. Qian, H. Yang, W. Wu, Sustainable food cold chain logistics: from Education Management (ICEDEM 2018), 2018, pp. 475–478.
microenvironmental monitoring to global impact, Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf. [41] C. Duan, G. Wang, Operational research application based on 5G cold chain
21 (5) (2022) 4189–4209. logistics, 4th International Conference on Information Systems and Computer
[14] R. Badia-Melis, U. Mc Carthy, L. Ruiz-Garcia, J. Garcia-Hierro, J.I. Robla Villalba, Aided Education (2021) 1860–1864.
New trends in cold chain monitoring applications - a review, Food Control 86 [42] Y. Qi, F. Jia, X. Yu, Game analysis on sustainable development of cold chain
(2018) 170–182, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.11.022. logistics industry, in: Second International Conference on Sustainable Technology
[15] R.D. Raut, B.B. Gardas, V.S. Narwane, B.E. Narkhede, Improvement in the food and Management (ICSTM 2023), 2023, pp. 684–693.
losses in fruits and vegetable supply chain - a perspective of cold third-party [43] M. Hariga, R. As’ad, A. Shamayleh, Integrated economic and environmental
logistics approach, Operations Research Perspectives 6 (2019), https://doi.org/ models for a multi stage cold supply chain under carbon tax regulation, J. Clean.
10.1016/j.orp.2019.100117. Prod. 166 (2017) 1357–1371.
[16] S. Yang, Y. Xiao, Y. Zheng, Y. Liu, The green supply chain design and marketing [44] A. Chaabane, R. As’ad, R. Geramianfar, Z. Bahroun, Utilizing energy transition to
strategy for perishable food based on temperature control, Sustainability 9 (9) drive sustainability in cold supply chains: a case study in the frozen food industry,
(2017) 1–8. Oper. Res. 56 (3) (2022) 1119–1147.
[17] E. Maldonado-Siman, E. Yamazaki-Tanabe, J. Kreyenschmidt, A. Diaz-Hernandez, [45] E. Bottani, G. Casella, M. Nobili, L. Tebaldi, Assessment of the economic and
Cold chain management during transport operations of perishable food in Mexico, environmental sustainability of a food cold supply chain, IFAC-PapersOnLine 52
Food Chain 5 (3) (2015) 203–216. (13) (2019) 367–372, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.11.150.
[18] F. Yang, J.M. Cai, The analysis of fresh food safety risks from the cold chain [46] J. Liu, C. Yuan, M. Hafeez, Q. Yuan, The relationship between environment and
logistics system, in: The 19th International Conference on Industrial Engineering logistics performance: evidence from Asian countries, J. Clean. Prod. 204 (2018)
and Engineering Management, 2013, pp. 197–207. 282–291.
[19] L.I. Kang, Z. Jianguo, W.U. Daqing, Advances on Managemeng and Key Technology [47] Z. Liu, H. Guo, Y. Zhao, B. Hu, L. Shi, L. Lang, B. Huang, Research on the optimized
of Fresh Agricultural Products Cold Chain, vol. 31, 2015, https://doi.org/ route of cold chain logistics transportation of fresh products in context of energy-
10.13652/j.issn.1003-5788.2015.06.055. saving and emission reduction, Math. Biosci. Eng. 18 (2) (2021) 1926–1940.
[20] C. Mena, G. Stevans, Delivering performance in food supply chains: an [48] N.A.T. Nyugen, C.N. Wang, L.T.H. Dang, L.T.T. Dang, T.T. Dang, Selection of cold
introduction, Delivering Performance in Food Supply Chains (2010) 1–15. chain logistics service providers based on a grey AHP and grey copras framework: a
[21] S. Patidar, A.C. Shukla, V.K. Sukhwani, Food supply chain management (FSCM): a case study in Vietnam, Axioms 11 (4) (2022) 1–24.
structured literature review and future research agenda, Journal of Advances in [49] M. Babagolzadeh, A. Shrestha, B. Abbasi, Y. Zhang, A. Woodhead, A. Zhang,
Management Research 19 (2) (2017) 272–299. Sustainable cold supply chain management under demand uncertainty and carbon
[22] A. Rejeb, K. Rejeb, A. Appolloni, M. Iranmanesh, H. Treblmaier, S. Jagtap, tax regulation, Transport. Res. Transport Environ. 80 (2020) 1–48.
Exploring food supply chain trends in the COVID-19 era: a bibliometric review, [50] S.S. Li, R.H. Xie, Study on cost optimization of cold-chain logistics in food safety,
Sustainability 14 (19) (2022) 1–33. Syst. Eng. 32 (2014) 32–34.
[23] O. Ellegaard, J.A. Wallin, The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: how [51] S. Li, Y. Zhou, Y. Zhang, Z. Zhang, An overview of artificial intelligence
great is the impact? Scientometrics 105 (2015) 1809–1831. applications in food cold chain transportation, in: Proceedings of the 2023 5th
[24] B.S. Ballew, Elsevier’s Scopus® database, J. Electron. Resour. Med. Libr. 6 (3) International Conference on Robotics Systems and Automation Engineering, 2023,
(2009) 245–252. pp. 34–40.
[25] Z. Chinchilla-RodrÃguezm, B. Vargas-Quesada, F. Muñoz-FernÃ, V. Herrero- [52] T. Ren, J. Ren, D.B. Matellini, W. Ouyang, A comprehensive review of modern cold
Solana, Coverage analysis of Scopus: a journal metric approach, Scientometrics 73 chain shipping solutions, Sustainability 14 (22) (2022) 1–13.
(1) (2007) 1–23. [53] N. Li, W. Yao, Research on application of cold chain logistics management based on
[26] A. Parmentola, A. Petrillo, I. Tutore, F. De Felice, Is blockchain able to enhance big data technology, in: E3S Web of Conference, 2021, pp. 1–6.
environmental sustainability? A systematic review and research agenda from the [54] Y. Jing, L. Si-Cong, Research on the whole process control of cold chain
perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Bus. Strat. Environ. 31 (1) transportation under the background of resource saving, IOP Conf. Ser. Earth
(2022) 194–217. Environ. Sci. (2021) 1–10.
[27] R. Porat, A. Lichter, L.A. Terry, R. Harker, J. Buzby, Postharvest losses of fruit and [55] D. De Venuto, G. Mezzina, Spatio-temporal optimization of perishable goods’ shelf
vegetables during retail and in consumers’ homes: quantifications, causes, and life by a pro-active WSN-based architecture, Sensors 18 (7) (2018) 1–19.
means of prevention, Postharvest Biol. Technol. 139 (2018) 135–149, https://doi. [56] M.G. Corradini, Shelf life of food products: from open labeling to real-time
org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2017.11.019. measurements, Annu. Rev. Food Sci. Technol. 9 (2018) 251–269.
[28] R. Jedermann, M. Nicometo, I. Uysal, W. Lang, Reducing food losses by intelligent [57] R. Torres-Sánchez, M.T. Martínez-Zafra, N. Castillejo, A. Guillamón-Frutos,
food logistics, Phil. Trans. Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. (2014) 372, https://doi.org/ F. Artés-Hernández, Real-time monitoring system for shelf life estimation of fruit
10.1098/rsta.2013.0302. and vegetables, Sensors 20 (7) (2020) 1–21.
[29] J.C. Kuo, M.C. Chen, Developing an advanced multi-temperature joint distribution [58] D. De Venuto, G. Mezzina, Automatic perishable goods shelf life optimization in
system for the food cold chain, Food Control 21 (4) (2010) 559–566, https://doi. No-refrigerated warehouses by using a WSN-based architecture, Applications in
org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2009.08.007. Electronics Pervading Industry, Environment and Society: APPLEPIES (2019)
[30] T. Defraeye, G. Tagliavini, W. Wu, K. Prawiranto, S. Schudel, M.A. Kerisima, 287–294.
Digital twins probe into food cooling and biochemical quality changes for reducing
losses in refrigerated supply chains, Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 149 (2019) 778–794.

13
M.F.M.S. Mustafa et al. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 18 (2024) 101343

[59] G. La Scalia, R. Micale, P.P. Miglietta, P. Toma, Reducing waste and ecological [70] K. Salah, N. Nizamuddin, R. Jayaraman, M. Omar, Blockchain-based soybean
impacts through a sustainable and efficient management of perishable food based traceability in agricultural supply chain, IEEE Access 7 (2019) 1–11.
on the Monte Carlo simulation, Ecol. Indicat. 97 (2019) 363–371. [71] S. Köhler, M. Pizzol, Technology assessment of blockchain-based technologies in
[60] A.T. Pandian, S. Chaturvedi, S. Chakraborty, Applications of enzymatic the food supply chain, J. Clean. Prod. 269 (2020) 1–10.
time–temperature indicator (TTI) devices in quality monitoring and shelf-life [72] P. Katsikouli, A.S. Wilde, N. Dragoni, H. Høgh-Jensen, On the benefits and
estimation of food products during storage, J. Food Meas. Char. 15 (2021) challenges of blockchains for managing food supply chains, J. Sci. Food Agric. 101
1523–1540. (6) (2021) 2175–2181.
[61] M. Göransson, F. Nilsson, A. Jevinger, Temperature performance and food shelf-life [73] X. Chen, R. Chen, C. Yang, Research and design of fresh agricultural product
accuracy in cold food supply chains–Insights from multiple field studies, Food distribution service model and framework using IoT, J. Ambient Intell. Hum.
Control 86 (2018) 332–341. Comput. (2021) 1–17.
[62] R. Abishek, R. Lokesh, K. Balamurugan, IoT based cold supply chain for food [74] N. Singh, D. Adhikari, AI and IoT: a future perspective on inventory management,
processing, in: 2023 3rd Asian Conference on Innovation in Technology Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol. 11 (11) (2023) 2753–2757.
(ASIANCON), 2023, pp. 1–6. [75] T. Fan, F. Tao, S. Deng, S. Li, Impact of RFID technology on supply chain decisions
[63] S. Zaragoza, S. Gómez Vázquez, J. Barreiro Montes, Digital twin modeling of with inventory inaccuracies, Int. J. Prod. Econ. 159 (2015) 117–125.
refrigerated warehouses, Dyna 98 (3) (2023) 1–10. [76] L. Kumari, K. Narsaiah, M.K. Grewak, R.K. Anuragm, Application of RFID in agri-
[64] A. Shahid, A. Almogren, N. Javaid, F.A. Al-Zahrani, M. Zuair, M. Alam, Blockchain- food sector, Trends Food Sci. Technol. 43 (2) (2015) 144–161.
based agri-food supply chain: a complete solution, IEEE Access 8 (2020) 1–14. [77] F. Tao, T. Fan, K.K. Lai, L. Li, Impact of RFID technology on inventory control
[65] A. Chandan, M. John, V. Potdan, Achieving UN SDGs in food supply chain using policy, J. Oper. Res. Soc. 68 (2017) 207–220.
blockchain technology, Sustainability 15 (3) (2023) 1–21. [78] Y. Zhang, Y. Chai, L. Ma, Research on multi-echelon inventory optimization for
[66] J. Moosavi, L.M. Naeni, A.M. Fathollahi-Fard, U. Fiore, Blockchain in supply chain fresh products in supply chains, Sustainability 13 (11) (2021) 1–15.
management: a review, bibliometric, and network analysis, Environ. Sci. Pollut. [79] G. Xu, J. Feng, F. Chen, H. Wang, Z. Wang, Simulation-based optimization of
Control Ser. (2021) 1–26. control policy on multi-echelon inventory system for fresh agricultural products,
[67] A. Park, H. Li, The effect of blockchain technology on supply chain sustainability Int. J. Agric. Biol. Eng. 12 (2) (2019) 184–194.
performances, Sustainability 13 (4) (2021) 1–18. [80] N. Singh, D. Adhikari, AI in inventory management: applications, Challenges, and
[68] S. Saberi, M. Kouhizadeh, J. Sarkis, L. Shen, Blockchain technology and its opportunities, Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol. 11 (11) (2023) 2049–2053.
relationships to sustainable supply chain management, Int. J. Prod. Res. 57 (7) [81] N. Fu, T.C.E. Cheng, Z. Tian, RFID investment strategy for fresh food supply chains,
(2019) 2117–2135. J. Oper. Res. Soc. 70 (9) (2019) 1475–1489.
[69] S. Stranieri, F. Riccardi, M.P. Meuwissen, C. Soregaroli, Exploring the impact of [82] H. Pallathadka, E.H. Ramirez-Asis, T.P. Loli-Poma, K. Kaliyaperumal, R.J.
blockchain on the performance of agri-food supply chains, Food Control 119 M. Ventayen, M. Naved, Applications of artificial intelligence in business
(2021) 1–28. management, e-commerce and finance, Mater. Today: Proc. 80 (2023) 1–4.

14