Assessing the downstream and upstream preferences of stakeholders for sustainability attributes in the tomato value chain

Effectively implementing innovations in agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) is contingent upon stakeholders’ preferences. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the objective of this research was to ascertain the degree of willingness among farmers, consumers, and various stakeholders (including processing companies, restaurants, and retailers) in the tomato supply chain of Catalonia (Spain) to shorten the chain and promote local procurement. Based on a set of social, economic, and environmental criteria encompassing sustainability in AFSCs, the results showed that economic factors, particularly profitability and affordability, were the key driving factors in the decisions of stakeholders. However, the considerable importance placed on strategic attributes, including local production, environmental sustainability, and product quality, particularly among consumers, seemed to present a chance to advocate for sustainable alternatives, such as short food supply chains (SFSCs). The AHP methodology facilitates differentiation with respect to the criteria of the decision-making process and serves as a valuable instrument for evaluating the reception of innovations within the AFSC and categorizing the stakeholders who exhibit the greatest interest in them. In order to improve the sustainability of agri-food systems, our findings may be incorporated into strategic plans developed by policymakers.

This study belongs to the project Lab4Supply, “Multi-agent agri-food living labs for new supply chain Mediterranean systems. Towards more sustainable and competitive farming addressing consumers’ preferences and market changes”, funded under the PRIMA—Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area—programme-Section 2, Call 2020, Thematic Area Agri-food Value Chain. PRIMA Lab4supply received funding from participating National Research Agencies: in Spain, by “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (MCIN)—“Agencia Estatal de Investigación” (AEI) (DOI 10.13039/501100011033) and European Union—NextGenerationEU/PRTR, under grant agreement PCI2021-121923. The content of this paper reflects only the author’s view, and the funding agencies are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

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