Understanding the Relationships between Sustainability Performance Functions in Fresh Food Supply Chain Design Using System Dynamics

Abstract

Agri-food supply chains face significant challenges in managing product, information, and financial flows, leading to economic, environmental, and social inefficiencies. This research explores the interrelationships within fresh food supply chain design and how configuration decisions impact sustainability indicators. Using system dynamics, the study analyses the entire supply chain’s behaviour, highlighting decisions with the greatest influence on sustainable performance. A key finding is the ripple effect of strategic network decisions, which affect not only economic performance but also environmental and social dimensions. This emphasizes the need for stakeholders to adopt a sustainability-focused approach in supply chain design to meet diverse objectives.