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Blockchain Technology in Wine Chain for Collecting and Addressing Sustainable Performance: An Exploratory Study

Author

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  • Gloria Luzzani

    (Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy)

  • Erica Grandis

    (Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy)

  • Marco Frey

    (Department of Management, Sant’Anna Scuola Superiore Universitaria di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Ettore Capri

    (European Observatory on Sustainable Agriculture (OPERA), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy)

Abstract

Sustainability standards have not yet been commonly adopted by the whole wine chain, and indicator assessments are not widely spread. A deep understanding of how embedding sustainability into business while controlling costs related to the adoption of sustainability certification standards such as data collection and management practices could allow one to overcome most barriers relevant to sustainability compliance. Blockchain technology (BCT) may answer these needs. In order to verify BCT potential to be used as a sustainability management tool in the wine industry, with a qualitative triple bottom line research approach, this article explores the connections among BCT adoption in agri-food, issues posed by wine sustainability certification, and whether wine companies that already own a wine sustainability certification are prepared to adopt it. Results show that (1) the blockchain allows collecting data and information that are relevant for monitoring and improving sustainability: Soil and water features, climate conditions, treatment with pesticides and fertilizers, production process, traceability, transparency, labor and human rights, quality and safety, waste reduction, authenticity, relationship with stakeholders; (2) wine companies that already own a sustainability certification have little familiarity with blockchain applications (57.1%, n.21) and only 14% of the respondents support their intention to invest in BCT in the coming years; (3) the case study shows improvements in traceability and transparency along the supply chain and an increase in consumers’ trust that was reflected in sales growth, and the main costs are linked to complexity in data management.

Suggested Citation

  • Gloria Luzzani & Erica Grandis & Marco Frey & Ettore Capri, 2021. "Blockchain Technology in Wine Chain for Collecting and Addressing Sustainable Performance: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12898-:d:684692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bojana Malisic & Nemanja Misic & Srdjan Krco & Aleksandra Martinovic & Sandra Tinaj & Tomo Popovic, 2023. "Blockchain Adoption in the Wine Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Lovina Yogarajan & Mohammad Masukujjaman & Mohd Helmi Ali & Norlin Khalid & Lokhman Hakim Osman & Syed Shah Alam, 2023. "Exploring the Hype of Blockchain Adoption in Agri-Food Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Kongmanas Yavaprabhas & Mehrdokht Pournader & Stefan Seuring, 2023. "Blockchain as the “trust-building machine” for supply chain management," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 327(1), pages 49-88, August.

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