Role of Artificial Intelligence Capabilities in Enhancing Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chain Performance

Agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) are the essence that makes the world tick. After all, the food we eat those matters; everything else can wait. However, despite their criticality, the AFSCs face daunting challenges that pose severe threats to the sustenance of humanity. The study explores the contribution of Industry 4.0 disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, to improve sustainable AFSC performance through real-time information exchange. Food companies and private entities in this field have undoubtedly realized the importance of allocating financial investment expenses and adopting digital solutions, which ignite competitive advantage and increase the economic returns provided by AI technologies. Businesses can boost revenue, improve pricing strategies, and target suitable clients by streamlining sales processes and utilizing AI-powered data and forecasts. The research methodology of the study is two-phased, i.e., in the first phase, the study investigates AI capabilities through a systematic literature review, and in the second phase, it proposes a conceptual research framework for exploring the relationship between identified AI capabilities and real-time information exchange to enhance sustainable AFSC performance. Based on the data collected from 251 AFSC organizations in the UAE, the findings will highlight noteworthy impacts of AI capabilities on real-time information exchange and sustainable agricultural supply chain performance. The study offers important contributions to theory and practice.