Independent vs. collaborative blockchain Research and Development: Operational decisions in food supply chains

As blockchain increasingly demonstrates advantages in enhancing consumer trust and reducing collaborative production costs in food supply chains, more food companies are developing blockchain-based supply chain management platforms. However, in a complex and competitive supply chain environment, food companies face critical operational management challenges in selecting appropriate blockchain R&D approaches and determining optimal R&D levels. This study examines two competing food companies deciding on their optimal food production and blockchain R&D levels. We first established a benchmark model without blockchain adoption. Then, we constructed supply chain operation models for both independent and collaborative blockchain R&D scenarios. By comparing equilibrium decisions across different models, we derived the optimal blockchain R&D model and operational strategies in food supply chains. Furthermore, we extended our analysis to consider asymmetric food substitution scenarios. Our findings revealed that independent blockchain R&D tends to increase equilibrium food production and is more suitable for premium food supply chains. Conversely, collaborative blockchain R&D significantly enhanced overall supply chain profitability. As spillover effects increase, food companies are likely to favor independent blockchain R&D to achieve higher R&D levels and stronger market competitiveness. Additionally, we demonstrated that blockchain R&D levels are influenced by food substitutability and quality credibility.