Harnessing Industry 4.0 in agri supply chains: a strategy for enhanced sustainability

Purpose To investigate the underlying factors contributing to this challenge, this research aims to identify key barriers to Industry 4.0 (I4.0) adoption in agriculture supply chains to enhance sustainability. Additionally, this work seeks to develop a structured framework to examine their interactions to investigate the fundamental causes of this problem. Design/methodology/approach Initial identification of I4.0 adoption barriers in agricultural supply chains is done using a comprehensive literature review. The Fuzzy-Delphi method is then used for validation and finalization. Then, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory approach is used to determine causal links between these barriers. Findings The results show that the biggest obstacles to I4.0 implementation in agricultural supply chains are “lack of management commitment,” “lack of prioritization of circular economy (CE) practices,” “lack of a skilled workforce” and “lack of government support.” Research limitations/implications The study is directed from the viewpoint of a developing economy because the most pressing sustainability issues are found in these nations. I4.0 technologies will be essential in supplying developing nations with wholesome, secure, and environmentally sound food. Originality/value This paper offers a framework that tackles several problems in one model. As part of the technique, a thorough literature analysis is conducted to identify the main difficulties. These are then confirmed by speaking with industry experts and visiting different stakeholders in the sector. The developed framework provides an organized approach for implementing I4.0 and circular economy principles in the agricultural supply chain while methodically removing or minimizing the effects of barriers.