Benchmarking supply chain due diligence practices in agri-food supply chains

Purpose This study examines how supply chain due diligence (SCDD) is institutionalized in agri-food supply chains and how it contributes to sustainability performance and supply chain resilience. It responds to the growing regulatory and operational complexity confronting agri-food firms by empirically developing a benchmarking framework for due diligence implementation. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 230 professionals from agri-food organizations. Data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to validate the measurement model and test the hypothesized relationships between regulatory pressure, technological transparency, supply chain complexity, due diligence, sustainability performance and resilience. Findings The results show that regulatory pressure, technological transparency, and supply chain complexity significantly influence the adoption of supply chain due diligence practices. Supply chain due diligence has a strong positive impact on sustainability performance, which in turn significantly enhances supply chain resilience. Sustainability performance partially mediates the relationship between due diligence and resilience, indicating that governance mechanisms improve adaptability primarily through sustainability execution. Practical implications The findings suggest that due diligence should be viewed as a strategic governance capability rather than a compliance tool. Managers should integrate due diligence into operational routines and leverage transparency technologies to improve governance effectiveness. For policymakers, the results highlight the need to promote capability-building regulatory frameworks rather than symbolic compliance mechanisms. Originality/value This study provides one of the first governance-based benchmarking frameworks for supply chain due diligence in agri-food supply chains. It reconceptualizes due diligence from a compliance activity to a strategic capability that drives sustainability and resilience. By proposing a practical due diligence benchmarking roadmap and identifying sustainability performance as the mechanism through which due diligence enhances resilience, the study advances theory beyond procedural compliance toward performance-oriented governance.