A Blockchain-IoT Framework for Ethical Compliance in Cocoa Supply Chains Using ISM and Fuzzy FMEA

Aim: This study presents the Ethical Harvest System (EHS), a hybrid blockchain-IoT framework that integrates fuzzy-enhanced ISM-FMEA to enable real-time, risk-driven ethical governance in cocoa supply chains. The study aims to develop a transparent and automated system that integrates analytical modelling with blockchain technology to enhance ethical compliance and decision-making. Methods: The study employs a six-stage methodology integrating IoT-based data acquisition and blockchain-enabled data immutability to ensure secure and transparent data handling. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) is used to identify key socio-technical enablers, while Fuzzy-FMEA is applied for risk quantification. The resulting risk thresholds are embedded into Ethereum smart contracts to enable automated compliance enforcement. System performance was evaluated using 1,000 simulated IoT transactions. Results: Economic analysis yielded a Benefit-Cost Ratio (1.11), positive NPV ($2,340), and 0.9-year payback, verifying financial feasibility. The integrated cause-and-effect analysis further revealed collaboration, reverse logistics, and transparency as key drivers of sustainable performance. These findings indicate that the proposed framework enhances ethical compliance by enabling continuous monitoring, automated verification, and risk-informed decision-making within supply chains. Conclusion: Practically, the framework can support organizations and policymakers in implementing transparent and automated compliance systems. Recommendation: Future research should focus on the real-world implementation of pilots and the integration of AI-based predictive analytics to further enhance scalability and decision accuracy.