IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i13p5902-d1688343.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Leveraging Milk-Traceability Technologies for Supply-Chain Performance: Evidence from Saudi Dairy Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Afyaa Alessa

    (Department of Management, College of Business Administration, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia)

  • Himanshu Shee

    (Business School, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Tharaka De Vass

    (Department of Management, Monash Business School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia)

Abstract

Growing concern over food safety and adulteration has thrust milk traceability technologies to the forefront of agrifood supply chains. This qualitative study explores the technological, organisational, and environmental (TOE) determinants of traceability technology adoption in Saudi Arabia’s dairy sector. In-depth semi-structured interviews with nine senior managers from small-, medium-, and large-scale dairy farms were analysed thematically in NVivo. Thematic analysis revealed that technological cost and compatibility played crucial role, while contrary to the prior literature, respondents downplayed technological complexity, arguing that training could offset it. Organisational culture and employee resistance were the primary inhibitors within dairy firms. Saudi Vision 2030, post COVID-19 consumer pressure and competitor pressure emerged as the dominant environmental factors. The findings offer insights for managers and policymakers on how to improve supply chain transparency, operational efficiency, product quality, and consumer trust while advancing several UN SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Afyaa Alessa & Himanshu Shee & Tharaka De Vass, 2025. "Leveraging Milk-Traceability Technologies for Supply-Chain Performance: Evidence from Saudi Dairy Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:5902-:d:1688343
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5902/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/5902/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kamalakanta Muduli & Rakesh Raut & Balkrishna Eknath Narkhede & Himanshu Shee, 2022. "Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Supply Chain Performance and Reducing the Threats Arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-4, March.
    2. Wongprawmas, Rungsaran & Canavari, Maurizio, 2017. "Consumers’ willingness-to-pay for food safety labels in an emerging market: The case of fresh produce in Thailand," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 25-34.
    3. Lusk, Jayson L. & Tonsor, Glynn T. & Schroeder, Ted C. & Hayes, Dermot J., 2018. "Effect of government quality grade labels on consumer demand for pork chops in the short and long run," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 91-102.
    4. Xin Lin & Shu-Chen Chang & Tung-Hsiang Chou & Shih-Chih Chen & Athapol Ruangkanjanases, 2021. "Consumers’ Intention to Adopt Blockchain Food Traceability Technology towards Organic Food Products," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Liu, Ruifeng & Gao, Zhifeng & Nayga, Rodolfo M. & Snell, Heather Arielle & Ma, Hengyun, 2019. "Consumers’ valuation for food traceability in China: Does trust matter?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Tina Žurbi & Diana Gregor-Svetec, 2023. "Use of QR Code in Dairy Sector in Slovenia," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, May.
    7. Chang, Shuchih Ernest & Chen, Yi-Chian & Lu, Ming-Fang, 2019. "Supply chain re-engineering using blockchain technology: A case of smart contract based tracking process," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1-11.
    8. Ahmed, Wafaa A.H. & MacCarthy, Bart L., 2023. "Blockchain-enabled supply chain traceability – How wide? How deep?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    9. Anaka Aiyar & Prabhu Pingali, 2020. "Pandemics and food systems - towards a proactive food safety approach to disease prevention & management," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 749-756, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dimitris Skalkos & Ioanna S. Kosma & Eleni Chasioti & Thomas Bintsis & Haralabos C. Karantonis, 2021. "Consumers’ Perception on Traceability of Greek Traditional Foods in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Longzhong Shi & Xuan Chen & Bo Chen, 2023. "Covid‐19‐tested food labels," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 71(2), pages 203-230, June.
    3. Zhanguo Zhu & Qinyuan Shen & Zhifeng Gao, 2022. "Consumer choices in agricultural markets with multitier collective labels and private brands," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(4), pages 905-922, October.
    4. Lin Bai & Zhanguo Zhu & Tong Zhang, 2021. "How to Improve Food Quality in the Domestic Market: The Role of “Same Line Same Standard Same Quality”—Evidence from a Consumer Choice Experiment in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Shi, Longzhong & Chen, Xuan & Chen, Bo & Qiu, Jingran & Li, Li, 2021. "Assessing Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Covid-19-tested Food Labels," 2021 ASAE 10th International Conference (Virtual), January 11-13, Beijing, China 329403, Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE).
    6. Lin, Wen & Ma, Baojie & Liang, Jiangyuan & Jin, Shaosheng, 2024. "Price response to government disclosure of food safety information in developing markets," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    7. Aaron M. Shew & Heather A. Snell & Rodolfo M. Nayga & Mary C. Lacity, 2022. "Consumer valuation of blockchain traceability for beef in the United States," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 299-323, March.
    8. Ahmad Ali Atieh & Alhareth Abu Hussein & Saheer Al-Jaghoub & Ahmad Fathi Alheet & Murad Attiany, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Technology, Automation, and Data Integration on Supply Chain Performance: Exploring the Moderating Role of Digital Transformation," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, January.
    9. Liu Jiaguo & Zhang Huimin & Zhao Huida, 2021. "Blockchain Technology Investment and Sharing Strategy of Port Supply Chain Under Competitive Environment," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 9(3), pages 280-309, June.
    10. Yuichiro Amekawa & Surat Hongsibsong & Nootchakarn Sawarng & Sumeth Yadoung & Girma Gezimu Gebre, 2021. "Producers’ Perceptions of Public Good Agricultural Practices Standard and Their Pesticide Use: The Case of Q-GAP for Cabbage Farming in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, June.
    11. Liwen Ling & Dabin Zhang & Shanying Chen & Amin W. Mugera, 2020. "Can online search data improve the forecast accuracy of pork price in China?," Journal of Forecasting, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(4), pages 671-686, July.
    12. Britwum, Kofi & Yiannaka, Amalia, 2019. "Consumer willingness to pay for food safety interventions: The role of message framing and issue involvement," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-1.
    13. Liu, Zhenzhen & Geng, Xianhui & Gao, Zhifeng & Zhang, Jingqiu, 2025. "Consumer preference for fresh produce: Does the biological control influence their choices?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 2030-2042.
    14. Dnyaneshwar Jivanrao Ghode & Vinod Yadav & Rakesh Jain & Gunjan Soni, 2025. "Integrated framework for supply chain with blockchain technology: a manufacturers’ perspective," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    15. Kangning Zheng & Zuopeng Zhang & Jeffrey Gauthier, 2022. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Blockchain-based intelligent contract for factoring business in supply chains," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 308(1), pages 777-797, January.
    16. Savchenko, Olesya M. & Kecinski, Maik & Li, Tongzhe & Messer, Kent D. & Xu, Huidong, 2018. "Fresh foods irrigated with recycled water: A framed field experiment on consumer responses," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 103-112.
    17. Ji Jiang & Jin Chen, 2021. "Framework of Blockchain-Supported E-Commerce Platform for Small and Medium Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.
    18. Zhu, Zhanguo & Zhang, Tong & Hu, Wuyang, 2023. "The accumulation and substitution effects of multi-nation certified organic and protected eco-origin food labels in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    19. Kaleb S. Jada & Mequanint B. Melesse & Marrit Berg, 2023. "The effects of safety certification and nutrition messaging on the demand for nutritionally enhanced food in urban Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 395-409, April.
    20. Yang, Xiaoke & Chen, Qiuhua & Lin, Nenmei & Han, Mengzhu & Chen, Qian & Zheng, Qiuqin & Gao, Bin & Liu, Fengbo & Xu, Zhongyue, . "Chinese consumer preferences for organic labels on Oolong tea: evidence from a choice experiment," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 24(3).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:5902-:d:1688343. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.