Fuzzy-based approaches for agri-food supply chains: a mini-review

A survey on the technologies employed in the modern agriculture and agri-food supply chains lately appeared, but only one paper using a fuzzy-based approach was cited. The aim of the present mini-review is to complement the above-mentioned survey and to show the application of different fuzzy-based approaches for agri-food supply chains. Agri-food supply chains represent linked events in the agricultural production of food, where all the stages of production, processing, trading, distribution and consumption are involved. These supply chains are expected to provide sustainable, affordable, safe and sufficient food and other derivatives to the consumers. Hence, it is critical to ensure that they operate properly and successfully in the volatile business environment. A first concern is to assess the service ability of the whole supply chain to preserve agri-food quality, eliminate deterioration and meet the demands of customers. Due to their complex structure, agri-food supply chains are susceptible to several vulnerabilities and risks, such as breakdowns, operational difficulties, and credit loss and economic losses due to various uncertain factors. A risk analysis can help to identify and categorize the risks. In this era characterized by the rapid industrialization of the agriculture and the increased global food demand, the sustainability and transparency of supply chains have become key factors. The new focus on sustainability emphasizes the issue of striking a balance between ecological and economic aspects in the agri-food business. In this context, problems such as the green supplier selection gained special attention.