Food supply chains are highly distributed, collaborative, heterogeneous, diverse, and varied by product, process, and destination. The global food supply chain (FSC) objective is to maintain a good balance between supply and demand and move products from producer to market. However, sustainability of the FSC has become a major concern as limited resources and increasing population pressure threaten its existence. Supply chain management is an important issue for FSC due to information flow throughout the supply chain. Industry-specific characteristics and extensive integration among multiple actors in an entire supply chain exacerbate this situation. The agri-food sector has one of the lowest rates of information technology penetration for innovation. Over the past thirty years, information and communication technology (ICT) has been introduced into the agricultural and food sectors, helping to improve food production and transportation. However, there are various challenges, such as transparency, accountability, food scandal, trust, and inefficient information flow, that the food supply chain is still facing in reaching sustainable goals. The complexity of food supply systems and the opportunities and challenges faced regarding desired sustainability performance need to be examined to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Blockchain is an emerging and disruptive digital technology that can transform governance and sustainability in integrated food supply chains. It provides a transparent, immutable, and traceable ledger that minimizes anomalies and information fraud, making it a potential solution for designing a transparent, traceable food system. Blockchain can potentially improve the sustainability of the food supply chain by providing a transparent traceability system. Food traceability is important for managing the food supply chain and protecting public health. It allows quick and accurate traceability of contaminated food that causes foodborne illness outbreaks, leading to the withdrawal of contaminated food from markets. Blockchain can achieve traceability, provenance tracking, transparency, and reduce environmental impact in the food supply chain. It also helps in achieving sustainable development goals set by the UN. However, there is no scientific research on blockchain’s contribution to achieving these goals in the food supply chain. Therefore, this article presents a systematic literature review and thematic analysis to study the relationship between FSC sustainability, blockchain, and sustainable development goals.

Research into blockchain technology has expanded significantly due to its potential to enhance transparency and trust in business operations, yet adoption is limited by technical challenges like scalability, consensus mechanisms, and security, as well as non-technical barriers such as governance and standardization. This study synthesizes findings from 21 systematic literature reviews (SLR) published between January 2009 and January 2024, focusing on the technical performance of blockchain and its integration with technologies like cloud computing and machine learning. The analysis highlights advancements in scalability, security, privacy, and smart contracts alongside areas needing more research, such as interoperability and integration with legacy systems. This comprehensive review aims to map current technological developments, identify ongoing limitations, and identify specific technical challenges that impede broader adoption. The findings direct future research towards overcoming these barriers, facilitating the smoother implementation of blockchain across various business sectors.

Global concern over the sustainability impacts of food products has grown considerably in recent years, driven by heightened awareness of environmental issues and the rising demand for sustainably produced foods. In response, industries are increasingly offering sustainable product options and utilizing ecolabels to communicate environmental and social impacts. While product labelling has become one of the most widely adopted tools for conveying sustainability information, existing ecolabeling approaches often face challenges of trust, transparency, and consistency. Current ecolabels are typically issued by supply-chain stakeholders or independent third-party certifiers; however, limitations in accountability and verification hinder consumer confidence. To address these challenges, this study proposes a Blockchain-based Sustainability Information Management and Reporting (BSIMR) model that integrates blockchain technology with sustainability indicators. The framework is designed to provide a standardized, transparent, and reliable approach for managing and verifying sustainability claims across food supply chains. By enhancing traceability, accountability, and consistency in sustainability auditing, the BSIMR model aims to empower consumers with trustworthy information and support industries in meeting sustainability commitments. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed framework are demonstrated through a proof-of-concept case study on sustainability information management in the rice supply chain.

Sustainability within the rice and wheat supply chain is integral to attaining the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they are the two most consumed grains as food. Rice and wheat cultivation significantly impacts the environment, with the agricultural sector employing 27% of the global workforce and contributing 4% to the world’s GDP, thereby affecting social and economic sustainability. Developing a sustainability index for the wheat and rice supply chain is a complex endeavor, as it depends on various factors such as the location of growers, farming methods, the target audience, and the stakeholders involved. This index must be derived from an optimal selection of indicators to avoid information overload while covering all essential sustainability aspects. There are different methods, such as life cycle assessment, energy analysis, ecological footprint, and carbon footprint, being used to assess sustainability, with indicator-based assessment emerging as a comprehensive approach. This study utilised the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) to identify optimal sustainability indicators in the wheat and rice supply chain. A systematic literature review was initially conducted, followed by an expert opinion survey to determine the required indicators. The literature review unveiled a wide array of indicators used across studies, often contingent on each study’s specific objectives. While some consistency existed in environmental indicators, discussions on social and economic dimensions within the wheat and rice supply chain were limited. Analysis of the expert opinion survey revealed a consensus on most selected indicators, albeit with variations based on experts’ geographical locations. The final set of optimal indicators identified can serve as a foundation for developing a sustainability index, implementing a sustainability information management system, and formulating policy initiatives in the rice and wheat supply chain.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has evolved significantly globally over the past few decades. Many countries are now signatories to international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, with increasing commitments to emissions reduction targets and the achievement of broader sustainability goals outlined in modern ESG reporting. The Indo‐Pacific is a fast‐growing economic powerhouse that will also face significant climate change challenges. This region is also increasingly demonstrating an important role in global geopolitics. This paper examines how four major economies in the Indo‐Pacific region, India, Japan, Thailand, and Australia, are responding to rising political and investor expectations for higher levels of climate change and sustainability reporting through ESG reporting mechanisms. Discussion highlights advances in sustainability performance assessment beyond western‐centric perspectives and reframes global ESG leadership in terms of a rapidly growing economic region's commitment to ESG reporting structures and sustainability leadership.