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Li, Wanxi (2020) Opportunities and Challenges of Blockchain Technology in China's Frozen Seafood Supply Chain in the aftermath of COVID-19. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]

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Abstract

Purpose: The researcher found that China's frozen seafood supply chain is experiencing an unprecedented crisis in the aftermath of the COVID-19. Through in-depth interviews and case studies of six companies, the primary purpose of this dissertation is to explore critical factors affecting the frozen seafood supply chain in China, and to discuss the adoption of blockchain technology in the frozen seafood supply chain as an emerging technology capable of making the food supply chain transparent and secure as well as responsive to customer needs and regulatory requirements. So far, the existing literature has mainly explored the advantages of blockchain technology. However, its application is still challenging, especially for developing countries like China. Besides, there is still little research on blockchain in the frozen seafood supply chain. Therefore, this study investigates the opportunities and challenges of applying blockchain technology in the frozen seafood supply chain and provides insights into solutions to overcome the challenges. It presents empirical research on the implementation of blockchain in the industry in order to encourage blockchain development and have a beneficial influence on the sustainability of the frozen seafood industry.

Methodology: This study adopts a mixed research method, i.e., literature review, semi-structured interviews and case studies. The literature review provides a theoretical framework for this study on the COVID-19, frozen seafood supply chain, its disruption modes, and blockchain technology. Semi-structured interviews and case studies cover six seafood companies in China. Both within-case and cross-case analysis are used to present the disruption patterns of China's frozen seafood supply chain as well as the opportunities and challenges framework of blockchain in the frozen seafood supply chain.

Findings: The dissertation, based on semi-structured interviews and case studies, enumerates the disruption faced by the frozen seafood supply chain as a result of COVID-19, proving that COVID-19 first affected the circulation of frozen seafood products, which was mainly short-term because it would be gradually eased as the epidemic situation improved. The epidemic has had a more profound impact on consumption because of the significant change in consumption concept after the epidemic. Consumers' demand for food safety and health and concern about the source of food will increase, so the traceability of the supply chain will become the trend. Blockchain technology is a contributing factor to supply chain visibility and has shown advantages for government regulatory efficiency, corporate supply chain management and consumers' access to food sources. However, implementation challenges remain, mainly manifested in technical complexity, high cost, uncertain return on investment, regulatory uncertainty, security and privacy issues, increased user liability, self-condition constraints, and the inability to achieve true traceability. Based on these challenges, the researcher proposes potential solutions from regulatory, enterprise and technology perspectives, and constructs a framework for blockchain implementation in the frozen seafood supply chain.

Research limitations/implications: Due to the limitation of time and resources, only six companies were invited to conduct this study, all of which are all from frozen seafood/food companies and are all in China. Therefore, the study results may not be representative enough.

Originality/Value: Through interviews and case studies, the dissertation elaborates the disruption of the frozen seafood supply chain under COVID-19, provides empirical research on the practice, opportunities and challenges of blockchain in the frozen seafood supply chain, and builds a framework for blockchain in the frozen seafood supply chain. As far as the researcher knows, this thesis is one of the few in-depth analysis of implementation of blockchain in the frozen seafood industry. It provides a theoretical and empirical basis for the application of blockchain in this field to promote blockchain development, as well as an evaluation framework for frozen seafood practitioners who want to implement blockchain technology and a direction for the sustainable development of the frozen seafood industry.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	Blockchain, Frozen Seafood, Food Supply Chain, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Supply Chain Disruption, Opportunities, Challenges
Depositing User:	Li, Wanxi
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2023 09:00
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2023 09:00
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/66386

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