Digital twin-enabled regional food supply chain: A review and research agenda

Abstract

Sustainable, resilient, and efficient Regional Food Supply Chains (RFSCs) are critical to addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change, and resource optimization. Digital Twins (DTs) have emerged as powerful tools for real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and process optimization, providing actionable insights for the modernization and integration of RFSCs. Our systematic literature review of 133 studies reveals how DTs can transform RFSCs and the challenges and opportunities associated with their adoption. The findings suggest that DTs enhance RFSC management by facilitating informed decision-making, improving resource efficiency, reducing waste, and promoting regional resilience to external disruptions. This work advances the state of the art by identifying the unique role of DTs in optimizing each process within RFSCs, from production to consumption. Key contributions include (1) identifying the potential of DTs to improve sustainability, resilience, and efficiency in RFSCs, (2) analyzing the challenges of DT interoperability, data integration, and cybersecurity, (3) exploring how DTs can foster regional development through improved traceability and logistics, and (4) presenting an annotated research agenda. This review offers a comprehensive theoretical framework and practical guidance for researchers and practitioners leveraging DTs in RFSCs to create sustainable, human-centric, and resilient supply chains at a regional scale.

Topics & Concepts