Challenges and perspectives for agribusiness logistics chain in the Industry 4.0 era

Agribusiness is a vital industry for the development of all nations, both economically, as it is the basis of the economy of several countries, and socially, since it directly influences everything basic for human survival. Between the farmer and the supermarket, an entire logistics chain can be studied and improved so that food is delivered to the end customer with quality and safety. Also, many sectors of the economy were shaken by the fourth industrial revolution, and the technologies that emerged with this disruption can be used in increasingly versatile scenarios. Thus, the present study conducts a literature review to analyze how Industry 4.0 technologies have been applied to the agribusiness logistics chain, the current challenges of these logistics chains, and how these technologies can be integrated to solve such challenges. Internet of Things, machine learning, blockchain, and digital twins were identified as the main technologies. Stochasticity, food insecurity, information asymmetry, and lack of integration among stakeholders were identified as the main current challenges. Furthermore, the study also proposes a theoretical model of how the technologies could be exploited together to create additional value.