E-Thesis 33 views
Artificial Intelligence as an Enabler of Resilience in Agri-food Supply Chains: A Multi-case Analysis in Ireland and Kuwait / ENJOUD ALHASAWI
Swansea University Author: ENJOUD ALHASAWI
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71603
Abstract
The volatile geopolitical landscape (i.e., Red Sea shipping disruptions, the Russia-Ukraine war, and various economic trade wars), combined with the increasingly evident effect of climate change, is wreaking chaos on regional and global agri-food supply chains. Agri-food supply chain disruptions are...
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Swansea University
2026
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Dennehy, D., Dwivedi, Y., and Zhao, G. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71603 |
| Abstract: |
The volatile geopolitical landscape (i.e., Red Sea shipping disruptions, the Russia-Ukraine war, and various economic trade wars), combined with the increasingly evident effect of climate change, is wreaking chaos on regional and global agri-food supply chains. Agri-food supply chain disruptions are no longer confined to farmers and food distributors they can have serious repercussions in areas critical to the well-being of economies and societies in both developed and developing countries. For example, the Russia-Ukraine war is impacting global wheat, sunflower oil, and maize supplies, as well as food security and aid. These disruptions have revealed vulnerabilities, including the impact on the agri-food supply chains' capacity to remain coherent and resilient in the face of uncertainty. Due to the concerns regarding food security and climate change, alongside the perishability and seasonality nature of agri-food products, it is considered essential to find innovative solutions for agri-food organisations. In response, organisations are looking at ways to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to safeguard and enable resilient agri-food supply chains. Thus, developing the capabilities of agri-food supply chains to be ready, responsive, and able to recover and adapt to unplanned and planned interruptions promote the sustainability of food systems. Against this background, this doctoral research aims to explore the role of AI technologies as an enabler of building resilient agri-food supply chains. This qualitative interpretivist study draws on the insights from practitioners at four agri-food companies located in Ireland and Kuwait that operate in large, complex regional and global supply chains. In doing so, this study advances understanding of the contextual differences in agri-food supply chains related to AI implementation and responding to disruptions. Data collection in this study has been conducted through twenty-four semi-structured interviews and direct observations, which have been analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study reveal several types of disruptions (i.e., boycotting campaigns, container shortage, geopolitical instability,) that have significant impact on agri-food supply chains. In addition, the results reveal how AI-based systems enhance the four dimensions of resilience (i.e., readiness, responsiveness, recovery, and adaptability) in agri-food supply chains. Building on these results, the dissertation presents a conceptual framework that demonstrates how AI technologies interact with disruptions and the dimensions of resilience to achieve resilient AI-based agri-food supply chains. This study also contributes to providing empirical insights based on the agri-food practices to explore the benefits and main challenges of AI implementation. Further, the thesis contributes to the agri-food practice through providing guidelines |
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| Keywords: |
artificial intelligence, agri-food supply chain, resilience, disruptions |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |