Abstract
This paper proposes a multi-agent simulation that incorporates the characteristics of pork supply chain actors. The purpose is to support policy makers and supply chain actors in designing long term strategies towards sustainability. The agents represent diverse types of producers, consumers and intermediate supply chain actors. Through brand positioning, societal pressure and opinion dynamics, patterns of sustainable meat production and distribution emerge. The model is applied in four realistic scenarios, implementing business models and interventions grounded in empirical research on meat supply chains. Outcomes differ greatly across scenarios with respect to consumption of sustainable meat and producer welfare. The market oriented scenarios result in a faster transition towards sustainability. The simulation offers insights into the effects of interactions between consumer demand, societal pressure, brand positioning, and investments by producers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The NetLogo simulation is available for download from http://www.verwaart.nl/Sustainability.
References
de Jonge J, van Trijp H (2013) Meeting heterogeneity in consumer demand for animal welfare: a reflection on existing knowledge and implications for the meat sector. J Agric Environ Ethics 26:629–661
de Lauwere C, Verhaar K, Drost H (2002) Het mysterie van het ondernemerschap. Rapport 2002-2. IMAG, Wageningen (in Dutch)
Deffuant G, Neau D, Amblard F, Weisbuch G (2000) Mixing beliefs among interacting agents. Adv Complex Syst 3:87–98
Gereffi G, Humphrey J, Sturgeon T (2005) The governance of global supply chains. Rev Int Polit Econ 12:78–104
Hessing-Couvret E, Reuling A (2002) Het WIN-model Waardensegmenten in Nederland. NIPO, Amsterdam (in Dutch)
Kirman A (2008) Artificial markets: rationality and organisation. In: Schredelseker K, Hauser F (eds) Complexity and artificial markets. Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, vol 614. Springer, Heidelberg
Lacagnina V, Provenzano D (2010) Threshold rule and scaling behavior in a multi-agent supply chain. In: LiCalzi M et al (eds) Progress in artificial economics. Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, vol 645. Springer, Heidelberg
LEI Bedrijven InformatieNet (2013) www.wageningenur.nl/lei (in Dutch)
LEI Monitor Duurzaam Voedsel (2013) www.wageningenur.nl/lei (in Dutch)
Meijer SA, Ragothoma J, King R, Palavalli B (2011) Indian food supply chains: a game and model to study economic behavior. In: Osinga S et al. (eds.) Emergent results of artificial economics. Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, vol 652. Springer, Heidelberg
Mizgier KJ, Wagner SM, Holyst JA (2012) Modeling defaults of companies in multi-stage supply chain networks. Int J Prod Econ 135:14–23
Moyaux TP, McBurney P (2006) Reduction of the bullwhip effect in supply chains through speculation. In: Bruun C (ed) Advances in artificial economics. Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, vol 584. Springer, Heidelberg
Reinders M, Poppe K, Immink V, van den Broek E, van Horne P, Hoste R (2014) Waardevolle perspectieven voor vlees. LEI Wageningen UR, Den Haag (in Dutch)
Rouchier J (2004) Interaction routines and selfish behaviours in an artificial market. In: WEHIA, Workshop of economics with heterogenous interacting agents, Kyoto, 29–31 May 2004
Sahota, A (2009) The global market for organic food & drink. In: The world of organic agriculture. Frick and Geneva, Bonn. ITC/FIBL/IFOAM
Wilenski, U (1999) NetLogo. http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University, Evanston
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
van den Broek, E., Verwaart, T. (2015). Evaluating Scenarios for Upgrading Sustainability of the Meat Supply Chain. In: Amblard, F., Miguel, F., Blanchet, A., Gaudou, B. (eds) Advances in Artificial Economics. Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, vol 676. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09578-3_19
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09578-3_19
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09577-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09578-3
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)