Identificação de barreiras e oportunidades para fomentar o acesso à rastreabilidade em cadeias de suprimentos de alimentos minimamente processados

Abstract

Traceability is essential for building consumer trust as it verifies product authenticity, quality, and sustainable origin. Additionally, it is a key element in the transition to more circular and efficient supply chains. However, the need for more specific research on the practical implementation of traceability systems in Brazil's minimally processed food supply chains limits the understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this sector. This study addresses this knowledge gap with the aim of identifying the barriers and opportunities to foment traceability access in these supply chains. The applied methodology consisted of four sequential stages: (1) Systematic literature review and exploratory review of gray literature; (2) Consultation with experts through an online semi-structured questionnaire; (3) Joint content analysis using PESTEL and SWOT analyses based on data collected in stages 1 and 2; and (4) Development of a visual diagram, providing an overview of the barriers and opportunities found in the studied sector. The results revealed that the main barriers are the lack of stakeholder commitment, absence of standardization, distant geographical location, limited information, lack of internal and external policies, insufficient financial resources, use of outdated technologies, and lack of capacity. Among the opportunities to overcome these barriers are technologies such as blockchain, which allows for more secure and transparent traceability, and RFID, which facilitates real-time tracking of products, among others. Additionally, the study identified government programs that encourage implementing these systems in the food supply chains. Finally, strategic proposals were proposed based on the weaknesses and strengths of each company, considering the identified opportunities and threats. Thus, this study stands out for its practical contribution by providing small and medium-sized enterprises in the Brazilian food sector with tools and strategies to overcome the identified barriers and effectively adopt traceability systems. On the other hand, the theoretical contribution enriches the knowledge of implementing traceability systems in minimally processed food supply chains in emerging contexts, such as Brazil.