Consumer-Driven Sustainability Transitions in the Food Supply Chain: An Initial Simulation Framework

Sustainability in the global food supply chain (FSC) depends on understanding the dynamic interactions among stakeholders. Existing approaches often neglect the ripple effects of consumer-driven behavioral changes on upstream actors, leaving critical gaps in strategies for systemic transformation. This study introduces a system dynamics simulation framework to model the interactions among four key stakeholders: farmers, storage operators, distributors, and consumers. The framework explores how shifts in consumer behavior can drive transitions from unsustainable to sustainable practices. By accounting for temporal delays, the model captures real-world complexities and reveals how consumer actions influence broader stakeholder dynamics. Experimental findings highlight the importance of consumer awareness, influence, and timing in advancing systemic change. A combination of heightened consumer awareness of sustainable practices and the implementation of carbon emission taxation accelerates the adoption of sustainable farming, with noticeable effects on distributors and storage operators within 12 months. This research has the potential to advance sustainability by demonstrating that active consumer participation can promote environmental responsibility within the FSC.