Fully funded PhD: Emerging technologies for promoting sustainable and transparent organic food supply chain in India

The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Research Centre at Sheffield University Management School is seeking applications for a fully funded PhD from exceptional UK/EU/International students with an outstanding academic record (distinction/high merit or equivalent), as well as a proven record in research training.

Project description

According to a 2018 World of Organic Agriculture report, India has the highest number of organic farmers globally (30% of the world’s producers); however, these farmers are struggling due to a lack of uniform standards for organic food in India, which has given rise to number of confusing certifications. Most of the costs for certifications are borne by poor farmers, making their livelihood unsustainable. Moreover, there is no transparency of auditing for certifying products as “organic” creating challenges; consumer confusion regarding what certification to trust and restricting access to the right customers for producers. Certification schemes have considerable influence on producer behaviours, supply chain transactions and consumer decisions and there is increasing pressure to overcome the weaknesses of these systems. Emerging technologies such as Blockchain provide an opportunity for building trust in the certification process through encrypted ledgers, and Internet of Things (IoT) sensing technologies can provide further benefits for real-time monitoring and analysis of standards. However, there is a lack of in-depth case studies which have demonstrated the role of such emerging technologies and their application to a particular social context, especially those considering socio-technical perspectives such as policies, culture and development level. This PhD will identify standards, metrics, data and non-invasive cost effective IoT sensors together with relevant tools to develop private and public Blockchain for a sustainable and transparent organic food supply chain within India and for accessing international markets. It will also evaluate supply chain governance models needed for data collection, data sharing and data ownership. This project will complement a recently funded STFC-GCRF TRANSSITioN project in India.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is 1 July 2019 at 17:00 UK time. Please note that applications will not be processed if they are incomplete or received after the deadline. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Tuesday 13/Wednesday 14 August 2019.

Applicants should submit a 1000 word research proposal which directly addresses the theme and/or specific topic to which they are applying. The proposal should contain a brief background to the topic, which demonstrates knowledge of existing work in the field, and potential contributions to knowledge. It should also explain the proposed research methods and include a plan of the research, and a timeline.

For more information and to submit an application, visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/study/researchdegrees/fundedprojects

Please clearly indicate the number of the project in your application: LSCM 1/3

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: [Email Address Removed]