Perceptions of Blockchain's Role in Food Supply Chain Quality Management: A Comparative Analysis Across Global, Alternative, and Mixed Structures

The growing demand for transparency in food supply chains has positioned blockchain technology as an enabler for enhancing quality management. However, the structures of food systems and their supply chain networks, from large-scale global systems to localised alternative food networks (AFNs), suggest that the application and impact of blockchain are not uniform. This paper examines how blockchain is perceived to improve supply chain quality across various food network typologies. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study analyses responses from 59 food supply chain practitioners and experts who self-identified their operational context as solely global, solely alternative, or a mix of both. The findings show that the role of blockchain is context-dependent. Stakeholders in global food supply chains perceive it as a tool for standardisation, compliance, and managing complexity. Those in alternative networks view it as a mechanism to verify trust, enhance transparency around values-based attributes, and communicate their unique story. For stakeholders in mixed (global and alternative) supply chains, blockchain is viewed as a technology for integrating disparate systems and creating a unified, accountable framework. The research concludes that a one-size-fits-all approach to blockchain implementation is ineffective. Instead, "fit-for-purpose" solutions are required that align with the specific governance structures, values, and operational realities of each supply chain type.