Dose blockchain-based agri-food supply chain guarantee the initial information authenticity? An evolutionary game...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Information Systems
• Game Theory

Background:

• Ensuring the authenticity of initial information in the agri-food supply chain (AFSC) presents significant challenges.
• Blockchain technology offers a potential solution for enhancing transparency and traceability within the AFSC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an evolutionary game model for AFSC participants utilizing blockchain technology.
• To analyze the impact of key parameters on the dynamic evolution of participant behavior regarding information authenticity.

Main Methods:

• Development of an evolutionary game model for AFSC participants on a blockchain.
• Simulation experiments and sensitivity analysis using Matlab 2022b to validate theoretical findings.

Main Results:

• Initial information authenticity can be established as a shared belief among AFSC participants through strategic parameter design.
• Increased rewards, synergistic effects, and reduced information costs/risks enhance the likelihood of sharing truthful initial data.
• Excessively severe default penalties can deter enterprises from sharing authentic initial information.

Conclusions:

• Strategic design of blockchain-based evolutionary game parameters is crucial for achieving initial information authenticity in the AFSC.
• Incentive mechanisms, cost reduction, and risk mitigation are key drivers for promoting honest information sharing.
• Policy recommendations for leading enterprises and governments in China are provided to ensure AFSC sustainability.