Transparency in food supply chains: empirical results from German pig and dairy production

Abstract

Food supply chains have been faced with increasing requirements for transparency in recent years. However, evaluating the status quo of transparency of netchains entails measurement problems, since transparency is a multifaceted phenomenon as well as a latent variable. In this paper we present a measurement model that integrates various perspectives on transparency and, moreover, considers various measurement concepts. This model provides a theoretical basis for the empirical analysis of transparency in German pig and dairy production, which reveals interesting differences between the two sectors as perceived by farmers. The model and the empirical results deliver a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants and effects of various degrees of transparency in food supply chains.