When relations are facilitated by communication technologies such as e-business, food supply networks can improve efficiency, flexibility and effectiveness. However, a lack of trust within such transactions can prevent the integration of e-business into this large, economic sector. Using case studies from European countries, chapters discuss trust-building methods for food networks in an e-business environment. Key issues include the influence of cultural disparity and cross-border transactions upon major product groups such as meat, cereal products and fresh produce.

When relations are facilitated by communication technologies such as e-business, food supply networks can improve efficiency, flexibility and effectiveness. However, a lack of trust within such transactions can prevent the integration of e-business into this large, economic sector. Using case studies from European countries, chapters discuss trust-building methods for food networks in an e-business environment. Key issues include the influence of cultural disparity and cross-border transactions upon major product groups such as meat, cereal products and fresh produce.

Melanie Fritz zeigt, wie das Internet fur die Markt- und Wettbewerbsbeobachtung in Unternehmensnetzwerken genutzt werden kann. Auf der Basis verschiedener Forschungsgebiete entwickelt sie ein Konzept, das die personalisierte Bereitstellung relevanter Informationen fur einzelne Unternehmen ermoglicht.

Tobias Hausen untersucht, wie die Potentiale elektronischer Unterstutzung von Geschaftsprozessen richtig genutzt und ausgeschopft werden konnen. Hierzu identifiziert der Autor die relevanten Faktoren aus den betroffenen Bereichen von Unternehmen, ihrer Umwelt sowie der IT und entwickelt eine Methodik zur Ableitung eingebetteter elektronischer Handelssysteme fur Wertschopfungsketten.

"Transparency for Sustainability in the Food Chain" lays out the key issues and challenges in food safety, food quality, chain integrity, the link with consumers, and the technological base of tracking and tracing systems. This succinct volume brings readers up to speed on the state of the art in these areas, and the research trends in specific domains.

Transparency in the food sector, especially to consumers, is one of the priority issues on the agenda of consumer policy representatives. Food scandals and deficiencies in consumer communication have drawn increasing demands for food policies that ensure that food is safe and of the quality consumers expect. Further, consumers increasingly expect that food production processes limit negative impacts on the environment and consider social concerns.

Moving toward improved transparency requires action by stakeholders of the food chain but also knowledge on where and how to move. Researchers and professionals working in food sourcing, regulation, safety, and distribution will benefit from this clear overview.
Specifies research to increase transparency in consumer communicationDetails the state of the art and research challenges in several specific food supply domainsInvolves food safety, food quality, chain integrity, the link with consumers, and the technological base of tracking and tracing systems