The Ecosystem Evolution of Fresh Procurement: Institutional Coordination Mechanisms, Risk Sharing, and Shared Value Creation

Abstract

As the global food systems are becoming more volatile, fresh procurement is increasingly exposed to the risks of waste production, price volatility, logistics breakdowns, and uneven risk distribution. These issues emphasize the increasing significance of procurement governance systems with the ability to integrate autonomous actors and stabilize value creation in the long-term, as opposed to conventional transactional sourcing and price-focused sourcing models. This research will utilize the ecosystem-based approach to governance to understand the role of institutional coordination instruments, risk-sharing strategies, and information-driven integration in transforming fresh supply chains in terms of economic and operational performance. The study integrates qualitative and quantitative analytical methods based on the theory of institutional economics and the ecosystem governance. The empirical study is built on the secondary longitudinal data based on the fresh procurement ecosystems provided by the retail that is operated in the various regions between the years, 2019, and 2024. The results of procurement in the presence of transactional sourcing arrangements are contrasted with the results that will be witnessed once ecosystem-based coordination mechanisms are put in place