Rigorous review of Is blockchain a reliable technology in the agricultural supply chain?

The blockchain mechanism offers a promising and versatile solution with the potential to benefit various fields of knowledge and industry. Currently, blockchain technology is advancing in sectors such as agriculture, medicine, tourism, and education. However, while its design and implementation provide notable advantages, they also come with certain weaknesses, as well as unique opportunities and challenges. This research aims to identify key blockchain indicators within the agricultural supply chain and to assess its strengths and limitations in this context. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a comprehensive review of scientific articles on blockchain applications in the agricultural supply chain. From a broad collection of articles published between 2012 and 2024, 130 were selected through the Meta-synthesis method. Within these articles, we identified and categorized 124 relevant blockchain indicators affecting the agricultural supply chain. Given the specific challenges and limitations blockchain faces in this sector, we also sought to identify the barriers to its adoption in agricultural supply chains. Our review highlighted various issues and opportunities associated with blockchain implementation in this context. The collected information was then analyzed using the SWOT method, revealing 8 strengths, 4 weaknesses, 4 opportunities, and 3 significant threats in implementing blockchain within the agricultural supply chain.