ABSTRACT

Many organizations have introduced various ICT-enabled innovations to improve economic, environmental, and social performance. The Open Food Network (OFN) is an example of an electronic commerce application that has the potential to enhance the sustainability of regional food supply chain. It can do so by improving farmers’ access to local and regional markets and consumers’ access to fresh local produce, as well as by optimizing the regional food distribution and improving local community welfare. OFN was launched in Australia just recently and currently there is a limited understanding of its actual impacts. This chapter aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the OFN system in connecting and supporting the sustainability of regional food supply chain communities in Australia, hoping to help devise strategies for expanding its use beyond Australia. The findings contribute to a longer-term research program that investigates how ICT can support sustainability initiatives within organizations and supply chains. They also demonstrate the potential of ICT-enabled innovations to include disadvantaged local food players in order to establish a more socially sustainable and fair trading environment.