Title: Blockchain in the reverse agrochemical supply chain: a systematic mapping study

Authors: Emiliano Soares Monteiro; Rodrigo da Rosa Righi; Jorge Luis Victória Barbosa; Lucas Micol Policarpo; Antônio Marcos Alberti

Addresses: Information Systems, FACET, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso Carlos Alberto Reyes Maldonado (UNEMAT), Av. dos Ingás, 3001 – Jardim Imperial, 78555-000, Sinop – MT, Brazil ' Applied Computing Graduate Program (PPGCA), University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), 950, Unisinos Av., São Leopoldo 93022-000, RS, Brazil ' Applied Computing Graduate Program (PPGCA), University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), 950, Unisinos Av., São Leopoldo 93022-000, RS, Brazil ' Applied Computing Graduate Program (PPGCA), University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), 950, Unisinos Av., São Leopoldo 93022-000, RS, Brazil ' INATEL, National Institute of Telecommunications, Campus em Santa Rita do Sapucaí, Av. João de Camargo, 510 – Centro – 37540-000, MG, Brazil

Abstract: A product supply chain represents the end-to-end path from a factory to the final consumer. Specific chemical packaging unsuitable for use must return to the manufacturer for disposal or recycling. Agrochemical products appear in this scope. Disruptive technologies are being employed to identify the trajectories of these products. Blockchain appears as one of the most innovative. However, no literature reviews focus on this joint combination of blockchain for agrochemical products. This article presents a systematic literature review. We conducted a systematic literature review to analyse academic articles between 2016 and 2020, and the process resulted in a total of 99 papers analysed. We summarise our contributions as two-fold: 1) an analysis of the state-of-the-art agrochemical products reverse supply chain and the use of blockchain, highlighting challenges and trends; 2) a novel taxonomy to support researchers, government, and retail to address blockchain with agrochemicals.

Keywords: blockchain; traceability; reverse supply chain; product life cycle; agrochemicals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2025.147813

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2025 Vol.49 No.4, pp.491 - 526

Received: 16 Jun 2021
Accepted: 23 Nov 2021
Published online: 04 Aug 2025 *

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