It’s bitter-sweet, citrusy

A review spanning a decade of the scientific literature has looked at the growing food waste crisis in which about a third of the food we produce is wasted. The work, published in the International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, has focused specifically on citrus crops grown across subtropical belts from Spain to Brazil to China and found that the waste is closer to half in this sector. The researchers suggest that we need a fundamental rethink on how food is grown and processed and how we can ensure that it reaches the people who need it.

The team used a systematic, quantitative approach to analyse 871 scientific papers published between 2010 and 2023. Of these, 111 met the criteria for examining sustainability in agricultural supply chains. Food supply chains account for about 70 per cent of all freshwater used by humans and use nearly a third of the world’s energy and are the second biggest source of carbon emissions.

Citrus was chosen as the case focus because fruit in this sector is the most widely produced and represents vast environmental costs at every stage. Citrus fruits are highly perishable, which makes them particularly vulnerable to waste. The researchers point out, however, that citrus represents an opportunity in the form of the “pomace” waste generated when the fruit is juiced. This is the peel and pulp that remain after extraction and represents half the weight of the fruit.

The researchers suggest that pomace may have economic and environmental value. Until now it has been treated as waste or, at best, low-grade animal feed. But it might be converted through anaerobic digestion into biogas, for instance. It can also be composted or processed into a soil improver. It also has the potential to become the raw material for bioplastics. A more surprising application might be in its use as a bio-adsorbent in wastewater treatment to remove pollutants from water.

Supply chain management theory has not kept pace with this kind of circular development in the food industry as it has historically focused only on the flow of goods, information, and capital, rather than considering the biological nature of the materials in the supply chain. The researchers suggest that this needs to change if environmental and sustainability problems are to be addressed.

Alzubi, E., Kassem, A., Melkonyan-Gottschalk, A., Gruchmann, T. and Noche, B. (2026) ‘Socio-technical transformations in citrus supply chains: a literature review based on bibliometric analysis’, Int. J. Integrated Supply Management, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.1–45.

Research pick: Work till your mental bound - "Technophobia and ICT device adaptability in financial services workers"

Information and communication technology (ICT) has reshaped our lives, how we live, how we work, how we entertain ourselves. That much is true, at least for the developed and developing world.

ICT refers to everything from smartphones and laptops to software and cloud-based platforms and increasingly to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices in the workplace our homes and places of entertainment and recreation. ICT has enabled constant connectivity and more flexible working arrangements, fundamentally altering the structure of the modern workplace.

But that connectivity may have come at a cost. One of the problems with the ubiquitous nature of ICT in our lives is that many people now have no boundary between their professional obligations and their personal lives. ICT has put many people in 24/7 contact with their work colleagues and their boss and conversely, they are always able to connect and access work-related information wherever and whenever. Research in the International Journal of Electronic Finance has now examined the social and psychological consequences of digital work environments.

The study highlights a tension that has become familiar across many sectors. On one side, digital tools have improved efficiency and expanded flexibility. Remote working arrangements, such as telecommuting and telework, allow people to integrate professional tasks into periods that were previously unproductive. Time spent commuting or waiting in public spaces can now be repurposed for work, offering workers greater autonomy over their schedules.

Yet this same flexibility introduces new pressures. The expectation that employees remain reachable anytime, anywhere has led to the rise of so-called techno-stress. Techno-stress encompasses several experiences, such as diminished control over one’s personal time, anxiety about keeping pace with technological change, and frustration when systems fail.

It is this latter issue that is highlighted in the study. Systems failure is a particularly acute trigger of techno-stress. When the very tools on which people now rely for so much malfunction, the inability to resolve the issue independently create a sense of helplessness that can affect both emotional well-being and job performance. In such cases, technology becomes less an enabler of productivity and more a source of disruption.

While digital technologies are usually adopted with the expectation of improved productivity, this research suggests that they introduce hidden costs, particularly in the form of mental health challenges. These effects can accumulate at a societal level, influencing healthcare demands, workforce sustainability, and overall economic performance.

For employers and policymakers, there is, therefore, a need for a broader understanding of technical well-being. Measures to improve system reliability, provide training, and set clearer work-life boundaries are now needed across sectors.

Dhas, H.M., Ancy, R.J., Sreejith, S. and Rani, R.K. (2026) ‘Technophobia and ICT device adaptability in financial services workers’, Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.170–188.

Research pick: Addressing age concerns - "Upgrading path of aging friendly functional layout in residential spaces based on biology and computer software engineering"

As China’s population ages at an unprecedented pace, research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology suggests that homes increasingly fail to meet the needs of older citizens. By 2050, almost one-third of China’s population will be over 60, meaning the government and policymakers need to focus on safety, independence, and the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people.

The researchers propose a biologically informed approach to housing design. This would take into account the predictable physical, sensory, and cognitive changes associated with aging. Conventional residential designs often fail to accommodate the realities of physical and mental changes as people age. Small, cramped bathrooms, insufficiently separated functional areas, poor lighting, and excessive noise can combine to create environments that affect comfort and safety. According to the research, a more responsive design framework must consider not only structural changes but also daily behaviour and psychological needs.

The team offers a three-pronged strategy for adapting living spaces. The first part considers spatial layout and emphasises barrier-free access and the clear separation of dynamic zones, such as kitchens and corridors, from static areas like bedrooms and lounges, to improve accessibility and reduce the risk of falls. Secondly, furniture and facility design should be optimised for ergonomics, incorporating features such as adjustable seating, well-lit bathrooms, and sanitary fixtures suitable for those with reduced strength or flexibility. The third consideration is the integration of intelligent systems. This could include health-monitoring devices, environmental controls for lighting and temperature, and security technologies, all of which are meant to help older residents without making them feel like they have too much technology.

The team argues that such design improvements have benefits that extend beyond individual households. Age-adapted housing has the potential to improve public health, reduce medical and long-term care expenditures, and sustain social cohesion by promoting autonomy and dignity among the elderly.

Zhou, Y. and Fu, S. (2026) ‘Upgrading path of aging friendly functional layout in residential spaces based on biology and computer software engineering’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 27, No. 28, pp.60–72.

Research pick: A borrower and a lender be - "Unveiling the dynamics of peer-to-peer lending: a bibliometric analysis"

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, a form of finance that allows individuals and small businesses to borrow directly from each other through online platforms, has attracted growing academic and policy attention in recent years, especially as it reshapes traditional credit markets. An analysis in the International Journal of Accounting and Finance has looked at more than three decades of research in this area. The results suggest that while the field has expanded rapidly, there are many gaps in our understanding of P2P lending that could have implications for international financial systems.

The researchers examined more than 500 hundred scholarly articles published between 1990 and 2023. The analysis charts how interest in P2P lending has changed as financial technology, or FinTech, itself has developed over that period. By removing conventional intermediaries such as banks, these platforms not only reduce costs and accelerate loan processing but also broaden access to credit. P2P lending now serves borrowers globally who lack access to conventional financial systems. This opens up opportunities for many previously disenfranchised parts of society worldwide.

There has been a marked increase in research into P2P lending in recent years. This suggests that it is growing in complexity and economic relevance. Most of the research focuses on loan default risk and on investor behaviour, looking at the psychological factors influencing financial decisions and trust on both sides.

The emphasis on trust is central to the P2P lending model. Unlike traditional banking, where institutions act as gatekeepers and risk assessors, P2P lending relies almost entirely on digital signals of reliability and user-generated information. There are, however, geographical imbalances in the research, with most of it having been conducted in Europe and the USA, despite rapid growth of P2P lending in emerging markets. This issue suggests that our current understanding may not fully explain how these platforms operate in different regulatory environments or cultural contexts, where financial behaviour and institutional trust can be very different.

The gaps in the research limit the ability of policymakers and practitioners to design effective frameworks. The absence of regulation can expose participants to fraud or default. Nevertheless, in emerging economies, where access to traditional banking is often limited, P2P lending has the potential to expand financial inclusion by offering credit to small businesses and individuals without established credit histories.

Ritika and Khanna, A. (2025) ‘Unveiling the dynamics of peer-to-peer lending: a bibliometric analysis’, Int. J. Accounting and Finance, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp.145–184.

Research pick: Recommend-a-course - "Research on integrating naive Bayes and collaborative filtering into an online-course recommendation model for universities"

Research in the International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering introduces a hybrid recommendation model that could help with one of the common challenges facing universities offering online courses. How to recommend the most appropriate course for prospective students.

The approach uses Naive Bayes classification and collaborative filtering to improve accuracy and personalised course suggestions. This, the researchers suggest, could ultimately enhance the learning experience for students.

Online course recommendation systems have long struggled with issues such as the “cold start” problem, data sparsity, and inadequate personalisation. The “cold start” problem occurs when a recommendation system lacks sufficient historical data about new users or courses, making it difficult to provide relevant suggestions. Data sparsity, on the other hand, refers to the limited amount of data available for each course, which can hinder the system’s ability to capture students’ preferences. Additionally, inadequate personalisation leads to generalised recommendations that may not match the unique needs of individual students, resulting in a less effective user experience.

The hybrid model discussed in IJCSE could resolve these issues. By using Naive Bayes classification, it can predict the likelihood that a particular course aligns with the interests of a given student based on course features. Collaborative filtering then examines patterns in student character and identifies similar users to recommend courses based on what others with similar learning habits have chosen.

The system also adds a dynamic weight adjustment feature that adjusts the model’s recommendations depending on whether a student is a new user or an experienced one. This mechanism improves the precision and diversity of the suggestions, ensuring that the system remains useful for all types of students.

The team tested the system with data from 25,000 students and 1,000 courses. Compared to traditional methods, it demonstrated a 12% improvement in Precision@10 (the percentage of relevant courses within the top 10 recommendations) and a 10.5% improvement in Recall@10 (the percentage of relevant courses among the top 10 recommendations). Most notably, in cold start scenarios, the hybrid model significantly outperformed deep neural networks. Even with a data sparsity of 98%, the hybrid model’s accuracy fell at half the rate of traditional algorithms.

Chen, Z. and He, M. (2026) ‘Research on integrating naive Bayes and collaborative filtering into an online-course recommendation model for universities’, Int. J. Computational Systems Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp.12–21.

Research pick: Teach your children well - "Business perspectives on value cocreation as a mediator for entrepreneurial performance in educational contexts"

A study of junior high schools in Indonesia has found that educational leadership influences how well they cultivate entrepreneurial skills in their students. Indeed, these kind be improved by encouraging innovation from the top and by fostering collaborative environments in which students, teachers, and communities all work together to shape educational outcomes. The details are reported in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research.

The research surveyed 350 schools and examined the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and entrepreneurial performance. Entrepreneurial leadership refers to a style of management that prioritises vision, innovation, and the mobilisation of others. In schools, this translates into principals and senior staff who support experimentation in teaching, promote creative problem-solving, and encourage initiative among both students and educators.

Entrepreneurial performance, on the other hand, is defined more broadly than business creation. It includes the ability of a school to generate innovative activities, equip students with problem-solving and adaptive skills, and contribute to longer-term socio-economic objectives such as employability and resilience in changing labour markets.

The study’s main finding is that leadership alone is not the sole driver of such outcomes in educations. Rather, its effects are mediated by what researchers describe as value co-creation. This term derives from service management theory and refers to a process in which value is produced through interaction, rather than being delivered unilaterally by an organisation to passive recipients. In the educational context, this implies a shift away from viewing teaching as a one-way transfer of knowledge, towards a model in which students, teachers, school leaders, and other stakeholders work together to design appropriate learning experiences and solve problems.

In countries where entrepreneurship plays a significant role in economic development, schools are increasingly seen as a foundation for developing the entrepreneurial mindset in students. The research indicates that policy initiatives which focus solely on embedding entrepreneurship in the curriculum may not work as well as those that also improve and guide leadership practices and institutional culture.

Indira, S.S., Sasmoko S., Bandur, A. and Pradipto, Y.D. (2026) ‘Business perspectives on value cocreation as a mediator for entrepreneurial performance in educational contexts’, Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 39, No. 8, pp.1–24.

Research pick: Adapting to AI adoption - "Exploring artificial intelligence adoption among Italian firms: the AI readiness level"

Research in the International Journal of Business Information Systems suggests that the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is remarkably uneven across Italian firms. While some may have made a deliberate choice not to use AI, of the many that are planning to use it, some still lack the organisational structures needed to deploy the technology effectively.

This is one of the first systematic studies of AI adoption in Italy. It found that there are lots of early innovators eagerly integrating AI into their operations, but others are moving more cautiously and remain in the preliminary stages of exploration. This uneven uptake is seen elsewhere and reflects a broader international pattern, as businesses look for AI opportunities but struggle with the complexities of this rapidly evolving area of computing.

Despite the growing interest and investment in, specifically, generative AI, this research shows that many firms do not have a structured approach to the technology. The researchers propose an “AI Readiness Level” (AIRL) framework that could help organisations develop their AI strategy.

This notion of readiness is not just about technical capability, it takes into account the quality of a company’s data infrastructure, the availability of skilled personnel, leadership support, and external factors such as regulatory pressures or market competition. AIRL provides a model of the progressive stages of development, from initial awareness to full operational integration.

The team points out that firms that have adopted AI have reported improvements in operational efficiency, enhanced customer engagement, and more informed decision-making through predictive analytics. The research suggests that adopting AI is less a matter of installing new software than carrying out organisational transformation. Companies need to align their technological capabilities with workforce skills, management strategies, and governance structures, the authors explain. Those that fail to do so risk falling behind competitors that are already using this technology to their advantage.

Garlatti Costa, G., Pugliese, R. and Venier, F. (2026) ‘Exploring artificial intelligence adoption among Italian firms: the AI readiness level’, Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 51, No. 7, pp.1–22.