Building Resilient Green Value Chain: A Hierarchical Model for Thai Food Industry Sustainable Transformation

This study presents an innovative hierarchical model for implementing sustainable green management strategies in Thailand’s food industry SMEs. The research employs a novel methodological approach combining Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research (EDFR) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), uniquely integrating participatory stakeholder engagement with rigorous quantitative prioritization. This sequential mixed-methods design produces contextually rich yet quantitatively robust findings, addressing limitations of conventional sustainability research that treats success factors independently. Data were collected from 17 key informants representing government, academia, industry, and consumers across three phases. The findings reveal six interconnected strategic components: Sustainable Leadership (38.6%), Green Networks (17.5%), Sustainable Supply Chain Management (16.2%), Corporate Social Responsibility (13.2%), Government Support (7.6%), and Innovation and Digital Technology (6.8%). Critically, these components function as an interconnected system with reinforcing relationships rather than independent factors, explaining why isolated sustainability initiatives often fail. The model advances theoretical understanding by demonstrating leadership and cultural factors’ primacy over technical approaches, while providing actionable implementation guidance. Organizations should follow a phased transformation emphasizing leadership commitment before technical investments. For policymakers, findings recommend reorienting support mechanisms toward: 1) sustainability leadership training programs for SME executives, 2) collaborative network facilitation among food SMEs and suppliers, and 3) integrated support packages addressing cultural transformation alongside technical assistance. This approach directly supports Thailand 4.0 objectives to ensure national economic transformation reaches all enterprise scales.