Research on the High-Quality Development Path of the Cross-Border Agricultural Product Supply Chain between China and Central Asia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors, 

I have reviewed your paper, entitled: "Research on the high-quality development path of the cross-border agricultural product supply chain between China and Central Asia" and I think it is an interesting paper that tries to highlight the need to build an efficient and more sustainable supply chain from the main focus of world production, i.e. Central Asia and, specifically, China. It is a research article that incorporates a review of the literature related to the topic of study, as well as an analysis of the relevant variables to determine the problem under study. 

However, there are some aspects that I would like to highlight from your article, as I believe that they can be significantly improved. 

1. Abstract. I think the abstract should be rewritten to make clear the methodology used. The first part of the abstract is too long and detailed, but little is devoted to highlighting the findings of the article, as well as the materials and methods used. The abstract should be better structured and more attractive to the reader. 

2. Key words. I think these are not well chosen. The idea of the keywords is that keywords are useful for locating the articles that are related to a certain topic. From here, I think that the following keywords should be incorporated: "logistics" and "railway connectivity".

3. Introduction. I believe that the introduction is not sufficiently justified. They could have used this section to relate their work to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in the UN Agenda 2030. Specifically, their work relates to sustainable transport within SDG-11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

Also, the authors may wish to incorporate some articles dealing with "supply chain", "agriculture" and "logistic", which are also the most cited in the world:

·  Rentizelas, A. A., Tolis, A. J., & Tatsiopoulos, I. P. (2009). Logistics issues of biomass: The storage problem and the multi-biomass supply chain. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(4), 887-894. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2008.01.003 (cited 416 times in Scopus database)

·  Bosona, T., & Gebresenbet, G. (2013). Food traceability as an integral part of logistics management in food and agricultural supply chain. Food Control, 33(1), 32-48. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.02.004 (cited 335 times in Scopus database)

·  Van Der Vorst, J. G. A. J., Tromp, S. -., & Van Der Zee, D. -. (2009). Simulation modelling for food supply chain redesign; integrated decision making on product quality, sustainability and logistics. International Journal of Production Research, 47(23), 6611-6631. doi:10.1080/00207540802356747 (cited 295 times in Scopus database)

On the other hand, there are several literature reviews that deal with sustainability in the supply chain or reverse logistics. This is the case of: 

·  Donner, M., Gohier, R., & de Vries, H. (2020). A new circular business model typology for creating value from agro-waste. Science of the Total Environment, 716 doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137065.

Papers dealing with supply chain and rail transport are also highly cited: 

·  Bowen Jr, J. T. (2008). Moving places: The geography of warehousing in the US. Journal of Transport Geography, 16(6), 379-387. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2008.03.001

·  Morlok, E. K., & Chang, D. J. (2004). Measuring capacity flexibility of a transportation system. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 38(6), 405-420. doi:10.1016/j.tra.2004.03.001.

Other aspects to be improved. 

- Line 37, page 2. What does the term "Foundation" at the beginning of the sentence mean? I can't make sense of it. 

- Line 75, page 2. What do you want to say with "Learn from" at the end of the sentence?

Finally, to end the introduction, it is usual to find a paragraph dedicated to the research question, what are you going to demonstrate? what are the specific objectives? I think it is not clear enough. 

4. Materials and methods. In this section there are parts that do not correspond to a conventional materials and methods section. In sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. no analysis element or variable to be used is being described. I think this part could be part of the introduction and not part of materials and methods. The first section should be 3.4. Data Description.

3.5 Variable selection. I would like the authors to provide some additional literature to support the variable selection used in your model. Is it possible? Also, why is your model suitable for analyzing the efficiency of the agricultural supply chain between Central Asia and China? 

5. Conclusions and policy implications. I believe that the results and conclusions should include a discussion section with part of what has been written for the conclusions. On the other hand, it is a pity that they have not made any relevant consideration of sustainability in the supply chain. 

Finally, I believe that authors should make an additional effort to highlight their research findings and better structure their work.

Best of luck with your article and I hope you will consider my suggestions.

Regards, 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Page 2 line 38

 

What do you mean by Foundation. If it is a subtitle, please format it appropriately.

 

Line 58

vice capabilities. heavy. However, how to keep agricultural and sideline products fresh 58  you have an extra word here or …

 

However, how to keep agricultural and sideline products fresh 58 during short-distance transportation is an important challenge in agricultural trade be- 59 tween China and Central Asian countries. In other words, the biggest challenge in the 60 high-quality development of cross-border agricultural supply chains is how to establish a 61 set of low-cost transportation (Thomas Friedman)

 

Please rephrase it. I understand what you mean but the sentences must be clearer.

 

Page 3 line 85

backwardness of related transportation  - did you mean old or underdeveloped or outdated ?

 

Page 5  line 213

of logistics services. , the ability to track and inquire the goods and the frequency of the – there is something missing here

 

Overall opinion.

Apart from many grammar, typos and bad clumsy sentences, the only scientific merit is the analysis. However, the explanation of results do not coincide with the model on page 7 Figure one, so I would advise authors to either remove it or clearly state which part of the model they tested. The other problem is that good transport infrastructure really helps not only for agriculture but in general, and that is nothing new. Moreover, you cite many research that confirm this findings. So please correct the mistakes and add some part that would give sufficient scientific merit to your work.   

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors, 

Thank you for the changes you have made. I have recommended that your article be accepted in its current form. 

Regards, 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Apart from rewriting a bit the introduction there is no major improvement in the paper. I do not consider necessary to show all those math formulas while using regression. Same goes with the model displayed that is not even possible to prove with the variables chosen for research.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf