Summary
This paper addresses the urgent need for sustainable food logistics by developing a zero-emission cold chain (ZECC) model for Scotland’s beef supply chain. It integrates renewable energy, electric vehicles, and digitalization to cut emissions, reduce costs, and maintain food security.

Purpose

• Develop an ABM of Scotland’s beef cold chain to assess cooling and transport energy needs.

• Evaluate the role of renewable energy, EVs, and digital auctions in reducing emissions and improving efficiency.

• Provide policy and industry recommendations aligned with the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets.

Methodology
Modeling the current beef cold chain using ABM, identifying sustainable strategies, collecting UK/Scottish data, simulating scenarios with different technologies/energy mixes, and visualizing outputs. 

Findings

• Renewable energy, EVs, and digital tools significantly cut emissions.

• The model supports better decision-making, proves scalability beyond beef, and adapts to other perishable supply chains.

• It serves as a decision-support tool for sustainable logistics planning.

The research links academic modeling with practical application, offering:

• Policy tools for incentivizing renewable adoption and guiding regulation.

• Industry guidance on zero-emission fleets and efficient operations.

• Investment justification showing long-term economic benefits of green technologies.

Overall, the study delivers an actionable framework for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to transition toward a low-carbon, energy-efficient cold chain while ensuring affordability, security, and environmental sustainability.