Economic Effects of Establishing Digital Ecosystems for Participants in Wholesale Food Markets

A crucial factor in the digitization-driven reform of agriculture is the establishment of specialized digital platforms and a shift from traditional sales methods to the realm of digital electronic commerce. The authors examine experiences in creating such platforms and transforming them into digital ecosystems, using wholesale food markets in Israel, China, and India as illustrative examples. The focus is on organizational models employed and proven outcomes resulting from the utilization of these ecosystems. Based on international experiences, the authors identify five key stages in the creation of digital ecosystems for participants in wholesale food markets: (1) designing the concept of the digital infrastructure for participant ecosystems; (2) creating a system for consolidating minority seller offers to enter and realize product sales in wholesale food markets; (3) developing an automated system for conducting electronic auction trading; (4) establishing trade connections through digital trading platforms with key consumers; (5) creating a “Single Window” function for participants in the wholesale food market system within the digital ecosystem. The research demonstrates that, in addition to reducing transaction costs, the implementation of such ecosystems, considering targeted corrective interventions, has allowed the analyzed countries to achieve additional positive effects. In conclusion, the effects of creating digital ecosystems for participants in wholesale food markets are systematically categorized.