| Abstract | This paper considered perceptions from a relatively small sample of case studies but acknowledges other
respondents views have been triangulated to an extent that verifies the samples used are representative of the UK
agricultural supply chain. The present study provides a starting-point for further research into the adoption and
uptake of ISO management systems standards in the UK agricultural sector and its supply chain. Therefore this
paper does not explore the relationships between adoption of ISO management systems and the impact of them it
rather explores perceptions of different ISO management systems from stakeholders viewpoints. Following an
extensive review of stakeholder perceptions this paper concludes that the uptake of ISO management systems in
the UK will continue and more areas of the agriculture supply chain will feel obliged to certify their management
systems to a wider range of standards than just the well known quality management and environmental
management system standards. The extensive certification of ISO management systems in the UK is well known
and this paper focuses on acceptance and perceptions of such standards in the UK agricultural sector. The
research identified a lack of understanding and hence encourages agricultural specialists, teachers and policy
makers to provide information to the agricultural sector regarding the value and scope of ISO management
systems in supporting best practice and identification of regulatory compliance issues. This paper is significant
in that it has acknowledged an uptake and trend in certification of management systems within the agricultural
sector in the UK but has identified a lack of understanding of such systems amongst stakeholders of the
agricultural supply chain. Finally, the paper clearly shows many noteworthy opportunities for further certified
management systems research within the worldwide agricultural supply chain. |
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