Professor Manoj Dora

Professor Manoj Dora is Professor of Sustainable Production and Consumption and Director of the Centre for Intelligent Supply Chains at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. His research sits at the intersection of operations and supply chain management, sustainable food systems, circular economy and emerging technologies.

He works with businesses, governments, international organisations and research partners to translate research into practical solutions for more resilient, efficient and sustainable supply chains. His international research spans the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, with particular expertise in sustainable food systems, operational excellence, AI-enabled supply chains, resource efficiency and circular business models.

His research has attracted major international funding and generated significant academic, policy, industry and societal impact. His work combines rigorous research with practical implementation, particularly around food systems, supply-chain resilience, sustainability, digital transformation and operational improvement.

Awards, Recognition and Professional Leadership

• ARU Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Established Researcher 2024
• Gourlay Visiting Professor in Business Ethics, Trinity College, University of Melbourne, 2025
• Bye Fellow, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge

Sustainable and resilient supply chains

Supply-chain resilience, decarbonisation, transparency, risk management, responsible sourcing and sustainable operations.

Future food systems

Food loss and waste, sustainable agri-food value chains, food security, alternative proteins, smallholder livelihoods and responsible production and consumption.

Operational excellence and productivity

Lean management, value-stream analysis, resource efficiency, process improvement, quality management, Six Sigma and SME productivity.

Digital and intelligent supply chains

Artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital twins, blockchain, traceability, supply-chain visibility and technology-enabled operational decision making.

Research impact

Transforming agri-food value chains

Research with tribal coffee-growing communities in Odisha, India combines operational improvement, quality management, value addition, digital advisory, capacity building and market development to strengthen livelihoods and build more sustainable and inclusive value chains.

Read the impact story - From struggle to sustainability: uplifting tribal coffee growers in Koraput.

Reducing food loss and improving resource efficiency

Professor Dora applies operational excellence, Lean management and circular economy approaches to identify and reduce food loss and waste, improve productivity and resource efficiency, and develop more sustainable food and manufacturing systems. This work connects process-level improvement with wider environmental and supply-chain outcomes.

Building intelligent and resilient supply chains

Professor Dora’s research investigates how AI, analytics, digital traceability, blockchain and other emerging technologies can improve supply-chain decision-making, transparency, resilience and sustainability. His work increasingly examines how organisations can combine digital technologies with operational excellence to translate technological investment into measurable business and societal value.

Professor Dora welcomes high-quality doctoral research proposals in:

• sustainable and resilient supply chains
• food systems and agri-food value chains
• circular economy and resource efficiency
• artificial intelligence and digital technologies in operations and supply chains
• operational excellence and productivity
• food loss and waste
• responsible and ethical supply chains
• supply-chain transparency, traceability and resilience

Prospective doctoral researchers should identify a clear research problem and explain how their proposed research aligns with one or more of these areas.

PhD, Ghent University, Belgium, 2014

Masters in Economics, Vanderbilt University, USA, 2009

• Consulting Editor, International Journal of Management Reviews
• Consulting Editor, Business & Society
• Member, British Academy of Management

• Stansted Airport ESG benchmarking
• KTP/industry knowledge-transfer on sustainable operations in fresh produce
• British Council: Empowering Tribal Coffee Growers: Value Addition, Quality Management and Market Linkages, Odisha, India, 2024-25, Principal Investigator
• British Academy: international policy and research-engagement project in Uganda, 2024-25, Principal Investigator
• British Council Wohl Clean Growth Alliance: A Circular Pathway for a Sustainable Food Economy in Israel and the UK, Principal Investigator
• CGIAR TAFSSA: Transforming Agri-Food Systems in South Asia, Principal Investigator
• 3ie/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Economic and Empowerment Impacts of Millet Processing and Value Addition Enterprises by Women SHGs in India
• UKRI-BBSRC: Partnership for a Sustainable Food Future, Centre for Doctoral Training, Transforming UK Food Systems
• NHS Trust: Environmental Performance of Food Waste Approaches for NHS Hospitals
• Newton Fund Research Environment Links: Increasing Accessibility through Mobile Vaccination
• British Council/Newton Fund: Fighting Food Fraud with Blockchain in Brazil
• British Council UKIERI: Training for All
• British Council/Newton Fund: Lean Humanitarian Logistics for Resilient Food Distribution
• British Academy: Mapping the Impact of Food Waste on Sustainability Performance in the UK

Nie, W., Tsolakis, N., Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2026). Clarifying the Intersections of Visibility, Traceability, and Transparency: A Data-Centric Framework for Supply Chain Management. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 213, 104918. DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2026.104918.

Wang, M., Liu, Y., Geng, D., Dora, M. and Hill, A. (2026). Decarbonisation and firm financial performance: The roles of supply chain transparency and resilience. International Journal of Production Economics, 296, 109988. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2026.109988.

Rogers, H., Tsolakis, N., Barth, P., Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2026). Unlocking the market potential of macroalgae in alternative protein supply chains: Enablers and inhibitors. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 25, 102539. DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102539.

Bansal, P., Karassin, O. and Dora, M. (2026). Industry 4.0 Technologies in Circular Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Circular Economy, 3(2). DOI: 10.55845/joce-2025-32101.

Boddy, C.R., Dora, M., Wang, Y., Asiamah, F.N., Callaghan, C. and Sanderson, P. (2026). Universities as Knowledge Exchange Amplifiers Via Doctoral Completions. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 17, 12620-12644. DOI: 10.1007/s13132-026-03291-1.

Adeborode, K.O., Dora, M., Umeh, C., Hina, S.M. and Eldabi, T. (2025). Leveraging organisational agility in B2B ecosystems to mitigate food waste and loss: A stakeholder perspective. Industrial Marketing Management, 125, 254-271. DOI: 10.1016/j.indmarman.2025.01.007.

Frank, A.G., Batista, L., Chaudhuri, A., Subramaniam, N., Subramanian, A.M., Dora, M. and Ritala, P. (2025). Circular Economy and Digital Technology-Enabled Innovation: Advances, Applications and Prospects. R&D Management, 55, 1421-1430. DOI: 10.1111/radm.70003.

Rogers, H., Dora, M., Tsolakis, N. and Kumar, M. (2024). Plant-based Food Supply Chains: Recognising Market Opportunities and Industry Challenges of Pea Protein. Applied Food Research, 4(2), 100440. DOI: 10.1016/j.afres.2024.100440.

Rogers, H. and Dora, M. (2024). Guest editorial: The interplay between new innovations, sustainability and food supply chains. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal.

Kazançoğlu, Y., Ekinci, E., Mangla, S. K., Sezer, M. D., Choudhary, S., & Dora, M. (2023). Smart closed-loop food supply chain in circular economy. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Available at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10226418

Priyadarshini, J., Singh, R. K., Mishra, R. and Dora, M. (2023) : 'Application of additive manufacturing for a sustainable healthcare sector: Mapping current research and establishing future research agenda', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 194, 122686.

Hezarkhani. B., Demirel. G., Bouchery, Y. and Dora, M. (2023) 'Can 'Ugly Veg' supply chains reduce food loss?', European Journal of Operational Research.

Ozdemir, I., Dursunoglu, C., Kara, B. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Logistics of Temporary Testing Centers for Coronavirus Disease', Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies.

Kamal, M.M., Mamat, R., Mangla, S. K., Kumar, P., Despoudi, S., Dora, M. and Tjahjono, B. (2022) 'Immediate return in circular economy: Business to consumer product return information sharing framework to support sustainable manufacturing in small and medium enterprises', Journal of Business Research, 151, pp. 379-396. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.06.021

Chaudhuri, A., Bhatia, M. S., Subramanian, N., Kayikci, Y. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Socio-technical capabilities for blockchain implementation by service providers: multiple case study of projects with transaction time reduction and quality improvement objectives', Production Planning & Control. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2022.2128865

Gerassimidou, S., Dora, M., Iacovidou, E. (2022) 'A Tool for the Selection of Food Waste Management Approaches for the Hospitality and Food Service Sector in the UK', Resources, 11(10), pp. 80. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11100080

Sariyer, G., Ataman, M. G., Mangla, S. K., Kazancoglu, Y. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Big data analytics and the effects of government restrictions and prohibitions in the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department sustainable operations', Annals of Operations Research. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-022-04955-2

Dora, M., Kumar, A., Mangla, S. K., Pant, A. and Kamal, M. M. (2022) 'Critical success factors influencing artificial intelligence adoption in food supply chains', International Journal of Production Research, 60(14), pp. 4621-4640. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2021.1959665

Buluc, E., Peker, M., Kara, B. Y. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Covering vehicle routing problem: application for mobile child friendly spaces for refugees', OR Spectrum, 44(2), pp. 461-484. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-021-00617-0

Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2022) 'Operational improvement programs and humanitarian operations', Production Planning & Control, 33(6-7), pp. 513-516. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1834137

Calabrese, A., Dora, M., Levialdi Ghiron, N. and Tiburzi, L. (2022) 'Industry’s 4.0 transformation process: how to start, where to aim, what to be aware of', Production Planning & Control, 33(5), pp. 492-512. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1830315

Chaudhuri, A., Subramanian, N. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Circular economy and digital capabilities of SMEs for providing value to customers: Combined resource-based view and ambidexterity perspective', Journal of Business Research, 142, pp. 32-44. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.039

Kayikci, Y., Subramanian, N., Dora, M. and Bhatia, M. S. (2022) 'Food supply chain in the era of Industry 4.0: blockchain technology implementation opportunities and impediments from the perspective of people, process, performance, and technology', Production Planning & Control, 33(2-3), pp. 301-321. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2020.1810757

Yilmaz, A., Dora, M., Hezarkhani, B. and Kumar, M. (2022) 'Lean and industry 4.0: Mapping determinants and barriers from a social, environmental, and operational perspective', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, 121320. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121320

Ho, W. R., Tsolakis, N., Dawes, T., Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2022) 'A Digital Strategy Development Framework for Supply Chains', IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2021.3131605

Tsolakis, N., Schumacher, R., Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2022) 'Artificial intelligence and blockchain implementation in supply chains: a pathway to sustainability and data monetisation?', Annals of Operations Research. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-022-04785-2

Bhatia, M. S., Kumar Jakhar, S. and Dora, M. (2022) 'Analysis of Barriers to Closed-Loop Supply Chain: A Case of the Indian Automotive Industry', IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(5), pp. 1999-2013. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2020.2998794

Pearce, D., Dora, M., Wesana, J. and Gellynck, X. (2021) 'Toward sustainable primary production through the application of lean management in South African fruit horticulture', Journal of Cleaner Production, 313, 127815. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127815

Tsolakis, N., Niedenzu, D., Simonetto, M., Dora, M. and Kumar, M. (2021) 'Supply network design to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A case study of blockchain implementation in Thai fish industry', Journal of Business Research, 131, pp. 495-519. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.003

Akenroye, T. O., Dora, M., Kumar, M., Elbaz, J., Kah, S. and Jebli, F. (2021) 'A taxonomy of barriers to the adoption of sustainable practices in the coffee farming process', Journal of Cleaner Production, 312, 127818. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127818

Soni, G., Mangla, S. K., Singh, P., Dey, B. L. and Dora, M. (2021) 'Technological interventions in social business: Mapping current research and establishing future research agenda', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 169, 120818. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120818

Upadhyay, A., Laing, T., Kumar, V. and Dora, M. (2021) 'Exploring barriers and drivers to the implementation of circular economy practices in the mining industry', Resources Policy, 72, 102037. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102037

Batista, L., Dora, M., Garza-Reyes, J. A. and Kumar, V. (2021) 'Improving the sustainability of food supply chains through circular economy practices – a qualitative mapping approach', Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 32(4), pp. 752-767. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/meq-09-2020-0211

Patel, S., Dora, M., Hahladakis, J. N. and Iacovidou, E. (2021) 'Opportunities, challenges and trade-offs with decreasing avoidable food waste in the UK', Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 39(3), pp. 473-488. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242x20983427

Dora, M., Biswas, S., Choudhary, S., Nayak, R. and Irani, Z. (2021) 'A system-wide interdisciplinary conceptual framework for food loss and waste mitigation strategies in the supply chain', Industrial Marketing Management, 93, pp. 492-508. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.10.013

Narwane, V. S., Raut, R. D., Mangla, S.K., Dora, M. and Narkhede, B. E. (2021) 'Risks to Big Data Analytics and Blockchain Technology Adoption in Supply Chains', Annals of Operations Research. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-021-04396-3

Kazancoglu, Y., Ozkan-Ozen, Y. D., Sagnak, M., Kazancoglu, I. and Dora, M.. (2021) 'Framework for a sustainable supply chain to overcome risks in transition to a circular economy through Industry 4.0', Production Planning & Control. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2021.1980910

Raut, R. D., Mangla, S.K., Narwane, V. S., Dora, M. and Liu, M. (2021) 'Big Data Analytics as a mediator in Lean, Agile, Resilient, and Green (LARG) practices effects on sustainable supply chains', Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 145, 102170. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102170

Wesana, J., Gellynck, X., Dora, M., Muyama, L., Mutenyo, E., Elizabeth, A., ... De Steur, H. (2020) 'Labeling Nutrition-Sensitive Food Chains: A Consumer Preference Analysis of Milk Products', Frontiers in Nutrition, 7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.00158

Dora, M., Wesana, J., Gellynck, X., Seth, N., Dey, B. and De Steur, H. (2020) 'Importance of sustainable operations in food loss: evidence from the Belgian food processing industry', Annals of Operations Research, 290(1-2), pp. 47-72. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-019-03134-0

Rust, N. A., Ridding, L., Ward, C., Clark, B., Kehoe, L., Dora, M., ... West, N. (2020) 'How to transition to reduced-meat diets that benefit people and the planet', Science of the Total Environment, 718, 137208. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137208

Wesana, J., Gellynck, X., Dora, M. K., Pearce, D. and De Steur, H. (2019) 'Measuring food and nutritional losses through value stream mapping along the dairy value chain in Uganda', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 150, 104416. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104416

Batista, L., Dora, M., Toth, J., Molnár, A., Malekpoor, H. and Kumari, S. (2019) 'Knowledge management for food supply chain synergies – a maturity level analysis of SME companies', Production Planning & Control, 30(10-12), pp. 995-1004. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2019.1582104

Choudhary, S., Nayak, R., Dora, M., Mishra, N. and Ghadge, A. (2019) 'An integrated lean and green approach for improving sustainability performance: a case study of a packaging manufacturing SME in the U.K.', Production Planning & Control, 30(5-6), pp. 353-368. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2018.1501811

Bhatia, M. S., Dora, M. and Jakhar, S. K. (2019) 'Appropriate location for remanufacturing plant towards sustainable supply chain', Annals of Operations Research. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-019-03294-z

Pearce, D., Dora, M., Wesana, J. and Gellynck, X. (2018) 'Determining factors driving sustainable performance through the application of lean management practices in horticultural primary production', Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, pp. 400-417. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.170

Kabbiri, R., Dora, M., Kumar, V., Elepu, G. and Gellynck, X. (2018) 'Mobile phone adoption in agri-food sector: Are farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa connected?', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 131, pp. 253-261. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.12.010

Wesana, J., De Steur, H., Dora, M. K., Mutenyo, E., Muyama, L. and Gellynck, X. (2018) 'Towards nutrition sensitive agriculture. Actor readiness to reduce food and nutrient losses or wastes along the dairy value chain in Uganda', Journal of Cleaner Production, 182, pp. 46-56. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.021

Mangla, S. K., Luthra, S., Mishra, N., Singh, A., Rana, N. P., Dora, M. and Dwivedi, Y. (2018) 'Barriers to effective circular supply chain management in a developing country context', Production Planning & Control, 29(6), pp. 551-569. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2018.1449265

De Steur, H., Wesana, J., Dora, M., Pearce, D. and Gellynck, X. (2016) 'Applying Value Stream Mapping to reduce food losses and wastes in supply chains: A systematic review', Waste Management, 58, pp. 359-368. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.08.025

Odongo, W., Dora, M., Molnár, A., Ongeng, D. and Gellynck, X. (2016) 'Performance perceptions among food supply chain members', British Food Journal, 118(7), pp. 1783-1799. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-10-2015-0357

Dora, M., Kumar, M. and Gellynck, X. (2016) 'Determinants and barriers to lean implementation in food-processing SMEs – a multiple case analysis', Production Planning & Control, 27(1), pp. 1-23. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2015.1050477

Dora, M. and Gellynck, X. (2015) 'House of lean for food processing SMEs', Trends in Food Science & Technology, 44(2), pp. 272-281. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2015.03.008

Dora, M., Van Goubergen, D., Kumar, M., Molnar, A. and Gellynck, X. (2013) 'Application of lean practices in small and medium-sized food enterprises', British Food Journal, 116(1), pp. 125-141. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-05-2012-0107

Dora, M., Kumar, M., Van Goubergen, D., Molnar, A. Gellynck, X. (2013) 'Operational performance and critical success factors of lean manufacturing in European food processing SMEs', Trends in Food Science & Technology, 31(2), pp. 156-164. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2013.03.002

Dora, M., Kumar, M., Van Goubergen, D., Molnar, A. and Gellynck, X. (2013) 'Food quality management system: Reviewing assessment strategies and a feasibility study for European food small and medium-sized enterprises', Food Control, 31(2), pp. 607-616. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.12.006

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