Driving factors and moderator in adopting blockchain for quality management in the smallholder supply chains

Purpose This study aims to examine the behavioral drivers of blockchain adoption to strengthen quality management in smallholder-based supply chains and investigate how collective inertia moderates the translation of behavioral intention into future usage behavior. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual framework combining unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) constructs with a social-structural moderator derived from diffusion-of-innovation theory (DOI) was tested using survey data from 369 stakeholders in a smallholder-oriented agri-food supply chain. Measurement and structural models were estimated using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4. Findings Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions each increase behavioral intention to adopt blockchain. Behavioral intention positively predicts future usage behavior, and this link becomes stronger when collective inertia is high, indicating that strong intentions are more likely to be converted into usage when stakeholders closely follow signals from dominant market actors. These results show that intention–behavior conversion is conditioned by the collective decision environment described in DOI. Originality/value While existing studies emphasize the technical and operational benefits of blockchain in agriculture, little is known about how adoption unfolds in interdependent smallholder systems. By combining UTAUT with diffusion-based insights on opinion leadership, imitation, and collective hesitation, this study provides a more complete explanation of how intention is formed and how it translates into action in supply chains where decisions are socially contingent. The findings extend adoption theory to smallholder-based contexts and offer practical guidance for policymakers and industry leaders promoting blockchain-enabled quality management.