Impact of Revenue Generated via Composting and Recycling of Wastes Produced in the Greenhouse Tomato Supply Chain on Reducing Income Inequality: A Case Study of Türkiye

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have carefully reviewed the manuscript titled “Reducing Inequality in the Greenhouse Tomato Supply Chain Through Income Generating from Composting and Recycling of Waste”. The study provides valuable insights into income distribution dynamics in the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain (FTSC). I have provided detailed feedback to enhance its contribution and readability.

Introduction:

Line 37: Authors should ensure that all technical  terms and abbreviation are well-defined; For example, FTSC should be spelled out as "Fresh tomato supply chain."

 

While you identify a research gap regarding the impact of recycling on income distribution, It is adviseable to briefly review the literature that have explored this gap. this may describe how your research contributes to the existung body of knowledge. 

 

Lines 98-99; The author has clearly mentioned the research hypothesis. It would be good to expand on this and explain why the author believes recycling tomatoes' waste can address income inequality. What empirical or theoretical evidence supports this hypothesis?

 

There are some complex and lengthy sentences. The author should simplify sentence structure for clarity. Moreover, he or she must ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and ideas. It will facilitate the readers following the argument.

 

Material and Methodology

Lines 106–107: Why the author specifically focuses on greenhouse producers who use soilless agricultural technology What possible characteristics or challenges do they present compared to open-field producers, and how does this selection affect the research's relevance?

 

Lines 118–120: The author should mention that the percentage values regarding the supply chain are the author's own calculations, or have they been obtained from other sources?

Line 122: The author should explain why he or she chose to study greenhouse tomato production in 26 different provinces of Turkiye. Is there regional variation in practices or challenges that the author decided to capture?

Line 136: The author should explain "were the 136 producers selected randomly, and how diverse this sample is in terms of scale of production and location?

Lines 141–145: Explain the snowball sampling briefly; how does this method ensure a representative sample? Moreover, explain why intermediaries are important to research. What role do they play in the overall efficiency of the supply chain, etc.?

 

The author may consider breaking down the methodology section into subsections to make it more organised and easy to follow, for example, "sampling method, data collection from producers, data collection from intermediaries, and data collection from recycling facilities."

 

 

Lines 161–169: Authors may provide a concise and clear explanation of each term, such as "net profit," "value added," and "variable costs."

Give an explanation of the differences between variable and fixed costs for supply chain intermediates. This can make it easier for readers to comprehend how these computations are made up.

Consider using charts or graphical representations to show the relative marketing margin and income distribution along the tomato supply chain. Using visual aids can improve accessibility and engagement with complicated information.

 

Section 2.3: Give a brief description of the many waste categories you describe, especially if they are unique to the production of tomatoes or if people are not familiar with their recycling techniques. This will make it easier for readers to understand the meaning and context of each sort of waste.

 

Lines 202-204: Describe the reasons why Turkish compost prices are relatively higher than those in other regions of the world. Are there certain variables or market dynamics that are responsible for this pricing disparity? This knowledge can offer helpful context.

Lines 205-216: Make sure the calculations used to determine the total revenue from tomato waste are given in an understandable and step-by-step fashion. This will make it easier for readers to follow along and check your calculations.

 

Best of luck

 

minor editing is required

Author Response

Response to reviewers' comments:

First of all, we would like to thank for valuable contribution. All suggestions enhanced the scientific quality of the manuscript. We have addressed all issues point by point and highlighted them on revised manuscript. Improvements are presented point by point below.

 

Reviewer #1:

 

Introduction:

Line 37: Authors should ensure that all technical terms and abbreviation are well-defined; For example, FTSC should be spelled out as "Fresh tomato supply chain."

In the introduction, The definition of technical terms and abbreviations were written.

 

While you identify a research gap regarding the impact of recycling on income distribution, It is advisable to briefly review the literature that have explored this gap. this may describe how your research contributes to the existing body of knowledge. 

The research contributes to existing knowledge that was explained in the text.

 

Lines 98-99; The author has clearly mentioned the research hypothesis. It would be good to expand on this and explain why the author believes recycling tomatoes' waste can address income inequality. What empirical or theoretical evidence supports this hypothesis?

The empirical or theoretical evidence supporting the study's hypothesis were included in the text.

 

There are some complex and lengthy sentences. The author should simplify sentence structure for clarity. Moreover, he or she must ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and ideas. It will facilitate the readers following the argument.

In the study, complex and long sentences were corrected, and the sentence structure was simplified.

 

Material and Methodology

Lines 106–107: Why the author specifically focuses on greenhouse producers who use soilless agricultural technology What possible characteristics or challenges do they present compared to open-field producers, and how does this selection affect the research's relevance?

It is stated in the method section why the study focused on greenhouse producers using soilless agriculture technology.

 

Lines 118–120: The author should mention that the percentage values regarding the supply chain are the author's own calculations, or have they been obtained from other sources?

Percentage values related to the supply chain were calculated based on the data obtained. It is stated in the text.

 

Line 122: The author should explain why he or she chose to study greenhouse tomato production in 26 different provinces of Türkiye. Is there regional variation in practices or challenges that the author decided to capture?

This subject was included in the text.

 

Line 136: The author should explain "were the 136 producers selected randomly, and how diverse this sample is in terms of scale of production and location?

It is stated in the text that all the producers were interviewed.

 

Lines 141–145: Explain the snowball sampling briefly; how does this method ensure a representative sample? Moreover, explain why intermediaries are important to research. What role do they play in the overall efficiency of the supply chain, etc.?

This subject was included in the text.

 

The author may consider breaking down the methodology section into subsections to make it more organized and easier to follow, for example, "sampling method, data collection from producers, data collection from intermediaries, and data collection from recycling facilities."

The materials and methods section was divided into subsections.

 

Lines 161–169: Authors may provide a concise and clear explanation of each term, such as "net profit," "value added," and "variable costs."

Give an explanation of the differences between variable and fixed costs for supply chain intermediates. This can make it easier for readers to comprehend how these computations are made up.

The terms used in the text were explained.

 

Consider using charts or graphical representations to show the relative marketing margin and income distribution along the tomato supply chain. Using visual aids can improve accessibility and engagement with complicated information.

Marketing margin and income distribution was shown in the figure.

 

Section 2.3: Give a brief description of the many waste categories you describe, especially if they are unique to the production of tomatoes or if people are not familiar with their recycling techniques. This will make it easier for readers to understand the meaning and context of each sort of waste.

Waste types and definitions were made in the text, and recycling possibilities of waste were stated.

 

Lines 202-204: Describe the reasons why Turkish compost prices are relatively higher than those in other regions of the world. Are there certain variables or market dynamics that are responsible for this pricing disparity? This knowledge can offer helpful context.

This subject was included in the text.

 

Lines 205-216: Make sure the calculations used to determine the total revenue from tomato waste are given in an understandable and step-by-step fashion. This will make it easier for readers to follow along and check your calculations.

Calculations were shown in the figure and table.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper reports profit margins in the supply chain of tomato with recycling/composting its loss and waste, using the original data.  And the result suggests the sustainable tomato production with recycle/compost reduces imbalance of profit distribution among the supply chain.

The analytical method is primitive but informative, and the author's conclusion is acceptable.   You may require elaborate statistical methods to draw causal relation between recycle and income distribution.  But I do not think that statistical causality is so important to obtain this kind of implication.

This paper also includes comprehensive survey of relevant papers, which is also valuable for readers, who does not have speciality in the field.

The reviewer has found minor inconsistent expressions of references.  Such as "(1,2)" at line 41 should be "(1;2)". '(2017), "Volume ' should be "(2017). Volume" at line 368 and Nepal", should be Nepal. at line 369, Chain should be chain at line 371. (2016), "Post should be (2016). Post at line 388 and Fiji" should be Fiji.  at line 389. The same typo at lines 390, 391, at lines 419, 420, at lines 422, 423, at lines 424, 425, at lines 430,431, at lines 435,436, at lines 437, 438.

Marketing. should be Marketing, at line 401, the same as at line 403, 409.

Agricultural Marketing, 5-10 at line 405 should be described the volume number.

No name, volume, pages of the publication is appeared "in Satara district of Maharastra. ???? : xxx-xxx" at line 415.

Vol. 25 No.1, pp.29-54 at line 421 should be 25(1): 29-54.  The same at line 423, 425, 431, 434, 436, 438.

4(5), 238-243 should be 4(5): 238-243 at line 440. The same at line 442, 448, 450,458,460472,474476,478.

2021 should be (2021) at line 444. The same at line 444, 446, 455, 457, 459.

No name of the journal in Fogera. XXXX Vol.7 No.8 at line 436 should be Journal of XXXX, 7 (8): , and no name of journal, the same is to at line 443.

503e520 should be 503-520, the same at line 456.

Author Response

Response to reviewers' comments:

First of all, we would like to thank for valuable contribution. All suggestions enhanced the scientific quality of the manuscript. We have addressed all issues point by point and highlighted them on revised manuscript. Improvements are presented point by point below.

 

Reviewer #2:

 

The reviewer has found minor inconsistent expressions of references.  Such as "(1,2)" at line 41 should be "(1;2)". '(2017), "Volume ' should be "(2017).

 

Volume" at line 368 and Nepal", should be Nepal. at line 369, Chain should be chain at line 371. (2016), "Post should be (2016). Post at line 388 and Fiji" should be Fiji.  at line 389. The same typo at lines 390, 391, at lines 419, 420, at lines 422, 423, at lines 424, 425, at lines 430,431, at lines 435,436, at lines 437, 438.

 

Marketing. should be Marketing, at line 401, the same as at line 403, 409.

 

Agricultural Marketing, 5-10 at line 405 should be described the volume number.

 

No name, volume, pages of the publication is appeared "in Satara district of Maharastra. ???? : xxx-xxx" at line 415.

 

Vol. 25 No.1, pp.29-54 at line 421 should be 25(1): 29-54.  The same at line 423, 425, 431, 434, 436, 438.

 

4(5), 238-243 should be 4(5): 238-243 at line 440. The same at line 442, 448, 450,458,460472,474476,478.

 

2021 should be (2021) at line 444. The same at line 444, 446, 455, 457, 459.

 

No name of the journal in Fogera. XXXX Vol.7 No.8 at line 436 should be Journal of XXXX, 7 (8): , and no name of journal, the same is to at line 443.

 

503e520 should be 503-520, the same at line 456.

 

All suggestion were corrected in the text

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf