Topic 1.3: Large Food Supply Chain
Long food supply chains (LFSCs) can be defined in several ways depending on the context, but generally, they refer to food distribution systems that involve numerous steps and span large distances from the point of production to the point of consumption. They are often part of a global trade network, where ingredients are sourced from different parts of the world and production stages occur in various countries, leading to higher food miles. This reliance on international markets and logistics creates a complex and interconnected system, with the generation and management of substantial amounts of data.
Furthermore, these supply chains involve multiple intermediaries, such as farmers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, with food passing through many hands before reaching the consumer, increasing the total number of transactions and further adding to the complexity.
Main types of food handled in large food supply chains:
- Conserved food: maintainable by canning, freezing, pasteurisation, modified atmosphere packaging or chilling, easy transportation, decreased loss and degradation, nutritious and varied diet throughout the year.
- Manufactured food: usually needs a high number of total transactions, ingredients come from different production types and origins – some may come from local supply chains, others from global networks.
- Commodity food: simple conserved food, internationally dealt and stored, frequently include long-distance sea transport.
Large Food Supply Chain Example
Using ingredients imported from all over the world and production steps in different countries. For example, tropical fruits may be grown in South America, processed and packaged in another country, and sold in supermarkets across Europe.
Large Supply Chains Problems
Large food supply chains including transport to many different parts of the world, are vulnerable during crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, food systems were partly disrupted and big supermarkets were out of products due to panic buying.
The figure shows how a network of logistics and supply chains connect the sectors and how COVID-19 disruption of the chain negatively affected the others.
