scholarly journals Market power and food loss at the producer-retailer interface of fruit and vegetable supply chains in Germany

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronja Herzberg ◽  
Thomas Schmidt ◽  
Markus Keck
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Market Power ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Voluntary Action ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Loss

AbstractFood loss and waste are associated with an unnecessary consumption of natural resources and avoidable greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations have thus set the reduction of food loss and waste on the political agenda by means of the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3. The German Federal Government committed itself to this goal by implementing the National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction in 2019. However, this policy approach relies heavily on voluntary action by involved actors and neglects the possible role of power imbalances along the food supply chain. While current research on food loss and waste in industrialised countries predominantly focuses on the consumer level, this study puts emphasis on the under-researched early stages of the food supply chain from the field to retailers’ warehouses. Based on 22 expert interviews with producers, producer organisations and retailers, this article identifies major inter-stage drivers of food loss in the supply chains for fresh fruit and vegetables in Germany. Its main novelty is to demonstrate how market power imbalances and risk shifting between powerful and subordinate actors can reinforce the tendency of food loss on the part of producers further up the supply chain. Results indicate that prevalent institutional settings, such as contractual terms and conditions, trading practices, ordering processes, product specifications, and communication privilege retailers and encourage food loss. The mechanisms in which these imbalances manifest, go beyond the European Commission’s current legislation on Unfair Trading Practices. This study suggests a research agenda that might help to formulate adjusted policy instruments for re-structuring the German fruit and vegetable markets so that less food is wasted.

Migliorare il funzionamento della filiera alimentare: una valutazione degli strumenti per la pac dopo il 2013

2012 ◽  
pp. 319-340
Author(s):  
Angelo Frascarelli
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Economic Literature ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Agricultural Prices ◽  
Market Transparency ◽  
Consumer Prices ◽  
Recent Debate

In economic literature, agricultural policy instruments for market and price stabilisation are classified in two broad categories: direct instruments and indirect instruments. Having the direct instruments failed, the cap proposals for years 2014-2020 are focusing on the indirect instruments: producer organisations, collective bargaining, interbranch agreements, transparency of the food supply chain, market risk management. Such themes emerged in the recent debate on agricultural policy because of two facts: strong volatility of agricultural prices and a growing disparity between basic prices and consumer prices. Objective of the present work is the evaluation of eight instruments of agricultural policy for improving the food supply chain functioning, with an analysis of potential economical consequences of the various options. The evaluation takes into account both efficiency (expenditure level, simplicity of use of the instruments, compatibility with Wto rules) and effectiveness (market and prices stabilisation, strengthening of producers position in the food supply chain, market transparency). Analysis was conduct referring to economic literature, to empirical evidences coming from sectors that use indirect instruments, and to results of studies produced by public or private organisations.

Alternative (Shorter) Food Supply Chains and Specialist Livestock Products in the Scottish–English Borders

10.1068/a3717 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 823-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Ilbery ◽  
Damian Maye
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Hybrid Spaces ◽  
Conceptual Distinction ◽  
Livestock Products

In this paper findings are presented from survey work conducted with producers of specialist livestock products in the Scottish–English borders. Using supply-chain diagrams, the paper highlights how specialist livestock businesses operate individual or customised supply chains. The heterogeneity of surveyed producer initiatives throws into question both the simple conceptual distinction drawn between the labels ‘conventional’ and ‘alternative’ and also what is meant by a ‘short’ food supply chain. The starting point of the specialist food chain is clearly not the point of production but rather a series of upstream supply links—as is found in conventional food chains. Likewise, ‘alternative’ producers are regularly obliged, or choose, to ‘dip in and out’ of different conventional nodes downstream of the business, such as abattoirs, processors, and wholesalers. In practice, delimitations between ‘alternative’ and ‘conventional’ food supply chains are often blurred and are better characterised as ‘hybrid spaces’.

scholarly journals Energy Embedded in Food Loss Management and in the Production of Uneaten Food: Seeking a Sustainable Pathway

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Hoehn ◽  
María Margallo ◽  
Jara Laso ◽  
Isabel García-Herrero ◽  
Alba Bala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Energy Loss ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Primary Energy Demand

Recently, important efforts have been made to define food loss management strategies. Most strategies have mainly been focused on mass and energy recovery through mixed food loss in centralised recovery models. This work aims to highlight the need to address a decentralised food loss management, in order to manage the different fractions and on each of the different stages of the food supply chain. For this purpose, an energy flow analysis is made, through the calculation of the primary energy demand of four stages and 11 food categories of the Spanish food supply chain in 2015. The energy efficiency assessment is conducted under a resource use perspective, using the energy return on investment (EROI) ratio, and a circular economy perspective, developing an Energy return on investment – Circular economy index (EROIce), based on a food waste-to-energy-to-food approach. Results suggest that the embodied energy loss consist of 17% of the total primary energy demand, and related to the food categories, the vegetarian diet appears to be the most efficient, followed by the pescetarian diet. Comparing food energy loss values with the estimated energy provided for one consumer, it is highlighted the fact that the food energy loss generated by two to three persons amounts to one person's total daily intake. Moreover, cereals is the category responsible for the highest percentage on the total food energy loss (44%); following by meat, fish and seafood and vegetables. When the results of food energy loss and embodied energy loss are related, it is observed that categories such as meat and fish and seafood have a very high primary energy demand to produce less food, besides that the parts of the food supply chain with more energy recovery potential are the beginning and the end. Finally, the EROIce analysis shows that in the categories of meat, fish and seafood and cereals, anaerobic digestion and composting is the best option for energy recovery. From the results, it is discussed the possibility to developed local digesters at the beginning and end of the food supply chain, as well as to developed double digesters installations for hydrogen recovery from cereals loss, and methane recovery from mixed food loss.

Food loss and waste: the new buzzwords. Exploring an evocative holistic 4Es model for firms and consumers

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariantonietta Fiore
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Control Point ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Time Behavior ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
Critical Control Point

PurposeEtymologically, the word “loss” means to be deprived, temporarily or permanently, of use of faculty or an advantage. Therefore, when businesses and entrepreneurs suffer large amount of losses, they can be attributed to a non-effective and non-efficient way of handling assets. Consequently, high levels of bad management can be the cause for food losses (FL) across the agri-food supply chain, food waste (FW) depends on consumers' behavior in organizing food basket. Food loss and food waste (FWL) negatively affect environment and global economy. The purpose of this paper is to propose a holistic 4Es (Ethical_Equity_Ecological_Economic) approach aimed at better managing and treating FLW along the agri-food chain from upstream to downstream stages by addressing entrepreneurs and consumers' approach.Design/methodology/approachThe work focuses on the definition and designing of three possible tools: (1) the implementation of a FL_break-even point model; (2) the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures including a scheme for FL critical points and (3) a consumer's tax FW declaration model. Beginning with these tools, the work tries to define a holistic model by involving all the actors performing in a strictly inter- linked system.FindingsApproaching the FLW issue in a holistic way can ensure the involvement of engaged and productive people at work, lead to strategies and policies aimed at enriching consumers' awareness and entrepreneurs' management approach, and can address the handling of FLW toward Ethical, Equity, Ecological_and Economic (that means effective and efficient) paths.Social implicationsMonitoring and decreasing FLW by implementing the proposed tools from upstream to downstream of the food supply chain can certainly improve the reliability of firm production and investment decisions, and at the same time, behavior of people who feel to be part of an interrelated system. This can help to lighten FLW negative impacts on consumers' income and on pollution as well as indirectly on poverty.Originality/valueThis paper wants to make an innovative attempt to approach the FLW issue in a global and holistic way, while focusing on behavior and awareness of firms/entrepreneurs and consumers/citizens. In addition, the tools and approach defined pave the way for subsequent empirical works to follow.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Is a Wake-Up Call for Sustainable Local Food Supply Chains: Evidence from Green Restaurants in the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9234
Author(s):  
Omar Alsetoohy ◽  
Baker Ayoun ◽  
Mahmoud Abou-Kamar
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Destination Branding ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Sustainability Practices

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced customers to shift their food habits to more locally grown products. Therefore, restaurants have begun to provide local food, which is reflected in “farm to fork” or “locally-sourced” or “farm to table” restaurants. Thus, purchasing sustainable food, specifically local food products, has become one of the most salient sustainability practices in restaurants. Therefore, this study seeks to further explore the influences of the Sustainable Local Food Supply Chain (SLFSC) of green fine-dining restaurants on tourist food experiences and destination branding in the USA. Data were analyzed using the partial least square (PLS) technique of a sample of 232 respondents. The findings of this study showed positive impacts of all sustainability dimensions on most consumption values of tourists (i.e., emotional, epistemic, health, taste/quality, etc.). The findings indicated that each sustainability dimension and overall sustainability of the local food supply chain had strong positive effects on destination branding. Finally, tourist food experiences in totality mediated the relationship between the overall Sustainable Local Food Supply Chain and destination branding. This study contributes to the existing literature by developing and validating a scale to measure the sustainability practices of local food supply chains in restaurants to fill this gap in the literature. Additionally, the findings have intimate important theoretical and practical implications.

scholarly journals The Use of Intelligent Packaging in Supply Chain of Food Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 639-653
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Grubor ◽  
Jelena Končar ◽  
Radenko Marić ◽  
Goran Vukmirović ◽  
Nikola Milićević
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Type Number ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Intelligent Packaging ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Business Operations

The research aims to identify the limitations and expectations of producers, transport companies, distributors and retailers in introducing intelligent packaging into supply chains of food products on the market of the Western Balkans. The limitations and benefits from the use of intelligent packaging have been identified in transportation, storage, operations of physical handling and display of food products at the place of their final purchase. The results have shown that there are significant differences in terms of limitations affecting the implementation of intelligent packaging into business operations of supply chains, bearing in mind the business type, number of employees, available capital and integrated standards into business operations. In contrast to this, the results point that there are no significant differences in terms of benefits that the analysed entities expect from introducing intelligent packaging into their systems. A set of measures and incentives have been defined for the competent institutions and food supply chain management to take, in order to minimize the restrictions and advance the implementation of intelligent packaging. The proposals and suggestions for further research are stated in the paper.

scholarly journals The investigation of key factors for successful implementation of sustainable halal food supply chain management

Food Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 221-228
Author(s):  
A. Azhar ◽  
Y.T. Tu
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Halal Food

Halal food plays an important role in the economic development in various countries. However, halal food supply chains could threaten the environment in several ways. This study was aimed to analyse the best practice of the implementation of a sustainable halal food supply chain from many data sources. The data then transform into managerial knowledge for the halal food industry. The data was collected using SAS Text Miner and analyzed using the decision tree. The analysis shows four key features of sustainable halal food supply chains: pre-slaughtering, warehousing, halal integrity, and packaging. From these features, the two most important factors of successful sustainability implementation in the halal food supply chain are found to be warehousing and packaging. The present study applies a relational view theory and an analysis theory of natural resource-based view, creating and extending new sustainable strategies of halal food chain management to sustainable halal food chain management.

scholarly journals The “horse-meat” scandal: illegal activity in the food supply chain

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Smith ◽  
Gerard McElwee
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Fraud ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Horse Meat

Purpose Food supply chain theory and practice generally assumes that the business practices and processes involved are ethical, legal and value-adding when this is not always so, as demonstrated by the ongoing 2013 horse-meat scandal. Although it is ostensibly a UK-based affair, it encompasses the meat processing industry across Europe. This study, thus, aims to examine supply chain criminality and to highlight “scandal scripts” which amplify underlying issues. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of extant literature on the scandal adds to that body of work, updating the existing narrative to include a detailed analysis of convicted “industry insiders”, highlighting supply chain issues involved in the frauds. Micro-stories of businessmen involved are presented to enable an empirical exploration of their illegal involvement in the meat trade. Using storied data from accounts of the scandal as contemporary examples, emerging themes and issues are outlined through a mixed methods qualitative approach consisting of ethical covert research, using documentary research strategy underpinned by narrative inquiry. Findings Media coverage perpetuated various myths notably that the fraud was carried out by “shadowy”, Eastern European “mafia figures” exploiting the extended food supply chains. The analysis is aided by the use of media hypothesis. Far from being a mafia-inspired fraud, the criminal activity was organised in nature and committed by insider businessmen. The findings demonstrate that supply chains are complex and require an understanding of storied business practices, including the ethical and illegal. Research limitations/implications From an academic perspective, there are implications such as the dearth of academic research and policy-related studies into food fraud possibly because of the difficulty in obtaining data because of access to such enterprises and entrepreneurs necessitating reliance upon documentary sources and investigative journalism. Practical implications There are distinct policy implications, particularly the need to legislate against international criminal conspiracies and everyday ordinary organised food frauds perpetuated. Lax penalties do little to prevent such crimes which need to be taken more seriously by the authorities, and treated as major crime. In formulating food laws, rules and regulations, greater cognisance should be taken to consider how supply chains in the food industry could be better protected from predatory criminal actions. Originality/value This novel qualitative study will enable academics and practitioners to better understand illegal enterprise, food fraud and risk management from both operational and supply chain perspectives and will be useful to investigators by furthering our understanding of entrepreneurial practice and morality in the food industry.

scholarly journals Analyzing the economics of food loss and waste reductions in a food supply chain

Food Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 101953
Author(s):  
Harry de Gorter ◽  
Dušan Drabik ◽  
David R. Just ◽  
Christian Reynolds ◽  
Geeta Sethi
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Loss
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