Instant Insights: Optimising Agri-Food Supply Chains

This book features five peer-reviewed reviews on optimising agri-food supply chains. The first chapter provides an overview of agri-food supply chains and explores the unique characteristics which differentiate them from other manufacturing supply chains. The chapter also provides a framework for designing future agri-food supply chains. The second chapter reviews recent advances in agri-food traceability systems and technologies, as well as barriers to their implementation. The chapter also explores possible improvement pathways and policy interventions to promote deployment of advanced food traceability systems. The third chapter considers food governance and how it frames crisis management and product recalls in food supply chains. The chapter also addresses the use of Blockchain systems within public-private partnerships for food governance. The fourth chapter highlights the causes of food losses and waste (FLW) and outlines strategies to prevent/reduce FLW along the supply chain, including investments, good practices, behavioural changes and coordination within the food chain. The final chapter explores the role of decision support systems in improving data management in agri-food supply chains. The chapter also provides an overview of organisational models used in data communication along the supply chain.