Responding to the Impact of the COVID-19 on Food Value Chains – Case of Industry Practice

Abstract

Supply chain operations in food value chains includes all logistics activities that enable the flow of agriculture inputs, outputs, and agriculture-related services, such as transportation, warehousing, procurement, packaging and inventory management. The efficacy of logistics is critical for the agri-food sector, in particular in times of crisis. Disruptions can cause adverse impacts on the quality of food, freshness, its safety, and can impede access to markets and affordability. The COVID-19 pandemic caused that the governments around the world implemented different measures, including a reduction in the transportation of goods (ground, ocean freight and air freight), as well as migration of labour domestically and internationally. In order to stop the transmission of the disease workers are less available in transportation systems because restrictions across borders. These issues induce disruptions in the logistics of the food supply chains. The contemporary business environment in COVID-19 pandemic environment imposes an increased need for the development of decision-support tools. The Shadow IT solution will be described on the example of the inventory control model for frozen fruit wholesale, implemented as a spreadsheet application.