The Chinese food system has expanded its focus from aiming to solve food problems to tackling current health and environmental issues. The Chinese diet has increased in quantity and improved in safety, but there is still room for improvement in terms of health and sustainability. This study used Chinese dietary data provided by the Global Diet Database to analyze the changes in China’s dietary structure from 1990 to 2018 and highlight differences in urban and rural areas and across education levels. Findings show that the intake of food and beverage, macronutrients, and micronutrients in urban areas is higher than in rural areas. The difference in food and beverage intake between urban and rural areas is significant. The dietary gap between urban and rural areas has gradually widened. The difference in food and beverage and macronutrient intake across education levels is significant, but the difference in micronutrient intake is not significant. The gap in dietary structure across educational levels is relatively stable. These results indicate that the dietary structures of different groups in China are uncoordinated. We propose policies covering agricultural production, supply chain infrastructure, public institutions, education, and public awareness to build a sustainable food system with a healthy dietary pattern.
{"title":"Healthy diet and food system transformation in China","authors":"Binjian Yan, Yiru Wang, Yingheng Zhou","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0090","url":null,"abstract":"The Chinese food system has expanded its focus from aiming to solve food problems to tackling current health and environmental issues. The Chinese diet has increased in quantity and improved in safety, but there is still room for improvement in terms of health and sustainability. This study used Chinese dietary data provided by the Global Diet Database to analyze the changes in China’s dietary structure from 1990 to 2018 and highlight differences in urban and rural areas and across education levels. Findings show that the intake of food and beverage, macronutrients, and micronutrients in urban areas is higher than in rural areas. The difference in food and beverage intake between urban and rural areas is significant. The dietary gap between urban and rural areas has gradually widened. The difference in food and beverage and macronutrient intake across education levels is significant, but the difference in micronutrient intake is not significant. The gap in dietary structure across educational levels is relatively stable. These results indicate that the dietary structures of different groups in China are uncoordinated. We propose policies covering agricultural production, supply chain infrastructure, public institutions, education, and public awareness to build a sustainable food system with a healthy dietary pattern.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"2016 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86418708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Naziri, B. Belton, Sarah Alobo Loison, T. Reardon, K. Shikuku, W. Kaguongo, Kelvin Maina, E. Ogello, K. Obiero
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions put in place to contain it. This study assesses the impact of these restrictions on the midstream of the potato and fish value chains, with a focus on traders and processors, and investigates the short- and longer-term responses and ‘pivoting’ strategies deployed by these firms. Longitudinal data were collected from 937 respondents with three recall periods: (1) the pre-pandemic situation (2019); (2) the period of strictest restrictions, necessitating immediate adaptations by firms (2020); and (3) a period of anticipated recovery with longer-term business adaptation strategies (2021). Firms in both value chains reported a dramatic drop in turnover in 2020. Potato SMEs partially recovered in 2021, but fish SMEs reported further declines in turnover. In the face of restrictions, SMEs shifted toward more localized procurement and sales, shorter supply chains (often by-passing intermediaries and increasing use of contracts), use of smaller vehicles, and toward the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) to search for and engage with business partners. Smaller firms and the biggest of businesses were more resilient and less subject to large fluctuations in business turnover, suggesting an inverted U-shape relationship between firm size and impact. Firms located close to production areas and selling primarily within their own county were also less affected. We provide recommendations for increasing business resilience to shocks based on these findings.
{"title":"COVID-19 disruptions and pivoting in SMEs in the hidden middle of Kenya’s potato and fish value chains","authors":"D. Naziri, B. Belton, Sarah Alobo Loison, T. Reardon, K. Shikuku, W. Kaguongo, Kelvin Maina, E. Ogello, K. Obiero","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0120","url":null,"abstract":"Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions put in place to contain it. This study assesses the impact of these restrictions on the midstream of the potato and fish value chains, with a focus on traders and processors, and investigates the short- and longer-term responses and ‘pivoting’ strategies deployed by these firms. Longitudinal data were collected from 937 respondents with three recall periods: (1) the pre-pandemic situation (2019); (2) the period of strictest restrictions, necessitating immediate adaptations by firms (2020); and (3) a period of anticipated recovery with longer-term business adaptation strategies (2021). Firms in both value chains reported a dramatic drop in turnover in 2020. Potato SMEs partially recovered in 2021, but fish SMEs reported further declines in turnover. In the face of restrictions, SMEs shifted toward more localized procurement and sales, shorter supply chains (often by-passing intermediaries and increasing use of contracts), use of smaller vehicles, and toward the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) to search for and engage with business partners. Smaller firms and the biggest of businesses were more resilient and less subject to large fluctuations in business turnover, suggesting an inverted U-shape relationship between firm size and impact. Firms located close to production areas and selling primarily within their own county were also less affected. We provide recommendations for increasing business resilience to shocks based on these findings.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"247 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76562870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G. Pellegrini, Camila Silva de Mattos, V. Otter, G. Hagelaar
The EU agri-food sector, which is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises has become more demanding in terms of technological inputs to reduce costs, improve the added value of food products, achieve sustainability issues, or address new market opportunities. The introduction of new technologies poses challenges for SMEs that lack the resources and time to cope with the technological transformation, which involves not only the assimilation of new technology in organizational processes but also business model innovation. In this context, this research aims to empirically explore the paths of agri-food SMEs engaged in the technological transformation process, based on the drivers and barriers, as well as the strategies used by these companies to overcome these barriers. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 EU agri-food SMEs were conducted and analysed using a combination of deductive pattern-matching and inductive approach. Based on similarities in terms of drivers, barriers, and strategies, seven main groups were identified to draw the paths of the technological transformation process for agri-food SMEs. Findings reveal that there is one common strategy that is adopted by all 14 companies, namely the employment of different types of partnerships and collaborations that allow companies to successfully enter new markets. The study contributes to the literature on technology transformation related to the agri-food sector, by proving insights into how EU agri-food SMEs cope with this process.
{"title":"Exploring how EU agri-food SMEs approach technology-driven business model innovation","authors":"G. Pellegrini, Camila Silva de Mattos, V. Otter, G. Hagelaar","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0122","url":null,"abstract":"The EU agri-food sector, which is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises has become more demanding in terms of technological inputs to reduce costs, improve the added value of food products, achieve sustainability issues, or address new market opportunities. The introduction of new technologies poses challenges for SMEs that lack the resources and time to cope with the technological transformation, which involves not only the assimilation of new technology in organizational processes but also business model innovation. In this context, this research aims to empirically explore the paths of agri-food SMEs engaged in the technological transformation process, based on the drivers and barriers, as well as the strategies used by these companies to overcome these barriers. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 EU agri-food SMEs were conducted and analysed using a combination of deductive pattern-matching and inductive approach. Based on similarities in terms of drivers, barriers, and strategies, seven main groups were identified to draw the paths of the technological transformation process for agri-food SMEs. Findings reveal that there is one common strategy that is adopted by all 14 companies, namely the employment of different types of partnerships and collaborations that allow companies to successfully enter new markets. The study contributes to the literature on technology transformation related to the agri-food sector, by proving insights into how EU agri-food SMEs cope with this process.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79483418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of food outlet choice patterns of Alternative Food System consumers (local and organic consumers) and evaluate if these patterns differ from that of conventional consumers. We conducted a nationwide online survey collecting data from U.S. food shoppers monthly. The data utilized in this study were collected and compiled from July 2016 to November 2019, resulting in 21,135 observations. We measured choices of eight food outlet formats within four categories (high-end, traditional, broad-assortment, and limited-assortment). Further, we examined the varying effects of demographic and household characteristics on food outlet format choices. We found that relative to conventional consumers, alternative food system consumers, who are local- and/or organic-minded, tend to be diversity-seekers who patronize various formats of food outlets. Among the four food outlet categories, we identified several complementary and substitute relationships. The occurrences and strengths of these relationships vary across consumer segments identified based on their preferences for local and organic food.
{"title":"Food outlet choice patterns of alternative food system consumers","authors":"L. Chen, Lisa House, Xiang Bi","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0095","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of food outlet choice patterns of Alternative Food System consumers (local and organic consumers) and evaluate if these patterns differ from that of conventional consumers. We conducted a nationwide online survey collecting data from U.S. food shoppers monthly. The data utilized in this study were collected and compiled from July 2016 to November 2019, resulting in 21,135 observations. We measured choices of eight food outlet formats within four categories (high-end, traditional, broad-assortment, and limited-assortment). Further, we examined the varying effects of demographic and household characteristics on food outlet format choices. We found that relative to conventional consumers, alternative food system consumers, who are local- and/or organic-minded, tend to be diversity-seekers who patronize various formats of food outlets. Among the four food outlet categories, we identified several complementary and substitute relationships. The occurrences and strengths of these relationships vary across consumer segments identified based on their preferences for local and organic food.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78247607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food hubs are nascent organizational innovations in local and regional food systems. Although the number of food hubs in the U.S. has grown over the past decade, their purpose in the food system is still debated. There is a lack of clarity in whether food hubs primarily pursue a social mission, economic value creation, or both simultaneously. To better understand the purpose of food hubs in the food system, this study draws from social entrepreneurship literature and examines the entrepreneurial processes by which food hubs were formed. By employing a comparative case study research method, the study examines four food hubs with different organizational models in the U.S. state of Michigan. The results show that food hubs are social enterprises aimed to simultaneously create social and economic value. Social value proposition, however, can be multifaceted and differs by food hub type. The key differences in food hub models stem from their legal business status, markets they serve, scope and scale of both mobilized resources and economic activities in ‘farm to fork’ supply chains.
{"title":"Social entrepreneurship in agri-food systems: the case of food hubs","authors":"Tatevik Avetisyan, R. Ross, Wynne Wright","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0043","url":null,"abstract":"Food hubs are nascent organizational innovations in local and regional food systems. Although the number of food hubs in the U.S. has grown over the past decade, their purpose in the food system is still debated. There is a lack of clarity in whether food hubs primarily pursue a social mission, economic value creation, or both simultaneously. To better understand the purpose of food hubs in the food system, this study draws from social entrepreneurship literature and examines the entrepreneurial processes by which food hubs were formed. By employing a comparative case study research method, the study examines four food hubs with different organizational models in the U.S. state of Michigan. The results show that food hubs are social enterprises aimed to simultaneously create social and economic value. Social value proposition, however, can be multifaceted and differs by food hub type. The key differences in food hub models stem from their legal business status, markets they serve, scope and scale of both mobilized resources and economic activities in ‘farm to fork’ supply chains.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80090720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the context of intensified Halyomorpha halys infestations in Italy, this paper provides a very first investigation of key factors that drive fruit growers’ intention to participate in a mutual fund (MF) compensating production losses due to this invasive insect. Data were collected in Veneto Region in Italy, where many farmers suffered H. halys attacks, and interest in the development of innovative risk management tools is growing. The study investigates how behavioral (risk attitude, risk perception) and personality factors (self-efficacy, locus of control) explain farmers’ intention to participate in the MF, additionally controlling for a large number of primary control data (e.g. farmers’ perceptions and characteristics, farm characteristics). The study assumes approximate sparsity and applies the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), a machine learning technique which represents an original approach for research on risk management. Our empirical analysis reveals that farmers’ intention to participate in the MF is driven by an interplay between the perceived risk of production loss, the benefits from participation in the fund, and the farm age, rather than by socio-economic characteristics of the farm. Results provide valuable insights for policymakers and local stakeholders to implement a mutual fund close to the farmers’ needs.
{"title":"Participation in a mutual fund covering losses due to pest infestation: analyzing key predictors of farmers’ interest through machine learning","authors":"Lisa Höschle, S. Trestini, E. Giampietri","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0086","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of intensified Halyomorpha halys infestations in Italy, this paper provides a very first investigation of key factors that drive fruit growers’ intention to participate in a mutual fund (MF) compensating production losses due to this invasive insect. Data were collected in Veneto Region in Italy, where many farmers suffered H. halys attacks, and interest in the development of innovative risk management tools is growing. The study investigates how behavioral (risk attitude, risk perception) and personality factors (self-efficacy, locus of control) explain farmers’ intention to participate in the MF, additionally controlling for a large number of primary control data (e.g. farmers’ perceptions and characteristics, farm characteristics). The study assumes approximate sparsity and applies the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), a machine learning technique which represents an original approach for research on risk management. Our empirical analysis reveals that farmers’ intention to participate in the MF is driven by an interplay between the perceived risk of production loss, the benefits from participation in the fund, and the farm age, rather than by socio-economic characteristics of the farm. Results provide valuable insights for policymakers and local stakeholders to implement a mutual fund close to the farmers’ needs.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82780006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Despite the inherent potential of and merits in adopting modern agricultural technology, the present-day farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa is yet to catch up with the rest of the world in harnessing this potential. To extend the knowledge in the adoption of technology theory, this study examines factors, in particular farmers’ group participation and access to agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of modern agricultural technologies (specifically, the use of fertilizers, chemicals and appropriate plant density) and the consequent impact of adopting these agricultural technologies on farmers’ economic performance (income) in the coastal regions of Kenya. Logit regression and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse a sample of 372 smallholder cashew farmers in the Coastal Province of Kenya in 2018. The results show that access to extension services and group membership have statistically significant effects on adopting modern agricultural technologies, namely on fertilizer and pesticide usage and appropriate planting densities. However, fertilizer usage had a negative effect on economic performance while pesticide application showed no effect, and higher planting density had a positive effect. The study recommends that the policy should prioritize extension programs that leverage local platforms such as farmer groups to disseminate agricultural information and economically feasible technologies, such as appropriate cashew planting density – as this was shown to lead to more profitable agribusiness ventures.
{"title":"Adopting modern agricultural technologies and impact on economic performance: evidence from cashew farmers in Kenya","authors":"Pius Nnahiwe, Jiri Hejkrlik, M. Bavorova","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2021.0100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2021.0100","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the inherent potential of and merits in adopting modern agricultural technology, the present-day farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa is yet to catch up with the rest of the world in harnessing this potential. To extend the knowledge in the adoption of technology theory, this study examines factors, in particular farmers’ group participation and access to agricultural extension services on farmers’ adoption of modern agricultural technologies (specifically, the use of fertilizers, chemicals and appropriate plant density) and the consequent impact of adopting these agricultural technologies on farmers’ economic performance (income) in the coastal regions of Kenya. Logit regression and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse a sample of 372 smallholder cashew farmers in the Coastal Province of Kenya in 2018. The results show that access to extension services and group membership have statistically significant effects on adopting modern agricultural technologies, namely on fertilizer and pesticide usage and appropriate planting densities. However, fertilizer usage had a negative effect on economic performance while pesticide application showed no effect, and higher planting density had a positive effect. The study recommends that the policy should prioritize extension programs that leverage local platforms such as farmer groups to disseminate agricultural information and economically feasible technologies, such as appropriate cashew planting density – as this was shown to lead to more profitable agribusiness ventures.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79810954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arctic food industries offer promising potential for sustainable economic development; however, no certification system currently exists to assure Arctic origin and unique product qualities. We survey 1,602 Canadian consumers to explore attitudes to sustainability, authenticity, and origin in the context of Arctic foods, and assess their use of sustainability labels and trust in different certifiers. A latent class analysis reveals considerable heterogeneity regarding whom consumers trust to certify Arctic foods. While ‘government’ is the most trustworthy certifier, Arctic region-based and Inuit-owned organizations have strong appeal for certain consumer segments. Policy implications for developing an Arctic regional certification system are discussed.
{"title":"Consumer trust in Arctic foods certification","authors":"Yang Yang, J. Hobbs, D. Natcher","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0111","url":null,"abstract":"Arctic food industries offer promising potential for sustainable economic development; however, no certification system currently exists to assure Arctic origin and unique product qualities. We survey 1,602 Canadian consumers to explore attitudes to sustainability, authenticity, and origin in the context of Arctic foods, and assess their use of sustainability labels and trust in different certifiers. A latent class analysis reveals considerable heterogeneity regarding whom consumers trust to certify Arctic foods. While ‘government’ is the most trustworthy certifier, Arctic region-based and Inuit-owned organizations have strong appeal for certain consumer segments. Policy implications for developing an Arctic regional certification system are discussed.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82681977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This paper examines the trade resilience of low-income and food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic declaration, LIFDCs have faced unique challenges due to their heavy reliance on food imports. This paper identifies the differential trade effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on agri-food exports to LIFDCs using a dynamic treatment effects model and monthly product-level agri-food trade data. The baseline results show a sharp decrease in agri-food exports to LIFDCs in the first three months after the pandemic declaration and a gradual recovery afterward. Additional analyses at the product and country levels show that LIFDCs focused on securing cereal products from foreign sources and that imports of other agri-food products contracted considerably relative to the counterfactual. The foreign supply chains of LIFDCs were less resilient in the first quarter after the treatment than those of other low-income countries, but their recovery was also faster than in those other countries. The paper provides the empirical underpinning for concerns raised by international organizations regarding the resilience of agri-food supply chains and COVID-19 containment measures, revealing the differential impact that lockdowns had on agri-food trade resilience in the developing world.
{"title":"Agri-food trade resilience among food-deficit countries during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Soojung Ahn, S. Steinbach","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0093","url":null,"abstract":"This paper examines the trade resilience of low-income and food-deficit countries (LIFDCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic declaration, LIFDCs have faced unique challenges due to their heavy reliance on food imports. This paper identifies the differential trade effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on agri-food exports to LIFDCs using a dynamic treatment effects model and monthly product-level agri-food trade data. The baseline results show a sharp decrease in agri-food exports to LIFDCs in the first three months after the pandemic declaration and a gradual recovery afterward. Additional analyses at the product and country levels show that LIFDCs focused on securing cereal products from foreign sources and that imports of other agri-food products contracted considerably relative to the counterfactual. The foreign supply chains of LIFDCs were less resilient in the first quarter after the treatment than those of other low-income countries, but their recovery was also faster than in those other countries. The paper provides the empirical underpinning for concerns raised by international organizations regarding the resilience of agri-food supply chains and COVID-19 containment measures, revealing the differential impact that lockdowns had on agri-food trade resilience in the developing world.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89899659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Developing country food supply chains have been pummeled by a series (and often a confluence) of shocks over the past several decades, including the Russia-Ukraine war, COVID-19, climate shocks from hurricanes to floods to droughts, animal and plant diseases, an intensification of road banditry and local conflicts, and overlaying all these, deep transformation in markets themselves with new requirements for quality and food safety. Yet supply chains have been largely resilient, adapting and bouncing back in surprising ways. We show that this has often involves deep ‘pivoting’ by one segment or one value chain, and ‘co-pivoting’ by another to facilitate the former’s pivot. We present a conceptual framework and then illustrate with a variety of examples from Africa and Asia, such as pivoting toward e-commerce by Asian retailers and co-pivoting by delivery intermediaries; pivoting toward quality horticultural production by African and Asian farmers and co-pivoting by mobile outsource services for farming and marketing; and building of redundant ports to protect rice milling operations from climate shocks in Asia by agribusiness and logistic firms. The paper provides implications for policy to facilitate these adaptions and for resilience strategies of agribusiness firms.
{"title":"How resilience innovations in food supply chains are revolutionizing logistics, wholesale trade, and farm services in developing countries","authors":"T. Reardon, R. Vos","doi":"10.22434/ifamr2022.0138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22434/ifamr2022.0138","url":null,"abstract":"Developing country food supply chains have been pummeled by a series (and often a confluence) of shocks over the past several decades, including the Russia-Ukraine war, COVID-19, climate shocks from hurricanes to floods to droughts, animal and plant diseases, an intensification of road banditry and local conflicts, and overlaying all these, deep transformation in markets themselves with new requirements for quality and food safety. Yet supply chains have been largely resilient, adapting and bouncing back in surprising ways. We show that this has often involves deep ‘pivoting’ by one segment or one value chain, and ‘co-pivoting’ by another to facilitate the former’s pivot. We present a conceptual framework and then illustrate with a variety of examples from Africa and Asia, such as pivoting toward e-commerce by Asian retailers and co-pivoting by delivery intermediaries; pivoting toward quality horticultural production by African and Asian farmers and co-pivoting by mobile outsource services for farming and marketing; and building of redundant ports to protect rice milling operations from climate shocks in Asia by agribusiness and logistic firms. The paper provides implications for policy to facilitate these adaptions and for resilience strategies of agribusiness firms.","PeriodicalId":49187,"journal":{"name":"International Food and Agribusiness Management Review","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81829509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}