What is the food supply chain? Stages, Models and Practices
With a growing world population, the demand for food safety and security is more important than ever. Getting food from farm to fork is a complex amalgamation of various stages and businesses in the food supply chain across the globe increasingly depend on each other to ensure food safety and sustainability. Food safety management systems compliant to the Global food safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards continue to play a crucial role, food and beverage companies are also challenged to tackle issues from food quality, safety, loss and waste to cyber security, cyber threats and use of artificial intelligence.
Food supply chain: a definition
The food supply chain encapsulates the entire process of feeding the world’s population, from growing ingredients and production of products all the way to consumer consumption. It is a network of interconnected players, processes, and technologies that work in unison to safely move food from farms to consumers. This complex system includes farmers, manufacturers, logistics companies, retailers, restaurants, and consumers. At its core, the food supply chain ensures that food and beverage products are available, accessible, and safe for consumption.
Why is the food supply chain important?
Access to safe, nutritious and affordable food is a cornerstone of global health and economies. The food supply chain is responsible for ensuring an uninterrupted food supply, food security even in adverse situations, while also managing aspects to ensure sustainability.
A well-managed food supply chain has stringent processes to monitor, control, and manage food safety hazards from farm to fork. This includes a structured approach to qualify new suppliers should it be needed. In the end, our food supply chains are not just about production and commerce; it touches every aspect of our daily lives.
Food supply chain: stages and examples
The food supply chain is a multifaceted, interdependent process, that involves:
- Production: The journey normally begins with the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, such as farmers employing agricultural practices to grow grains, fruits, and vegetables or raise livestock, farm fish or produce eggs.
- Handling and storage: After harvesting, food products are usually stored and transported for direct sale or processing.
- Processing: Turning raw materials into edible products, involves processes ranging from simple cleaning and sorting to complex procedures like milling and manufacturing of food and beverage products. It often involves manufacturing of multiple ingredients into a new product.
- Packaging: Most manufactured products are packaged and this must be done in a way that ensures preservation until shelf-life expires to ensure safety and quality.
- Distribution: Getting the products to consumers involves a complex logistics network that includes storage, transportation, and inventory management. This must be done safely, using refrigerated food transport when required.
- Retail and food services: At this stage, food products are made available for purchase in supermarkets, grocery stores, local markets, online platforms, restaurants and cafeterias.
- Consumption: The final stage of the food supply chain is when people consume the food.
Types of food supply chain
Food supply chains can be categorized into various models in terms of how food is moved from producers to consumers:
Conventional supply chain
Characterized by large-scale production and extensive distribution channels, it typically involves multiple intermediaries between the producer and the consumer, like manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Ideal for mass production and wide distribution, it can lead to a larger carbon footprint.
Integrated supply chain
Here there is a concerted effort to coordinate and streamline operations among the different stages of the supply chain to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of the end-product. This often involves advanced technology and systems for inventory management, logistics, and information sharing. It is most common in a company that manages its own farms, processing plants, and retail outlets, ensuring a seamless transition from production to retail.
Local and regional supply chains
Focussed on minimizing food miles by emphasizing local production and consumption, these often involve direct sales from producers to consumers, such as farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, and farm-to-table restaurants. They support small-scale producers, reduce environmental impact, and help maintain the local economy.
Food supply chain risk management strategies
Effective risk management in the food supply chain is crucial to ensure food safety, security and sustainability. To ensure a comprehensive approach to food safety management, it is important to consider various strategies and practices. The following sections will explore a few key areas that play a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing food safety.
Collaboration
Working together with all stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors, retailers, and consumers, can lead to shared best practices and joint problem-solving from determining food safety a non-competitive issue to improving packaging to reduce environmental footprint.
Adopting standards
Implementing a food safety management system based on ISO 22000 or on the GFSI benchmarked standards such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS Food, IFS Food, SQF helps any company manage food safety and quality risks. Specific versions are available for every stage of the food supply chain and certification by an independent third party is often a ticket-to-trade.
Technological Integration
Utilizing advanced technologies such as AI and sophisticated analytics can enhance risk management by providing better insights and predictive capabilities as well as address issues such as food loss and waste management.
Regular audits and monitoring
Conducting regular audits and monitoring the supply chain can help identify potential risks early and take corrective actions promptly. Certification to the GFSI benchmarked standards can support as one audit is acceptable to all customers.
Supplier relationship management
Building strong relationships with suppliers can ensure better communication and cooperation. Moreover, a structured supplier qualification programme is also recommended.
