Assessing resilience across the food system

Food Science and TechnologyVolume 35, Issue 1 p. 54-57 FeaturesFree Access Assessing resilience across the food system First published: 18 March 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/fsat.3501_14.xAboutSectionsPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text full-text accessPlease review our Terms Conditions of Use check box below share version article.I have read accept Wiley Online Library UseShareable LinkUse link a this article with your friends colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Maddy Diment, Saher Hasnain John Ingram Environmental Change Institute, University Oxford, describe study evaluate strategies for systems eight different countries by surveying opinions actors identifying approaches highlighted in literature. Our are increasingly complex, interconnected subject wide array shocks stresses. Shocks include safety scares, such as 2017 Fipronil eggs contamination incident Europe, geo-political tensions between major importing/exporting nations agricultural commodities extreme weather events. Stresses come from natural resource degradation changes demography climate. The impacts stresses might be severe or minor, depending on which parts affected what extent, influenced responses outcomes their activities. Not all will experience shock stress same way degree – some may benefit, while others struggle. Nonetheless, unprecedented systemic COVID-19 has accelerated further scientific, policy societal interest need enhance resilience. While increasing sustainability relation social, economic environmental parameters remain important, there is an awareness sector that recognising responding key managing future activities hence outcomes. supports economies brings plates needs more resilient practitioners makers UK beyond working establish how can achieved. Key questions activities, people processes related producing, processing, wholesaling, retailing, consuming disposing food, associated logistics. They also these security other conditions. ‘Food thinking’ helps see actors, (the ‘what we do’) get’) interact time space. This then allows assessment who winners losers any given intervention impact has. It structuring discussions These start being clear specific issue framing around answers four addressing resilience: (i) enhanced (e.g. market gardening, retailing) (ii) specifies seek destabilise insect outbreaks, IT failures, etc.) (iii) whom clarifies interested groups hospitality workers) (iv) over (daily, seasonal, annual, defines frame. important sets stage next consideration: Three notions Most policy, practice focus relating supply, socio-economic goals livelihoods equity) Emphasis normally placed upon enhancing robustness and/or recovery: Robustness aims resist disruption existing (i.e. maintenance status quo; e.g. keep supermarket shelves well stocked year round), Recovery return pre-existing after bounce back quo, restock quickly possible). There is, however, third notion: Reorientation about accepting alternative (‘transformed’) before forward, reject seasonal produce ‘wonky veg’). based premise ‘reorienting’ expectations making inherently less vulnerable Employing three involve: Reorganisation means adapting achieved changing economic, social technological ‘drivers’ influence undertake respective Identifying Resilience-enhancing guided level ambition outcome-transformation determines activity adaptation needed produce); substantial transformation generally requires adaptation. Answers questions, debate implement combination notions, relevance attitudes futures. Thus motivated, invested research programme ‘Resilience Systems Global Context’1, £14.5m, five-year programme, was launched 2016 Security Programme (GFS), UK's cross government research. To date 13 projects been funded, already provided wealth evidence generated considerable similar socioeconomic conditions ‘resilience’ issue. end, TempAg Programme2, international collaborative network established 2015 support OECD (Organisation Economic Co-operation Development) Forum increase world's temperate regions, commissioned short project its member countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland UK. Methodology A twin-track approach adopted. first invited representatives each ‘activities’ (producing, packaging, transporting, catering disposing) answer comment they were instigating activity. As far possible ‘umbrella’ organisations represented contacted, rather than individual companies. aim well-balanced foundation ‘who's doing what’, particular company's approach. Representatives national governments civil society respond viewpoints. second involved online search reports material using range terms. designed try In total, 87 documents identified, 74 included within literature review. classified type: webpage, report, academic paper, brief book (Figure 1). coded according spatial resolution. For example, document discussing Bristol spatially ‘City’, whereas, global but featuring country case ‘Global’. addressed 2). assigned star rating agenda 3). Figure 1Open figure viewerPowerPoint Different file types countriesInclusion criteria: English easily translatable publicly available 2Open Relative proportions 3Open graph displaying proportion rated 3*-1* countriesA 3-star specifically discusses question. 2-star concept greater sustainability. 1-star some/minor country, mentions 1-5 times document. applied overall study. Survey Due several compounding factors including Brexit, very limited response survey. Of six survey received, UK; following actor groups: government, society, catering/hospitality, packaging waste disposal. did, provide insight into challenges system. Resilience what? Responses question imprecise. Several just remarked entire ‘more’ resilient. specificity amongst illustrates challenge articulating ‘goal’: ‘Everyone own thing’ (catering chain, UK) ‘The system’ (national body, Switzerland). had recurrent themes groupings: ■ change: ‘reducing unsustainable production’ (consumer Switzerland) pandemics: ‘bird flu, African swine flu’ (hospitality association, financial pressures: ‘increased emerging demand outstrips supply protein’ Market/supply chain issues: ‘supply failure’ UK). organisation elaborated interrelated nature result demand: ‘Shocks production adverse weather, gluts production, export markets imports pandemics, disease deliberate adulteration, strikes logistics waste.’ Tomatoes rotting spot because no longer works. pandemic makes movement perishable goods difficult consumers turn distribution channels whom? were, again, varied suggesting viewpoints regarding ‘who’ are: broader public, since almost everybody constantly consumes chemicals derived packaging.’ (packaging whole farmers retailers service sectors.’ (waste ‘Consumers, politicians, entrepreneurs professionals industry.’ timeframe? considered mid/long term scale (1-5 years). One noted consider multiple timeframes simultaneously: ‘Some cause rapid growth days) event trade. Some timeframe (2-3 weeks deal particularly good harvest vegetable). Building capacity take (for recycling plants 1-3 lead operational)’ Literature Five attributes identified one documents: general self-efficacy willingness change locus control sense-making (v) strategic thinking focus3. complemented seven principles building strengthening maintain diversity redundancy manage connectivity slow feedback foster complexity encourage learning (vi) broaden participation (vii) promote polycentric governance4. Causes decreased having ‘dependence foreign countries, absence ecological world’5, ‘lack companies’ resilience’6. Approaches multifarious. Notably, local initiatives7 sustainable business play role improving systems8. technology contributor: 40 companies found 63% participants believed autonomous robotic force improve chains 27% said big data analytics priority resilience9. However, use ‘biotechnology cannot, itself, domestic it tools used ensure better reduce damage’10. Recommendations recommendations literature, examples including: Adapt activities11: • Promote increased crops landscapes strengthen regional systems7 patterns consumption7 drivers shape decisions behaviours system11: policies, initiate discussion agri-environment schemes, introduce new trade regulations build consumer healthy eating patterns11 Create ‘territorial policy’ at both European scale, prioritises solidarity-based security, taking account most populations, environment5 Support creation resilience12 regulatory environment fosters partnerships diversity12 Develop open infrastructure12 drink strategy12 Fund training skills development12 Extend enterprise zones health outcomes12 Champion agreement dietary advice12 public procurement drive agenda12 ‘worldviews’ want systems11, instance: Take systems-based approach4 integrate positive actions health, employment, etc.13 Collaborate partners NGOs, organisations, towards resilience, create centres, offer mentoring schemes professional pro bono services)14. UK15: Reduce reliance EU Currency hedging Retain migrant employees Forward buying capacity. Conclusions Analysis finds despite recognition importance terms ‘sustainability’ often interchangeably. suggests debate, yet penetrate specialised compartmentalised actors. Further, evident few offered practical methods achieving it. identify analyse thoroughly temporal levels considered. such, ‘a proactive, coordinated evidence-based risk management required face complex risks facing domestically globally’16. Hasnain, Ingram* *Corresponding Author Transformation Research Group, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, Email [email protected] Acknowledgment inspired System’ programmes, undertaken TempAg. References 1www.foodsystemresilienceuk.orgGoogle Scholar 2www.tempag.netGoogle 3Duranovich, F., Shadbolt, N., Dooley, E., Gray, D.N.D. 2015. Dairy farm owners, attributes, relate perception risk. Available from: https://www.ifama.org/resources/files/2015-Conference/1363_paper_Shadbolt.pdfGoogle 4Halloran, A., Wood, Sellberg, My. 2020. What teach us Nordic systems? Nordisk Ministerråd, Copenhagen. http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1450471&dswid=-6860#Google 5 Cartaacademica.org. Covid-19 Et Sécurité Alimentaire En Belgique. [online] https://www.cartaacademica.org/post/covid-19-et-s%C3%A9curit%C3%A9-alimentaire-en-belgiqueGoogle 6Crivits, M., Prové, C., Block, T., Dessein, J. 2016. Four Perspectives strategy Ghent (Belgium): Need cycle democratic participation?. Sustainability, 8: 55. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/1/55Google 7Sellberg, Norström, Peterson, G., Gordon, L. Using initiatives envision Stockholm city-region. 24: p.100334. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912419300501Google 8Larsson, Milestad, R., Hahn, von Oelreich, entrepreneur Swedish Sustainability 550. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/publications/artiklar/2017-09-26-the-resilience-of-a-sustainability-entrepreneur-in-the-swedish-food-system.htmlGoogle 9Han, 2019. Understanding grocery https://www.arup.com/-/media/arup/files/publications/f/understanding-uk-grocery-supply-chain-resilience.pdfGoogle 10Labour Party. N.d. Feeding Nation: creating resilient, growing industry http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/uploads/editor/files/Feeding_the_nation.pdfGoogle 11 GFS Project., n.d. Exploring context. https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/publications/exploring-the-resilience-of-the-uk-food-system-in-a-global-context.pdfGoogle 12 Wrap. 2017. From usual unusual. http://www.wrap.org.uk/foodfuturesfullreportGoogle SCAR Standing Committee Agricultural Research. Nutrition Belgium. https://scar-europe.org/images/FOOD/Deliverables/Qualitative_mapping_RESULTS/BE_Feedback_Dec2017.pdfGoogle 14 Nachhaltigkeit Durabilite Bonn, World Mayors Council Climate Change, ICLEI, Resilient Cities 2013. Urban Systems: Opportunities, Challenges, And Solutions Outcomes Forum. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/getWSDoc.php?id=791Google 15Doherty, B., Heron, West, C.D., et al. fresh fruit vegetables Brexit. http://www.n8agrifood.ac.uk/media/dx-tile/FFV-Policy-Brief-1.pdfGoogle 16Freiling, Warren, K. 2018. wellbeing: conversation Living Standards Capitals. https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/205378Google Volume35, Issue1March 2021Pages FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation