Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The epidemics and pandemics can severely affect food supply chains, including producers, retailers, wholesalers, and customers. To minimize their impacts, it is fundamental to implement effective policies that ensure continuity in the provision, affordability, and distribution of basic food items. This research identifies the main impacts of pandemics and epidemics on food supply chains and policies that can minimize these impacts. Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), 173 documents are analysed to propose a taxonomy of impacts on four supply chain links: demand-side, supply-side, logistics and infrastructure, and management and operation. The taxonomy presents the main impacts and respective mitigation policies. In addition, the literature review leads to the development of a comprehensive causal loop diagram (CLD) with the identification of main variables and their relationship with food supply chains. Finally, a specific research agenda is proposed by identifying the main research gaps. These findings provide a structured method for evaluating policies that ensure the functioning of food supply chains, particularly in disruptions such as epidemics and pandemics.

Exploring Food Supply Chain Trends in the COVID-19 Era: A Bibliometric Review

“…Vargas-Ramella et al [49] take a multidisciplinary look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the FSC, including how it has impacted food safety and security, risk assessment of human-animal interactions, and how it has caused logistical and protocol changes in the food industry. The literature also includes other related reviews that offer insights into the intersection of COVID-19 and the FSC [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]. However, none of the previous reviews has applied bibliometric techniques to investigate FSC trends in the COVID-19 era.…”

Analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on selected categories of goods passing through the ports of Genoa and Savona, Italy

“…The literature review proposed by Cardoso et al ( Cardoso et al, 2021 ) stresses that the main categories of policies to mitigate the negative impacts of epidemics and pandemics on food supply chains are: evaluation, monitoring and adjustment of workforce; automation of activities; implementation of health and safety protocols; availability of government financial assistance for companies; definition of stability and business continuity plans; foster cooperation and collaboration; increase the transparency of the food trade; adoption of decision support tools; use of online infrastructures and communication technologies; implementation of contingency plans such as increasing inventory levels.…”

Boon or Bane? Urban Food Security and Online Food Purchasing during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Nanjing, China

“…In part, the COVID-related global shift to online food purchasing has been driven by disruptions to global and national food supply chains, which have increased food prices and narrowed the range of foods on store shelves [23,24]. In the early weeks of the pandemic, shortages were also exacerbated by panic buying and the stockpiling behavior of households [25,26].…”