[论文解读] The impact of COVID-19 on the UK fresh food supply chain

Rebecca Mitchell, Roger Maull+3 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|May 30, 2020

Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability被引用 8

一句话总结

本研究采用混合方法，结合二手数据、对23家组织的访谈以及80名利益相关者的视频研讨会，调查了新冠疫情背景下英国果蔬供应链的韧性。尽管面临重大中断，该供应链表现出高度韧性，但仍处于‘僵化陷阱’之中，限制了根本性创新，凸显了未来适应性建设中研发（R&D）与系统性变革的迫切需求。

ABSTRACT

The resilience of the food supply chain is a matter of critical importance, both for national security and broader societal well bring. COVID19 has presented a test to the current system, as well as means by which to explore whether the UK's food supply chain will be resilient to future disruptions. In the face of a growing need to ensure that food supply is more environmentally sustainable and socially just, COVOD19 also represents an opportunity to consider the ability of the system to innovative, and its capacity for change. The purpose of this case based study is to explore the response and resilience of the UK fruit and vegetable food supply chain to COVID19, and to assess this empirical evidence in the context of a resilience framework based on the adaptive cycle. To achieve this we reviewed secondary data associated with changes to retail demand, conducted interviews with 23 organisations associated with supply to this market, and conducted four video workshops with 80 organisations representing half of the UK fresh produce community. The results highlight that, despite significant disruption, the retail dominated fresh food supply chain has demonstrated a high degree of resilience. In the context of the adaptive cycle, the system has shown signs of being stuck in a rigidity trap, as yet unable to exploit more radical innovations that may also assist in addressing other drivers for change. This has highlighted the significant role that innovation and R&D communities will need to play in enabling the supply chain to imagine and implement alternative future states post COVID.

研究动机与目标

• 评估新冠疫情背景下英国以零售为主导的生鲜果蔬供应链的韧性。
• 根据适应性周期韧性框架，评估该系统在大规模中断下是否具备适应能力。
• 识别当前供应链模式中阻碍创新与结构性变革的障碍。
• 探讨研发（R&D）与创新生态在推动食品供应系统长期转型中的作用。

提出的方法

• 对疫情期间生鲜果蔬零售需求变化的二手数据分析。
• 对生鲜食品供应链中23家组织的深度访谈。
• 四场视频研讨会，共涉及80家组织，代表了英国生鲜果蔬社区约一半的参与者。
• 应用适应性周期框架，分析系统在释放、重组、增长和保守各阶段的行为。
• 对定性数据进行主题分析，识别响应、协调与创新能力的模式。
• 将实证发现与理论韧性概念相结合，评估系统表现及其局限性。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 英国生鲜食品供应链如何应对疫情引发的需求激增与运营中断？
• RQ2 根据适应性周期框架，该供应链在极端压力下表现出多大程度的韧性？
• RQ3 哪些结构性或系统性因素阻碍了供应链在危机期间采纳更具根本性的创新？
• RQ4 研发（R&D）与创新生态系统在推动食品供应系统长期转型中可发挥何种作用？

主要发现

• 英国生鲜食品供应链在应对疫情相关中断方面表现出高水平的韧性，特别是在维持零售供应方面。
• 尽管具备韧性，该系统仍显现出‘僵化陷阱’的迹象，表明其在根本性创新方面能力有限。
• 对既有结构与流程的依赖，阻碍了更具可持续性与社会公正性的替代方案的采纳。
• 利益相关者指出，创新能力存在关键缺口，研发（R&D）与系统性变革努力尚不足以支持未来的适应能力。
• 本研究指出，当前的供应链动态尚未具备主动应对环境可持续性与社会公平等更广泛挑战的能力。
• 亟需协调一致地投资于创新与研发（R&D），以解锁食品系统未来更具韧性的替代路径。