Resilience in food supply chains in response to disasters: A conceptual framework

Abstract

We propose a framework for measuring resilience in food supply chains formulated from an extensive literature review of humanitarian logistics, supply chain, resilience and disaster management disciplines. This review reveals that our understating of supply chain resilience for food supply chains in a disaster scenario is still in its infancy. We note the lack of any consolidated framework or generalized theory in this area. Different topics related to resilience are usually discussed in isolation, hence this research has attempted to combine a number concepts drawn from various areas into one framework. We postulate that food supply chains can develop certain capabilities such as agility, adaptability and alignment within the four supply chains domains of logistics, collaboration, sourcing and knowledge management. Supply chain orientation and risk management culture plays the moderating role in this framework. Adopting this systems approach would allow greater insights into to how food supply chains can become more resilient to natural disasters.