The Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chain in UAE Food Sector

The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted supply chains and has caused several supply chain disruptions in almost all industries worldwide. Moreover, increased transportation costs, labor shortages, and insufficient storage facilities have all led to food loss during the pandemic, and this disruption has affected the logistics in the food value chain. As a result, we examine the food supply chain, which is one of the key industries COVID-19 has detrimentally affected, impacting, indeed, on the entire business process from the supplier all the way to the customer. Retail businesses are thus facing supply issues, which affect consumer behavior by creating stress regarding the availability of food. This has a negative impact on the amount of food that is available as well as its quality, freshness, safety, access to markets, and affordability. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on the United Arab Emirates food distribution systems and how consumer behavior changed in reaction to interruptions in the food supply chain and the food security problem. Hypothesis testing was used in the study's quantitative methodology to assess consumer behavior, and participants who were consumers were given a descriptive questionnaire to ascertain whether the availability and security of food had been impacted. The study used JASP 0.17.2 software to develop a model of food consumption behavior and to reveal pertinent connections between each construct. Results show that consumer food stress and consumption behavior are directly impacted by food access, food quality and safety, and food pricing. Furthermore, food stress has an impact on how consumers behave when it comes to consumption. Food stress, however, is not significantly influenced by food supply.

Being a product consumer during the COVID-19 pandemic: profile of the Polish consumer in the organic dairy market

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to determine the profile of dairy product consumers in the organic market.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a survey questionnaire developed by the author and administered to a total of 1,108 respondents. The statistical analysis (including descriptive statistics, the analysis of the discriminative function and the Chi2 test was performed with the use of Statistica 13.1 PL. The respondents' gender was the factor behind the differences in how they behaved.FindingsThe consumers indicated the channels they rely upon to find information on organic dairy products;in addition to trusting the opinions of their family members and experts, they also use web platforms. Further, they specified their preferred locations for buying favorite products during the pandemic: specialized organic food shops, large distribution chains and online stores.Practical implicationsThese outcomes will help in identifying target consumer segments and information channels for specific information and advertising messages. They also form an important resource for developing some potential strategies which the supply chain stakeholders could implement to promote organic consumption of dairy products.Originality/valueThis study identifies consumers' preferred dairy products;motives for purchasing organic dairy products;barriers that consumers believe exist in the market;sources of knowledge about products purchased by consumers;and consumers' preferred channels for purchasing organic dairy products. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study of dairy product consumers in the organic market in Poland.

The meatpacking industry's corporate exceptionalism: racialized logics of food chain worker disposability during the COVID-19 crisis

Building on theories of biopower and necropolitics, we detail how the meatpacking industry expanded corporate exceptionalism amidst the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis argues that the industry utilized three strategies to assert exceptionalism and secure increased production and profitability despite significant risks for meatpacking workers. First, the industry constructed COVID-19 as an urgent threat to the nation's meat supply, casting themselves as a critical economic linchpin. Second, the industry aligned themselves with heroic portrayals of meatpacking workers, deflecting criticism of their handling of the crisis. Third, the industry promoted images of themselves as competent stewards, meriting unfettered autonomy to manage workers' health risks. Detailing these strategies sheds light on how corporate exceptionalism functions within late capitalist food systems to further racialized logics of worker disposability. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Food, Culture & Society is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Insights into the Epidemiology, Phylodynamics, and Evolutionary Changes of Lineage GI-7 Infectious Bronchitis Virus

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is distributed worldwide and causes significant losses in the poultry industry. In recent decades, lineages GI-19 and GI-7 have become the most prevalent IBV strains in China. However, the molecular evolution and phylodynamics of the lineage GI-7 IBV strains remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified 19 IBV strains from clinical samples from January 2021 to June 2022 in China, including 12 strains of GI-19, 3 strains of GI-7, and 1 strain each of GI-1, GI-9, GI-13, and GI-28. These results indicated that lineages GI-19 and GI-7 IBVs are still the most prevalent IBVs in China. Here, we investigated the evolution and transmission dynamics of lineage GI-7 IBVs. Our results revealed that the Taiwan province might be the origin of lineage GI-7 IBVs and that South China plays an important role in the spread of IBV. Furthermore, we found low codon usage bias of the S1 gene in lineage GI-7 IBVs. This allowed IBV to replicate in the host during evolution as a result of reduced competition, mainly driven by natural selection and mutational pressure, where the role of natural selection is more prominent. Collectively, our results reveal the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of lineage GI-7 IBVs, which could assist in the prevention and control of viral infection.

Resilient reverse logistics with blockchain technology in sustainable food supply chain management during COVID‐19

COVID‐19, which is a global problem, affects the all supply chains throughout the world. One of the supply chains most affected by COVID‐19 is food supply chains. Since the sustainable food supply chain processes are complex and vulnerable in terms of product variety, it has been negatively affected by the operational effects of COVID‐19. While the problems experienced in the supply chain processes and raw material constraints caused stops in production, the importance of new business models and production approaches came to the fore. One of the issues of increasing importance is the adoption of reverse logistics activities in sustainable food supply chains and increasing the resilience of food supply chains by integrating blockchain technology into processes. However, adapting blockchain technology to increase the resilience of reverse logistics activities in the food supply chain has advantages as well as risks that need to be considered. Therefore, it is aimed to determine these risks by using fuzzy synthetic evaluation method for eliminating the risks of blockchain adaptation for flexible reverse logistics in food supply chains to increase resiliency. The novelty of this study is that besides discussing about the benefits of BC‐T, it is to identify the risks it can create, to eliminate these risks and to guide the establishment of resilience in reverse logistics activities of SFSCs. According to results, the risks with the highest value among the subrisks are determined as data security risks. Data management risks are calculated as the risk with the highest value.

ON BENEFICIAL CONNECTIONS AMONG SHORT AGRI-FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS AND CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

The concepts of short agri-food supply chains and circular bioeconemy are complementary and mutually reinforcing, while they may play an important role in sustainability transitions. The elimination of middlemen and the possibilities of forward vertical integration of farmers are the key components ofshort agri-food supply chains, while bioeconomy refers to the sustainable production and use of biological resources stemming from forestry, agriculture, fisheries, and waste streams. The development of closed-loop systems where waste is converted into new resources, lies in the core of circular bioeconomy, which seeks to reduce waste and maximize resource usage. A sustainable and regenerative economy where waste is viewed as a resource and the use of finite resources is decreased is what this strategy seeks to achieve. When combined, short agri-food supply chains and circular bioeconomy can support sustainable economic growth, social advancement, and environmental protection by encouraging local manufacturing, minimizing waste, and developing innovative bio-based goods and procedures. In this article, we examine the benefits which occur in short agri-food supply when they adopt the principles of circular bioeconomy. Also, we examine how can the ideas of the circular bioeconomy be applied to short agri-food supply chains in order to minimize waste and maximize resource usage. In addition, we explore the corresponding difficulties and opportunities for creating bio-based goods and procedures in short agri-food supply chains. Last but not least, we discuss the effects of short agri-food supply chains and the circular bioeconomy on global agri-food systems and how these concepts are connected with issues at stake, such as food security and sustainability.

FOOD WASTE IN ROMANIA - STATISTICS AND FACTS

Food waste is a global concern today. Increasing the level of food security requires a better use of food systems, including reducing food waste and losses. Food crisis and the increase in the price of food, in the context of the climate changes, the Covid pandemic or the war in Ukraine, have sharpened the approach to food waste, including in Romania. National legislation on reducing food waste was adopted relatively late, and data on food waste in Romania are limited. According to international statistics, Romania wastes 2.5 million tons of food annually, with an average of about 70 kilograms/inhabitant, placing it in the middle of the European ranking of food waste. Research has shown that almost half of waste comes from households and a third from industrial food processing. The large commercial food chains in Romania already have programs to combat food waste. Educating the population, starting from primary education, adopting national strategies and applying good practices in reducing food waste from other European countries can represent potential solutions for Romania.

Challenges Facing Artificial Intelligence Adoption during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation into the Agriculture and Agri-Food Supply Chain in India

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has witnessed a significant loss for farming in India due to restrictions on movement, limited social interactions and labor shortage. In this scenario, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could act as a catalyst for helping the farmers to continue with their farming. This study undertakes an analysis of the applications and benefits of AI in agri-food supply chain, while highlights the challenges facing the adoption of AI. Data were obtained from 543 farmers in Odisha (India) through a survey, and then interpreted using "Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM)”;MICMAC;and "Step-Wise-Assessment and Ratio-Analysis (SWARA)”. Response time and accuracy level;lack of standardization;availability of support for big data;big data support;implementation costs;flexibility;lack of contextual awareness;job-losses;affordability issues;shortage of infrastructure;unwillingness of farmers;and AI safety-related issues are some challenges facing the AI adoption in agri-food supply chain. Implications were drawn for farmers and policy makers.

Towards sustainable and resilient short food supply chains: a focus on sustainability practices and resilience capabilities using case study

PurposeThis study aims to advance current knowledge on resilient and sustainable short food supply chains, by identifying sustainability practices and resilience capabilities and how these interact.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data were collected from three cases via 16 semi-structured interviews. This methodological choice answers a call to develop more case studies to better understand perspectives on sustainable and resilient supply chains. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.FindingsSustainability practices may positively enhance the resilience of short food supply chains, and vice versa. Specifically, social sustainability practices are perceived as enablers of resilience capabilities, and production practices can have a positive or negative impact on resilience capabilities.Originality/valueThis research addresses an important gap in the current short food supply chains literature, by looking at sustainability and resilience in an integrated way for the first time. The proposed working hypotheses and conceptual framework illustrate the complex relationship between social, economic and environmental sustainability and five resilience capabilities within short food supply chains.

Food Insecurity During COVID-19: A Neglected Priority?

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health and global problem threatening the food security and nutrition of millions of people. While considerable public health resources have focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic, food and nutrition have received less attention. By 2030, Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims to eradicate hunger and ensure that all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, have year-round access to safe, nutritious, and enough food. Regrettably, the world is falling short of its 2030 target of attaining Zero Hunger, mainly due to this pandemic. We reviewed the prevalence of food insecurity during COVID-19 ranging from 23% to 80% and its consequences including the measures presented in the previous studies to address the issue. Food insecurity has many negative consequences during COVID-19, including disruption of food chains, increased food prices, malnutrition and health consequences, growing social inequities, and bad economic outcomes. We highlighted the need for two main strategies: nutritionsensitive social protection, and food system reform and innovation to address this problem further to build a more robust and resilient food system for the sake of future generations. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia is the property of International Islamic University Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

A New Extension of the Kumaraswamy Exponential Model with Modeling of Food Chain Data

Statistical models are useful in explaining and forecasting real-world occurrences. Various extended distributions have been widely employed for modeling data in a variety of fields throughout the last few decades. In this article we introduce a new extension of the Kumaraswamy exponential (KE) model called the Kavya–Manoharan KE (KMKE) distribution. Some statistical and computational features of the KMKE distribution including the quantile (QUA) function, moments (MOms), incomplete MOms (INMOms), conditional MOms (COMOms) and MOm generating functions are computed. Classical maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation approaches are employed to estimate the parameters of the KMKE model. The simulation experiment examines the accuracy of the model parameters by employing Bayesian and maximum likelihood estimation methods. We utilize two real datasets related to food chain data in this work to demonstrate the importance and flexibility of the proposed model. The new KMKE proposed distribution is very flexible, more so than numerous well-known distributions.

The microbial-killing Ag nanoparticles in food supply chain: How it was applied and what a consumer should know?

Moving to 133 years of the synthesis of citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by M. C. Lea (published in Am. J. Sci, 1889), a myriad of scholarly works and patents were published globally demonstrating the applicability of this microbial-killing nanoparticles in various industries. One of the favorite applications is on the food supply chain whereby AgNPs serve to improve food safety and quality. In this paper, the adaptation of AgNPs in each phase of a typical food supply chain is disclosed, doubts associated with the potential risks brought by this technology, and what a consumer shall be aware of are highlighted.

A global analysis of COVID-19 impact on agriculture

Background:The world has been facing a major crisis developed by the pandemic of Covid-19, which has made an impact on all spheres of human life. Every business sector and industry has been facing a difficult period, which seems to continue for some period of time. The primary aim of this study was to look at the global impact of Covid-19 on the agriculture sector all around the globe. To collect relevant data and information, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted by following a qualitative research design, which means that no empirical research was conducted. So, after reviewing a range of literature on the impact of Covid-19, it was found that like many other sectors, the agriculture sector has also been hit hard by the pandemic of Covid-19. Things have been going through a difficult period, and even then, lockdown is being lifted in different parts of the world, the situation is still under dark skies. The global food supply chain, agricultural product supply, agricultural activity along farming has been largely affected, which has also made a negative impact on the income of farmers. So, it is time for policymakers to think deep to see weaknesses and vulnerabilities to deal with this negative global impact. Objectives: 1. To find out the global impact of Covid-19 on the agriculture sector. 2. To analyse the global change in food supply and agricultural product supply. Methods:The primary aim of this study was to look at the global impact of Covid-19 on the agriculture sector and its relevant sectors all around the world. The paper is looking into some relevant matters like how Covid-19 has made an impact on the agricultural supply chain, food supply chain, damage to agricultural export, as well as, effects on farming & farmers. It was also aimed to see how the agricultural income of farmers has been affected by the pandemic along with the effects on the value of the agricultural products. The overall food system of the world is dependent on the agriculture sector, and if things would be out of order in this sector, it was obvious to have an impact on other relevant sectors. So, the paper has taken a comprehensive review of literature based on recent research studies and data generated after the beginning of Covid-19 way back in December 2019. It is important to mention here that a lot of research data has been generated in the last year regarding the negative impact of Covid-19 on human life in so many ways. A lot of debate is based around the concepts of the social and economic impact of Covid-19, so this paper has dedicated its focus to reviewing the literature with regards to the agriculture sector. This study is based on a qualitative research design, where a literature review is used to collect information, and then making analysis to come up with some useful information to conclude findings. Results:Growing nations, fifteen from Africa followed by ten from Latin America, six from Oceania, and four from Asia, are the most susceptible to modifications that happened in the supply shocks in recent times. It concludes that the contemporary pandemic is likely to cause transitory food insecurity across such prone nations. Conclusions: They need to find alternative ways to keep things on the right track even when a pandemic comes harder at them. It is critical to mention here that a lot of negative global impact of Covid-19 on agriculture has been identified in this study;still, there is no systematic evidence and reasons to look at real-time data and results. So, policymakers should be closely looking at these systems and policy gaps to ensure they are better prepared next time. When enough dosage of the vaccine will be available for the masses, and this hard period will be over, it would be a time for policymakers and think tanks to sit together, review their weak points, and come up with a strong policy with the right direction to keep the world safe from such kind of pandemic in the future.

The Achilles heel of the U.S. food industries: Exposure to labor and upstream industries in the supply chain

The modern‐day food industries are part of a complex agri‐food supply chain, where food production has become efficient yet potentially vulnerable to supply chain risks. The COVID‐19 pandemic is a testament to that end. This article measures and identifies the U.S. food manufacturing industries' vulnerability to upstream industries and labor occupations by (a) calculating a food industry's diversification of intermediate input purchases across upstream industries, (b) quantifying the relative exposure of food manufacturing in a given industry and location to upstream input suppliers and labor occupations, and (c) estimating each food industry's gross output elasticity of inputs. This article also explores geographic heterogeneity in food industries' vulnerability. Among our results, we find evidence that the animal processing industry's output is relatively vulnerable to production labor, consistent with the observed disruptions to the meatpacking sector during COVID‐19, which were largely caused by labor issues. Our results may help academics and practitioners to understand food industries' vulnerabilities to upstream industries and labor occupations.

Designing motion graphics as a zero waste lifestyle campaign media for the Indonesian people

Since Covid-19 there have been many changes in the order of people's lives, there are various new regulations such as the obligation to wear masks when leaving the house, maintaining distance, working from home, or restrictions on leaving the house. These social restrictions have an impact on increasing the volume of plastic waste due to online transactions. This problem causes environmental damage, such as what happened in Gorontalo waters between Hulonthalangi and Dumbo Raya sub-districts, Gorontalo City, polluted with microplastics, the food chain in Gorontalo waters is automatically contaminated with microplastics from the research results of the Nusantara River Expeditionary Team in collaboration with the Institute for Humanities and Development Studies in October 2022. Based on this, campaign actions need to be taken. This Final Project with the title "Designing Motion Graphics as a Zero Waste Lifestyle Campaign Media for the Indonesian People” aims to assist the government's role in preventing environmental damage due to waste and to provide information, education, and an invitation to the target audience to participate. In the success of this campaign. Motion graphic design as a media campaign applies a mixed media art style as a visual representation of graphic elements, typeface, and layouts.

Agro-Food Value Added Chains: Methodology, Technique and Architecture

Purpose of the research. In connection with the post-COVID and post-war actualization of establishing regional agro-food clusters and in view of a process of forming a new agro-economic and socio-food normality of operation and development of the agrarian sector of the economy (broadly understood - from the agro-enterprise to the processing-food industry) as a response to the "New Agrarian Policy" (presented by the National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the War), the necessity arises to analyze traditional problems of one or another territory and identify a place and significance of its respective value-added chains in improving their competitiveness (or recovery) and agro-branches integrated into the process of architecting the value-added potential, inter alia, at the local level. Principal results. A methodological approach is proposed for the analysis of the creation of value-added chains using an analytic hierarchy process, subject to the factors of identification of the producers' position in the agro-food value-added chain. Factors of identification of the producers' position in the market and in the agro-food valued added chain are a degree of differentiation;a level and degree of economic relationships between chain stakeholders;economies of scale of the valued added chain;ability to respond to COVID challenges and technological shifts in the agrarian sector (Agro 4.0). In solving a set problem, the factors were selected by levels: national, economic area and regional. Required input data were obtained by using one of the methods of the analysis of value-added chains - rapid food market assessment. According to the computation results, a hierarchy of factors for identification of the agro producer's position in the food market and in the agro-food value-added chain was built. Main conclusions. It is determined that, through the lens of new normality of the operation of the agro-construction sub-complex (with the differentiation into branch-cluster groups), the agro-food value-added chain should be understood as a process of combining organizations and technological processes of various types of activity into one cycle required for food production (from obtaining raw material with the inclusion of all production stages to selling finished products), which must be resulted in obtaining a synergy effect. A proposed approach enables expediently collect input information under conditions of martial law, make required computations and analyze obtained data both for the point of anti-crisis correction and for taking large-scale regulatory measures for the provision of their security and traceability according to technical regulations and rules existing in the domestic market of the EU member countries. The flexibility of the proposed method should also be noted, as both, the number of the factors and levels, on which they operate may be differentiated and changed, subject to the post-war symptoms of the agrarian and construction economies development (reconstruction), their interdependence from the perspective of the agro-food chain functioning stability.

Dispersal of bacteria and stimulation of permafrost decomposition by Collembola

Contrary to most soils, permafrost soils have the atypical feature of being almost entirely deprived of soil fauna. Abiotic constraints on the fate of permafrost carbon after thawing are increasingly understood, but biotic constraints remain scarcely investigated. Incubation studies, essential to estimate effects of permafrost thaw on carbon cycling, typically measure the consequences of permafrost thaw in isolation from the topsoil and thus do not account for the effects of altered biotic interactions because of e.g. colonization by soil fauna. Microarthropods facilitate the dispersal of microorganisms in soil, both on their cuticle (ectozoochory) and through their digestive tract (endozoochory), which may be particularly important in permafrost soils, considering that microbial community composition can strongly constrain permafrost biogeochemical processes.Here we tested how a model species of microarthropod (the CollembolaFolsomia candida) affected aerobic CO2 production of permafrost soil over a 25 d incubation. By using Collembola stock cultures grown on permafrost soil or on an arctic topsoil, we aimed to assess the potential for endo- and ectozoochory of soil bacteria, while cultures grown on gypsum and sprayed with soil suspensions would allow the observation of only ectozoochory.The presence of Collembola introduced bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) absent in the no-Collembola control, regardless of their microbiome manipulation, when considering presence–absence metrics (unweighted UniFrac metrics), which resulted in increased species richness. However, these introduced ASVs did not induce changes in bacterial community composition as a whole (accounting for relative abundances, weighted UniFrac), which might only become detectable in the longer term.CO2 production was increased by 25.85 % in the presence of Collembola, about half of which could be attributed to Collembola respiration based on respiration rates measured in the absence of soil. We argue that the rest of the CO2 being respired can be considered a priming effect of the presence of Collembola, i.e. a stimulation of permafrost CO2 production in the presence of active microarthropod decomposers. Overall, our findings underline the importance of biotic interactions in permafrost biogeochemical processes and the need to explore the additive or interactive effects of other soil food web groups of which permafrost soils are deprived.

Sensory quality and shelf-life of locally produced British butters compared to large-scale, industrially produced butters

Purpose>The purpose of this pilot-scale study was to compare the quality of traditionally manufactured butters from local, small British producers with the quality of butters that are produced industrially.Design/methodology/approach>Butter samples were obtained after supervised site inspections of three traditional-butter manufacturers and one large-scale butter producer. The samples were subject to initial microbiological, chemical and sensory testing, followed by a refrigerated shelf-life study over 24 weeks.Findings>Traditional butters matched or exceeded the sensory quality of industrial butters, but spoilage microorganisms tended to grow faster on traditional butters. This seemed to be related to poorer water droplet dispersion in the manufacture of some of the traditionally made butters. Visible mould appeared on two of the traditional butters after eight weeks, but this occurred well after the nominal “best before” date.Originality/value>Prolonged lockdowns due to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic pose a threat to the food supply chain, and food produced by local manufacturers may become increasingly important. However, are foods produced by local small-scale manufacturers of a quality comparable to that produced using large-scale production facilities? To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no comparative study of the quality and shelf-life of traditionally-produced and industrially-produced butters. The current work presents such a comparison together with an outline of how the process of traditional butter-making differs from commercial production in Britain.

UN summit calls for climate-friendly food systems

Speed read ‘Nature-based solutions’ to farming challenges urged at UN Food Systems Summit Food systems ‘must be climate neutral’ says summit’s science chief Critics say groups most affected were not represented The United Nations has urged the world to urgently review its food production and consumption patterns in order to save the planet, at a landmark summit beset by controversy and boycotts. In a keynote speech at the historic UN Food Systems Summit held online on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world must adopt natural alternatives to industrial agricultural practises that protect the planet as it battles rising hunger, malnutrition and obesity. Joachim von Braun, chair of the summit’s scientific group, said that “food systems can and must be climate neutral”, adding: “Most food systems are not sustainable. [...]science must not only address production and consumption or the value chain, but the whole food system.”