ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic has produced another era on the planet while we sort out the outcomes in various parts of our everyday life. The food sector and food supply chain do not incorporate an exception. In Latvia, the agricultural and food sector is important for the national economy;therefore, it is important that production, processing, logistics, supply and trade disruptions are successfully overcome during the pandemic and the food sector develops rapidly after the crisis and is more resilient in the future. Therefore, the aim of the present research is to examine potential scenarios for overcoming the crisis in food supply chains with the aim of promoting sectoral development and resilience after Covid-19 crisis in Latvia. The research identified two key drivers of food supply chains during the crisis and post-crisis period: 1) market demand for a particular product;2) capability to ensure the production process is uninterrupted, with the availability and sufficiency of individuals/employees at all stages of the food supply chain. Any case of Covid-19 in a company could lead to production interruptions, thereby causing losses to the company and affecting the market situation. The research developed four scenarios for food supply chains for the crisis and post-crisis period, gave descriptions of the scenarios for key food sector segments and found that the scenarios and the resilience of the food sector during the post-crisis period were determined by the duration of the crisis. © 2021 International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Glass is the most used material in pharmaceutical packaging, and the production volumes are continuously growing. The reasons why glass can be considered the best material for pharmaceutical containers are discussed. A current picture of this area, which was showcased during the Covid-19 pandemic, is provided. Borosilicate glass products, which are currently the most used among those described by the Pharmacopoeia, are mostly considered, but new glasses that may be introduced in the future are also mentioned. A short view on the evolution of this type of glass and the current market situation are provided. Particular emphasis is given to chemical durability. Glasses are generally considered inert from the chemical point of view, but this is not exactly true. Phenomena such as the release of elemental impurities into solution, buffer interaction, and delamination have caused much concern in the last decade or so, especially as the complexity and value of drugs has been increasing. These phenomena are described, and it is pointed out that, thanks to the increasing scientific knowledge and production technologies, these issues are now under control, and the products on the market are of very high quality and very reliable. © 2022 The American Ceramic Society and Wiley Periodicals LLC.