The Food Supply Chain Disruptions and Global Instability: A Theoretical Approach

Abstract

The food supply chain is a network of interconnected entities that aims to deliver sufficient and healthy agri-food products to end consumers. In recent years different  factors such as global health crises, climate change, extreme weather events, and geopolitical conflicts has significantly affected the functioning of food supply chains. Given that food represents a basic need and a key factor of economic and social stability, understanding these dynamics is of crucial importance. Bearing this in mind, this paper aims to analyze, based on a review of the relevant literature, the impact various shocks have on the functioning of food supply chains, as well as their potential effects on global instability. Special attention is given to the identification of key sources of disruption and the mechanisms through which these disturbances are transmitted across different stages of the supply chain, with the objective of highlighting the main drivers of instability and their implications in the recent period.