June 17, 2008
Securing Our Food Supply Chain
By Bernice Hurst, Managing Partner, Fine Food Network
Millions of people today are concerned about the security of their food supply. But, depending on where in the world they are, the definition of security and the reasons for concern vary massively.
A summit in Rome in early June, hosted by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), struggled with the politics of definition, cause and effect of food insecurity. Although participants generally agreed that more immediate food aid was needed to help tackle world hunger and greater investment in agriculture was required longer term, agreement on policy and strategy was harder to achieve.
Within individual countries, there are many moves afoot to make food supply secure from all sorts of threats. In the U.S., the National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD) was launched as a Homeland Security Center of Excellence in July 2004. It addresses “the vulnerability of the nation’s food system to attack through intentional contamination with biological or chemical agents” by taking a “comprehensive, farm-to-table view of the food system, encompassing all aspects from primary production through transportation and food processing to retail and food service.”
NCFPD says it defends the safety and security of the food system through research and education, supported by more than 150 experts from academia, private sector research organizations, professional organizations, state and federal government agencies, and the food industry.
Lead partner, The Food Industry Center of the University of Minnesota, focuses on how food reaches consumers efficiently and contributes to safe and healthy lives. Research in 2006 showed that “Americans said they were more concerned about protecting the food supply system than 9/11 style attacks.”
A later 2007 study identified retailers’ views on the benefits of defending against possible terrorist attacks on the food supply. This led to developing an online diagnostic tool that companies can use to benchmark themselves against the best-in-class (industry leader). Now available for general use, the tool also helps food firms in each sector of the supply chain establish their strategies and priorities for food defense.
Discussion Questions: How far do you think the NCFPD and Food Industry Center initiatives go in helping retailers be more secure against terrorist attacks? How can retailers improve the security of food supply against factors other than terrorists (e.g. shortages and price rises of both fuel and commodities)?
- Best Practices for Companies in the Food Supply Chain: A Diagnostic Tool to Benchmark Practices for Food Defense – The Food Industry Center of the University of Minnesota
- National Center for Food Protection and Defense
- Food Industry Center of the University of Minnesota
- Summit struggles for consensus on global food crisis – The Guardian
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Our food supply is in grave danger. A combination of factors are converging that could possibly disrupt it.
Several issues are in play: 1. Pollution based poisoning – (tomatoes, lettuce, onions) has already caused deaths and our officials don’t seem to have a clue as to what’s going on. 2. Fuel based shortages – due to lack of fuel to transport food in a timely manner resulting in increased spoilage of food in the supply chain. 3. Inflation based shortages – based upon a combination of rising grain prices, increased transportation cost, increased system spoilage and the devaluation of the dollar. This shortage will likely effect more people in the USA than either 1 or 2.
Every organization at every step of the process could be responsible for food safety. Government organizations could be responsible for food safety. However, added work by any organization means more money and those costs will be passed on to consumers by either higher prices for the food or higher taxes or both. In today’s economy, this will be a difficult trade off and a reason why consumers may feel that food that is locally grown is easier to control–at least it would require fewer layers of inspection and control.
Retailers need to do everything they can to improve food safety, even if they do not control the entire food pipeline. Mark is correct: this will take a lot of money and a firm commitment from the federal government. Last I looked, they had neither the funds or the commitment to undertake this effort. Does this lessen consumer worries? No. But it does not lessen the commitment that retailers must make to their consumers.
Although millions say they’re concerned about food security and the Federal government says they’re protecting the food supply, where’s the bucks? Who’s willing to pay a penny more? Until repeated major disasters, the food supply won’t be secure. Press releases, committees, and meetings don’t ensure security. What sane person over the age of 10 trusts the Department of Homeland Security to be anything but a political rat’s nest?
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Our food supply is in grave danger. A combination of factors are converging that could possibly disrupt it.
Several issues are in play: 1. Pollution based poisoning – (tomatoes, lettuce, onions) has already caused deaths and our officials don’t seem to have a clue as to what’s going on. 2. Fuel based shortages – due to lack of fuel to transport food in a timely manner resulting in increased spoilage of food in the supply chain. 3. Inflation based shortages – based upon a combination of rising grain prices, increased transportation cost, increased system spoilage and the devaluation of the dollar. This shortage will likely effect more people in the USA than either 1 or 2.
Every organization at every step of the process could be responsible for food safety. Government organizations could be responsible for food safety. However, added work by any organization means more money and those costs will be passed on to consumers by either higher prices for the food or higher taxes or both. In today’s economy, this will be a difficult trade off and a reason why consumers may feel that food that is locally grown is easier to control–at least it would require fewer layers of inspection and control.
Retailers need to do everything they can to improve food safety, even if they do not control the entire food pipeline. Mark is correct: this will take a lot of money and a firm commitment from the federal government. Last I looked, they had neither the funds or the commitment to undertake this effort. Does this lessen consumer worries? No. But it does not lessen the commitment that retailers must make to their consumers.
Although millions say they’re concerned about food security and the Federal government says they’re protecting the food supply, where’s the bucks? Who’s willing to pay a penny more? Until repeated major disasters, the food supply won’t be secure. Press releases, committees, and meetings don’t ensure security. What sane person over the age of 10 trusts the Department of Homeland Security to be anything but a political rat’s nest?