The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the global supply chain system. The crisis has led to a shortage of essential goods, including food, resulting in several supply chain management breakdowns. The pandemic has highlighted the need for a robust and efficient supply chain management system to ensure a stable food supply to people. But we all know that the supply chain is either too long or broken; in this article, we’ll explore the causes of supply chain management breakdown due to a lack of food and how it impacts individuals and the economy.
Are we facing a food crisis due to supply chain management breakdowns? Let’s find out.
Supply chain management is the task that makes sure that the goods and services are from the supplier/grower to the consumer. It involves several stages:
- growing
- procurement
- production
- transportation
- and delivery.
The global supply chain system is complex, and any disruption at any stage can lead to a shortage of essential goods, including food. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruptions in the supply chain system, leading to several breakdowns. If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is necessary to start growing your food, using your back yard or teaming up with like-minded people in your local communities.
Causes of supply chain management breakdown due to a lack of food
Several factors have contributed to the supply chain management breakdowns due to a lack of food. Some of these factors include:
Panic buying: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused panic buying, leading to hoarding of essential goods, including food. Panic buying has disrupted the supply chain system, leading to a food shortage and toilet paper.
Transportation issues: Transportation is a critical component of the supply chain system. The pandemic has led to transportation issues, including border closures, restrictions, and delays. This has disrupted the flow of food from the suppliers to the consumers. Again showing a short supply chain is key. Trade Shack Communities have short supply chains, all at a walking distance most of the time.
Labour shortage: The pandemic has led to a shortage of labour in several sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. This has impacted the production and transportation of food, leading to supply chain management breakdowns. We set up the Trade Shack by allowing you to grow what you want in your backyard. You are the only labour dependency there is. Share growing with your neighbours. If you need help, join with members of the Postcode Community, and work for food and barter using the local exchange.
Impacts of supply chain management breakdowns due to a lack of food
The supply chain management breakdowns due to a lack of food have several impacts, including:
Food insecurity: The food shortage has led to food insecurity, particularly for vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of people facing food insecurity globally, and it is just starting. We are facing a lot of disruption to food production due to Grand Solar Minimum, fertiliser shortages and farmland depletion. The only way to save guard for that is growing your own.
Economic losses: The supply chain management breakdowns have led to economic losses, particularly for businesses involved in the food supply chain system. The disruptions have increased costs and reduced revenues, leading to losses. We see as the first “cab of the rank”, the building industry is not the only industry farming will soon follow as fuel prices are up, fertiliser prices are up, and crop yields are down. It will bring farming operations to their knees.
Health impacts: The food shortage has led to several health impacts, including malnutrition and stunted growth. This has particularly affected children and the vulnerable in our communities. The elderly are generally unable to grow their food, get quality food and often refer back to heavily processed food. One way to help out the elderly is by trading fresh produce online. So they have access to honest, quality food.
Addressing supply chain management breakdowns due to a lack of food
Addressing the supply chain management breakdowns due to a lack of food requires a multi-pronged approach. The Trade Shack is ideally positioned for doing that. Combining local backyard growers with commercial growers within the Postcode Community. We do not stop there. There are several other methods, including:
Investing in local food production: Investing in local food production can help reduce dependence on imported food and increase food security. Instead of buying large blocks of land to grow food on, we use the combined backyards. Splitting local communities up in community garden plots without you losing control of what you grow.
Strengthening the supply chain system: Strengthening the supply chain system can help address transportation issues, labour shortages, and other factors contributing to supply chain management breakdowns. The supply strength is in the lenght of the supply chain. Shortening length it makes it stronger. Sharing food with “next door” is a supply chain, a very short one. strength
Implementing policies to address export restrictions: Governments can implement policies to address export restrictions and ensure a stable food supply globally. That is one of our concerns, the Government poking their nose in how we creat self-sustainability, there is no need for government oversight on how and what we grow. concerns
Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic (hoax) has shown us a lot. First, the lockdowns restricted the movement of people and food, which caused a jackup in the price. Luckily many households can absorb that cost, but to what extent? We now see interest rate rise after interest rate rise, an the compounding cost is about to break “the camel back”.
It is very clear that the Government is not coming to help you. You will be on your own when you run out of food or means of buying food. This is why local Postcode Communities are so important. Create online connections for offline communication, and talk to your neighbours about how to combine your growing areas. You might have land, and they might have time. Do not rely on someone who does not know you and sits in a well-paid job in Canberra. Essentially, they only care about themselves, as you should.
Without turning this into a political post, the key is to start local exchanges, trade locally set up a Postcode Community before it is too late. We will see food shortages this year (2023) and we will see people going hungry in 2024, this has nothing to do with what humans do or don’t do on this planet. It has to do with cycles.