Testing the data platforms required for the 21st century food system using an industry ecosystem approach

Martindale, Wayne; Duong, Linh Nguyen Khanh; Hollands, Tom �.; Swainson, Mark

Abstract

Testing the planning of resource utilisation across food supply chains provides sustainability and security reporting that can resonate with consumer requirements. The research reported here demonstrates this approach for fast throughput convenience foods that have short shelf life and whose product development must be agile enough to meet changing consumer demand. The higher-level outputs of these conditions are the responsible reporting of nutritional, greenhouse gas emission and packaging impact assessments. Together with the food safety requirements of this food category, it means that manufacturing operations are in some of the most challenging arenas for sustainability assessment. The analysis presented here shows that food production systems can no longer focus on one or two core conditions, such as food safety or quality. This is a strategy of least resistance that has previously worked but it continues to displace risks elsewhere within the food and beverage meta-system, rather than attempting to reconcile complexities and address intra-system root causes. By taking a holistic view the food ecosystem approach can inter-connect requirements using digital and externally linked platforms that will fundamentally change the way future food systems operate. The integration and streaming of these platforms are only achieved through innovation, with the end-user providing development and balance in emergent business ecosystems.

Citation

Martindale, W., Duong, L. N. K., Hollands, T. Æ., & Swainson, M. (2020). Testing the data platforms required for the 21st century food system using an industry ecosystem approach. Science of the Total Environment, 724, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137871

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 10, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Mar 16, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jul 23, 2021
• Journal: Science of the Total Environment
• Print ISSN: 0048-9697
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-1026
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 724
• Article Number: 137871
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137871
• Keywords: Food; Beverage; Sustainability in supply chains
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7487282
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972031384X
• Related Public URLs: https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/40525/