Issues and Challenges in Short Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review

Bilgesu Bayir,Yacine Ouzrout,Aicha Sekhari,Aurélie Charles

doi:10.3390/su14053029

Bilgesu Bayir, Yacine Ouzrout + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14053029

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Abstract

Consumers increasingly prefer more direct and more transparent food distribution channels, such as short food supply chains (SFSCs). Nonetheless, SFSCs face a variety of issues and challenges in their creation and functioning, resulting in limited performance and sustainability, as well as in difficulties of upscaling. This study aims at improving our understanding of SFSCs’ issues/challenges through a systematic review of the most recent literature. We perform a full-text content analysis of 44 studies, looking for answers to the research questions: At which parts of the SFSCs do the issues/challenges occur? How can we characterize the issues/challenges in SFSCs? While doing so, we offer a holistic perspective on SFSCs. We make use of the SCOR model to define SFSC processes as well as to describe the nature of these issues/challenges. The findings of this study shed light on the nature and strategic-tactical-operational level of the issues/challenges in SFSCs and point out the limitations in the existing literature such as the SFSC processes that are neglected. The holistic approach we suggest and the insight on SFSCs’ issues/challenges we provide can help researchers offer effective solutions and strategies to support the overall development of SFSCs.

Highlights

As a first step toward a holistic short food supply chains (SFSCs) vision, we identify the main processes that compose an SFSC by benefiting from the supply chains (SCs) processes defined in the supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model by the Association for Supply Chain Management
Despite the growing demand for SFSC products and the potential of SFSCs for improving the sustainability and resilience of food systems, performance improvement and upscaling of such SCs remain difficult to achieve due to numerous issues and challenges
We share the results of the systematic review and interpret the results to look for answers to each research question of the study

Summary

Introduction

Consumers who look for food products of high quality and well-known origins turn increasingly to more direct and more transparent supply chains (SCs). This trend further accelerated during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to discussions about whether these alternative distribution channels can meet demand and improve food system resilience and sustainability. In this context, short food supply chains (SFSCs) respond to the demand of consumers for more proximity and quality, while providing small-scale producers an opportunity for autonomy and enhanced income.

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