Scenario modelling of proxy system in the context of Malaysian food flow management

Abstract

The research on food flow network is unpredictable as the approaches employed are more targeted at specific study points, often excluding spatial and temporal changes. The research questions must still address why and how food flow moves in the entire supply chain system. This study aims to investigate the movement of food flow using national statistics, comprising of four main subsystems: agriculture, nutrition, waste, wastewater management, and the environment by using the Material Flow Analysis (MFA) approach. Comprehensive research using primary and secondary data including literature reviews have successfully bridged the knowledge gap on food supply chain management in Malaysia. This article provides new contributions through the considerations of food safety and the opportunity to understand flow issues that are connected to hotspots, closed flow, and economic circulars. Additionally, this study acts as a simple guide for policymakers to manage the imbalances of food supply in certain areas. From the perspective of food waste management, several important strategies were successfully formulated to combat the leakage of food waste flow and financial burden while highlighting the need for local social actors' involvement to fulfil Malaysia's agenda of Sustainable Development Goals.