Stages Of Supply Chain Research Articles

Analysis of Bacterial Diversity in Relation to the Presence of the Top 7 Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli throughout Australian Beef Abattoirs

There is increasing evidence that diversity changes in bacterial communities of beef cattle correlate to the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). However, studies that found an association between STEC and bacterial diversity have been focused on preslaughter stages in the beef supply chain. This study was designed to test a hypothesis that there are no differences in bacterial diversity between samples with and those without the presence of the top 7 STEC (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157) throughout processing in an integrated (abattoir A) and a fragmented (abattoir B) Australian beef abattoir. Slaughter and boning room surface samples from each abattoir were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and tested for the top 7 STEC following the Food Safety and Inspection Service protocol. Potential positives through slaughter were similar between the abattoirs (64 to 81%). However, abattoir B had substantially reduced potential positives in the boning room compared with abattoir A (abattoir A: 23 and 48%; abattoir B: 2 and 7%). Alpha diversity between the sample groups was not significantly different (P > 0.05) regardless of different STEC markers. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of slaughter samples showed that the bacterial composition in fecal and hide samples shared the least similarity with the communities in carcass and environmental samples. Surface samples from slaughter (carcass and environmental) and boning (carcass, beef trim, and environmental) all appeared randomly plotted on the scale. This indicated that the STEC presence also did not have a significant effect (P > 0.05) on beta diversity. Although presence of STEC appeared to correlate with changes in diversity of fecal and hide bacterial communities in previous studies, it did not appear to have the same effect on other samples throughout processing.

Price transmission in (de)regulated agricultural markets

ABSTRACT This paper emphasises the impact of the ongoing liberalisation of agricultural policies and trade in agricultural commodities on spatial price transmission in agricultural markets. Based on a literature review covering a broad range of topics, the article derives four main conclusions. First, more market-oriented agricultural policies and trade liberalization improve horizontal price transmission in global agricultural markets. Second, in the integrated agricultural markets, some regions tend to lead the price discovery process, which is determined mainly by their role in international trade. Third, with the growing integration of agricultural markets, the significance of local factors such as seasonality is diminishing. Fourth, as markets become more integrated, spontaneous public interventions aimed at the stabilisation of domestic prices are less effective. These findings may help market participants at all stages of the food supply chain to better understand how policy deregulation and trade liberalisation affect price setting in agricultural markets and, consequently, enable them to adjust to these changes more effectively. Furthermore, the paper provides policy implications, as it distinguishes the institutional factors determining the degree of price transmission in agricultural markets and emphasises the decreasing effectiveness of domestic agricultural and trade policies as globalisation in agricultural markets continues.

Impacts COVID-19 pandemic Diseases on Ethiopian Agriculture, Food Systems, Industries, and Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic is a recent outbreak in almost all parts of the world including Ethiopia influencing the socio-economy of people and mainly threatening the agriculture and food security of the least developed countries. The current desk review and opinion synthesis by a multi-disciplinary team of experts from Haramaya University aimed at assessing the probable impact of the virus on the Ethiopian agriculture and food security and suggesting the possible mitigation and adaptation strategies to all responsible. Experts’ opinion and desk review of existing information were employed for the analysis and conclusions drawn, due to the difficulty of data generation at this time of movement restriction and poor database availability on websites of relevant institutions. Accordingly, the information gathered were synthesised and described following the major stages of food supply chains as production, handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution and marketing, and consumption are key messages drawn from the overall assessment.

Designing an Integrated Multi-Channel Multi Product Closed Loop Sustainable Supply Chain Network Meeting Customer Requirements

Indian manufacturing firms which started by focusing on offline exclusive sales (single channel), are expanding their sales to online domain (multichannel) today. They are still facing a lot of difficulties in interfacing various channels efficiently in their multichannel supply chain network, this integration of different channels increases its customers range to purchase and customer comfort. This paper aims to develop a multiproduct closed loop supply chain model for an Indian kitchenware firm to address their integrating issues between multiple channels take into consideration the environmental and economic sustainability. IBM CPLEX optimiser is used to solve the model for minimising the transportation cost between various stages of supply chain. To take into account the real world factors of customer behaviour, four types of customer zones are selected to accommodate different customer choices. The results show how the optimal supply chain structure is affected by these multichannel customer preferences.

Understanding Oxidation Propensity in GCSF and Assessment of its Safety and Efficacy.

To understand the impact of methionine oxidation in GCSF on efficacy (neutrophil production/activation) and safety (biochemical and histopathological changes). Nine GCSF biosimilars were analyzed for the levels of residual iron and copper content. Oxidation in GCSF was induced byH2O2 treatment and four samples were prepared: wtGCSF (no oxidation), MetO (1138), MetO (1,138,127) and MetO (1138,127,122). These samples were used to evaluate binding affinity with the GCSF receptor (GCSFR) using biolayer interferometry, thermal stability using circular dichroism and in vitro potency using a relevant cell-based assay. In vivo pharmacodynamics examined changes in neutrophil production upon GCSF methionine oxidation, with the outcome correlated with the differential expression of genes implicated in the GCSF mediated neutrophil activation/ maturation. Pre-clinical safety studies including biochemical and histopathological changes were also performed. Met 122 and Met 127 have the most deleterious effect on the potency. Lower binding affinity with GCSFR was identified as the underlying cause for lower efficacy and potency. Role of Asp 110 in GCSF as the critical residue having adverse impact on efficacy in context of methionine oxidation has been elucidated. Impairment of in vitro binding affinity with GCSF manifests as in vivo pharmacodynamic differences via differential expression of downstream genes required for neutrophil maturation. The data from the present study suggests that methionine oxidation in GCSF is a critical quality attribute that needs careful monitoring and control during commercial manufacturing and subsequent supply chain stages.

Exploring Chinese consumers' attitudes toward traceable dairy products: A focus group study

Dairy products are an essential part of a healthy diet, and dairy is an emerging food industry in China. With rapid economic development, Chinese consumers are increasingly health-conscious and are becoming more selective about the quality and safety of dairy products. Adopting a qualitative approach, we explored Chinese consumers' perception of dairy food safety and attitudes toward traceable dairy products through 9 focus group interviews administered in 4 urban locations in North and South China, with a total of 61 participants. Results showed that a prevalence of food safety incidents triggers consumers to lower their confidence in food safety and to pay more attention to the news about food safety incidents in the media, including social media. Chemical residues ranked as the first concern for food safety in the dairy industry. Meanwhile, traceable dairy products were not well known among consumers. Although the possibility to trace back all stages of the food supply chain in the dairy sector was considered important, respondents raised doubts about the truthfulness of traceability information.

Metagenomic Insights Into the Mechanisms for Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Oil Supply Chain.

Petroleum is a very complex and diverse organic mixture. Its composition depends on reservoir location and in situ conditions and changes once crude oil is spilled into the environment, making the characteristics associated with every spill unique. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common components of the crude oil and constitute a group of persistent organic pollutants. Due to their highly hydrophobic, and their low solubility tend to accumulate in soil and sediment. The process by which oil is sourced and made available for use is referred to as the oil supply chain and involves three parts: (1) upstream, (2) midstream and (3) downstream activities. As consequence from oil supply chain activities, crude oils are subjected to biodeterioration, acidification and souring, and oil spills are frequently reported affecting not only the environment, but also the economy and human resources. Different bioremediation techniques based on microbial metabolism, such as natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, biostimulation are promising approaches to minimize the environmental impact of oil spills. The rate and efficiency of this process depend on multiple factors, like pH, oxygen content, temperature, availability and concentration of the pollutants and diversity and structure of the microbial community present in the affected (contaminated) area. Emerging approaches, such as (meta-)taxonomics and (meta-)genomics bring new insights into the molecular mechanisms of PAH microbial degradation at both single species and community levels in oil reservoirs and groundwater/seawater spills. We have scrutinized the microbiological aspects of biodegradation of PAHs naturally occurring in oil upstream activities (exploration and production), and crude oil and/or by-products spills in midstream (transport and storage) and downstream (refining and distribution) activities. This work addresses PAH biodegradation in different stages of oil supply chain affecting diverse environments (groundwater, seawater, oil reservoir) focusing on genes and pathways as well as key players involved in this process. In depth understanding of the biodegradation process will provide/improve knowledge for optimizing and monitoring bioremediation in oil spills cases and/or to impair the degradation in reservoirs avoiding deterioration of crude oil quality.

Impacts COVID-19 pandemic Diseases on Ethiopian Agriculture, Food Systems, Industries, and Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic is a recent outbreak in almost all parts of the world including Ethiopia influencing the socio-economy of people and mainly threatening the agriculture and food security of the least developed countries. The current desk review and opinion synthesis by a multi-disciplinary team of experts from Haramaya University aimed at assessing the probable impact of the virus on the Ethiopian agriculture and food security and suggesting the possible mitigation and adaptation strategies to all responsible. Experts’ opinion and desk review of existing information were employed for the analysis and conclusions drawn, due to the difficulty of data generation at this time of movement restriction and poor database availability on websites of relevant institutions. Accordingly, the information gathered were synthesised and described following the major stages of food supply chains as production, handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution and marketing, and consumption are key messages drawn from the overall assessment.

THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISEASES ON ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURE: Food Systems, Industries, also Mitigation and Adaptation Strategy

The COVID-19 pandemic is a recent outbreak in almost all parts of the world including Ethiopia influencing the socio-economy of people and mainly threatening the agriculture and food security of the least developed countries. The current desk review and opinion synthesis by a multi-disciplinary team of experts from Haramaya University aimed at assessing the probable impact of the virus on the Ethiopian agriculture and food security and suggesting the possible mitigation and adaptation strategies to all responsible. Experts’ opinion and desk review of existing information were employed for the analysis and conclusions drawn, due to the difficulty of data generation at this time of movement restriction and poor database availability on websites of relevant institutions. Accordingly, the information gathered were synthesised and described following the major stages of food supply chains as production, handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution and marketing, and consumption are key messages drawn from the overall assessment.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Food Safety and Hygiene Training on Food Handlers.

Foodborne diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Studies have shown that the knowledge, attitude, and practices of food handlers are important factors in preventing foodborne illness. The purpose of this research is to assess the effects of training interventions on knowledge, attitude, and practice on food safety and hygiene among food handlers at different stages of the food supply chain. To this end, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with close adherence to the PRISMA guidelines. We searched for training interventions among food handlers in five databases. Randomized control trials (RCT), quasi-RCTs, controlled before–after, and nonrandomized designs, including pre–post studies, were analyzed to allow a more comprehensive assessment. The meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects model to calculate the effect sizes (Hedges’s g) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Out of 1094 studies, 31 were included. Results showed an effect size of 1.24 (CI = 0.89–1.58) for knowledge, an attitude effect size of 0.28 (CI = 0.07–0.48), and an overall practice effect size of 0.65 (CI = 0.24–1.06). In addition, subgroups of self-reported practices and observed practices presented effect sizes of 0.80 (CI = 0.13–1.48) and 0.45 (CI = 0.15–0.76) respectively.

A rapid food chain approach for authenticity screening: The development, validation and transferability of a chemometric model using two handheld near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) devices

This study assesses the application of a handheld, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device, namely the NeoSpectra Micro, for the determination of oregano authenticity. Utilising a large sample set of oregano (n = 295) and potential adulterants of oregano (n = 109), models were developed and validated using SIMCA 15 software. The models demonstrated excellent predictability for the determination of authentic oregano and adulterant samples. The optimal model resulted in a 93.0% and 97.5% correct prediction for oregano and adulterants, respectively. Different standardisation approaches were assessed to determine model transferability to a second NIRS device. In the case of the second device, the best predictions were achieved with data that had not undergone any spectral standardisation (raw). Subsequently, the optimal model was able to correctly predict 90% of authentic oregano samples and 100% of the adulterant samples on the second device. This study demonstrates the potential of the device to be used as a simple, cost effective, reliable and handheld screening tool for the determination of oregano authenticity, at various stages of the food supply chain. It is believed that such forms of monitoring could be highly beneficial in other areas of food authenticity analysis to help combat the negative economical and health implications of food fraud.

Prioritizing resilient capability factors of dealing with supply chain disruptions: an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) application in the textile industry

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to determine and prioritize the resilient capability factors at different stages of supply chain disruptions in Pakistan's textile industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a two-stage methodology. In the first stage, the extant literature was reviewed, and based on that, experts' panel consultations were conducted to identify the resilient capability factors at the different stages of supply chain. In the second stage, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was used to rank the resilient capability factors needed in Pakistan's textile industry.FindingsThe results show that building an integrated supply chain ranking is one of the most critical practices in bolstering supply chain resilience. The results also reveal that firms should focus on the readiness phase of resilience as it is categorized as the most important phase.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study provide supply chain professionals with a clear consideration of the critical factors that are needed to build supply chain resilience. From an industry-specific perspective, the study offers guidelines on what resilient capability factors should be regarded as critical when implementing resilient capabilities in order to reduce the negative impacts of disruptions.Originality/valueThe study is among the first studies in prioritizing the resilient capability factors at different phases of supply chain disruptions. The study would provide further opportunities for future researchers in using other multicriteria decision-making tools.

A conceptual framework for barriers of circular supply chains for sustainability in the textile industry

AbstractCircular economy is a contemporary concept including usage of renewable materials and technologies. The transition to the circular economy creates value through closed‐loop systems, reverse logistics, eco‐design, product life cycle management, and clean production. The aim of the study was to propose a holistic conceptual framework for barriers of circular supply chain for sustainability in the textile industry. Within this aim, an in‐depth literature review on barriers was conducted by covering all supply chain stages and circular initiatives in textile industry. Then, a focus group study was implemented. In the focus group study, barriers related to supply chains that prevent companies to implement the circular economy were discussed and validated. As a result, a total of 25 barriers were classified under nine main categories such as (a) management and decision‐making, (b) labour, (c) design challenges, (d) materials, (e) rules and regulations, (f) lack of knowledge and awareness, (g) lack of integration and collaboration, (h) cost, and (i) technical infrastructure.

Product quality information in supply chains: a performance-linked conceptual framework applied to the Australian red meat industry

PurposeThis paper aims to address the association between the quality and quantity of information in supply chains and the costs and benefits of generating, using and sharing it.Design/methodology/approachThe authors’ conceptual framework draws on multiple disciplines and theories of the value and use of product information. Controllable aspects of information, its quality and quantity, are the focus of the study as drivers of firm and chain performance. Structural equation models of constructs at two stages of the Australian red meat supply chain are employed, using data from a survey of 81 sheep and cattle breeders and commercial producers.FindingsInformation quality influences performance more for some product attributes than others and is more influential than is information quantity. Information sharing for many attributes generates benefits only at high cost. Investment in measurement and transmission technologies is supported for intrinsic and extrinsic measures of quality. Differences in respondents' evaluation of information quality are interpreted as evidence of persistent chain failure.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt at quantifying and comparing the benefits and costs of information sharing across multiple stages of a supply chain and the first to assess quantitatively the role played by information quality and quantity in generating costs and benefits.

Application of Total Quality Management to Ensure Food Quality in Food Industry

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a managerial and managemental approach of an organization focused on quality, based on participation of all of its members and while aiming at long term benefits to the organization and consumers health. It is focused on continuous improvement of all processes approached with combined fundamental management techniques and specialized tools under quality systems. TQM is a process of managing the whole organization so that it progress in all the dimensions of products and services that are important to the consumers. It roots from the belief that mistake can be avoided or mininimised and defects can be prevented, with sole objective being the continuous process improvement. The introduction of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) has signaled a shift in emphasis from resource intensive end product inspection and testing to preventive control of hazards at all the stages of food supply chain. It also identifies and controls hazards that are fundamentals for food safety. The integrated approach to implementation of ISO standards and HACCP concept is vital for management of quality and safety of dairy products hence safeguarding the customer's requirements, ensuring that certified products conform to minimum standards set internationally. These standards ensure and enhance transparency in the development of food quality and safety procedures, thus helping to upgrade and update food safety systems. ISO laid down guidelines, codes, specifications and requirements to evolve effective TQM system.

Using food loss reduction to reach food security and environmental objectives – A search for promising leverage points

We identify promising leverage points for food loss reductions from a food system perspective with a global economy-wide model capturing price and income feedbacks of changes at different points in the supply chain. Using new FAO food loss estimates we model loss reduction as a zero-cost productivity increase at primary and processing stages, simultaneously deriving the response of food security (national availability, accessibility and utilisation of food) and sustainability indicators (GHG emissions, agricultural land use) at global and regional levels. To help focus data collection and intervention efforts we identify interventions by region, supply chain stage and sector contributing most to improving nutrition and sustainability. While the loss rates show no clear relation to regional income, strongest impacts on food security and environment are in low income regions. Decomposing indicator responses to the exogenous loss reduction shocks we find a focus on domestic primary stages achieving strong and unambiguous positive impacts on both food security and environment. Since foreign loss reductions may harm food insecure agricultural households through import substitution, the most food insecure countries should be part of any global loss reduction efforts. Fruit and vegetables and animal products are found to have the strongest impact on both food security and environment. A marginal impact on GHG emissions remains once non-agricultural expansion following the productivity increase is accounted for, showing the importance of an economy-wide perspective.

Food management innovations for reducing food wastage – a systematic literature review

The goal of this paper is to assess the current trends in research on food waste management innovations in social sciences and mapping them. To achieve this, 107 articles were extracted from the Web of Science database with the keywords food waste and innovations/technologies. Then, we grouped them in accordance with part of supply chain they concern and type of innovation they propose. We identified that the majority of the innovations concern the final stages of the food supply chain. It makes them more suitable for developed countries, where the wastage is the greatest in this phase of production. It also indicates a research gap in waste-reduction technologies in the initial stages of the food supply chain. Improvements in this field may be particularly beneficial from the food security point of view, because countries suffering from food shortages waste most of their supplies in the early stages of production.

Simulation based optimization of multi-product supply chain under a JIT system

It is scientifically challenging to determine the inventory level all through the supply chain in such a way that the desired objectives such as effectiveness and responsiveness of the supply chain system can be obtained. Simulation is a means for solving various problems which cannot be solved by regular exact models such as mathematical ones due to their complexity. The present paper is aimed at simulating lean multi-product supply chain system as well as optimization of the objectives of supply chain. Variables of the simulation model include two types of Kanbans namely withdrawal, and production to determine the inventory level, and batch size of delivery parts for each stage of supply chain. So, in this paper simulation model was developed for supply chains, taking into consideration the different production scenarios and were modeled and compared. A production scenario is adopted for each level of the chain in order to achieve the objectives. The use of meta-heuristic techniques leads us to optimization of these variables which helps decrease delay of both product delivery and inventory level of supply chain. In this case, Genetic Algorithm has applied to find the best variable values of each scenario (included in the right number of each Kanbans), aimed at decreasing the costs and delivery delays. An example based on a case study is given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach. Considering each level of supply chain, the ratio between and among cost, inventory, and delivery delay variables were obtained.

Identification of potential vulnerable points and paths of contamination in the Dutch broiler meat trade network.

The poultry meat supply chain is complex and therefore vulnerable to many potential contaminations that may occur. To ensure a safe product for the consumer, an efficient traceability system is required that enables a quick and efficient identification of the potential sources of contamination and proper implementation of mitigation actions. In this study, we explored the use of graph theory to construct a food supply chain network for the broiler meat supply chain in the Netherlands and tested it as a traceability system. To build the graph, we first identified the main actors in the supply chain such as broiler breeder farms, broiler farms, slaughterhouses, processors, and retailers. The capacity data of each supply chain actor, represented by its production or trade volumes, were gathered from various sources. The trade relationships between the supply chain actors were collected and the missing relationships were estimated using the gravity model. Once the network was modeled, we computed degree centrality and betweenness centrality to identify critical nodes in the network. In addition, we computed trade density to get insight into the complexity of sub-networks. We identified the critical nodes at each stage of the Dutch broiler meat supply chain and verified our results with a domain expert of the Dutch poultry industry and literature. The results showed that processors with own slaughtering facility were the most critical points in the broiler meat supply chain.

Prevalence, genotypic diversity and detection of virulence genes in thermotolerant Campylobacter at different stages of the poultry meat supply chain

Thermotolerant Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of foodborne illness in humans worldwide. The objectives of this study were to estimate prevalence and to identify and characterize potential sources of thermotolerant Campylobacter contamination in broilers on farms and at the slaughterhouse; to evaluate the clonal relationship among thermotolerant Campylobacter isolates from different stages of the broiler meat supply chain, and to analyze the presence of virulence genes in different sources of thermotolerant Campylobacter.A total of 1210 samples were collected from three broiler meat supply chains in Santa Fe, Argentina. At the farms, the sampling collection included broilers one week prior to slaughter, wild-living birds, domestic dogs, wild rodents, farm workers' boots, litter, feed, drinking water, flies, and darkling beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus). At the slaughtering line, the samples taken were from the evisceration zone (broiler cecum, working surfaces, evisceration knives and workers' hands), from the chiller zone (surfaces and direct supply water) and from the packing zone (work surfaces, workers' hands and broiler carcasses). The samples taken along each supply chain were in the same batch. The isolates obtained were identified to the species level (C. jejuni and C. coli) by multiplex PCR and were analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to compare different profiles according to the source. Finally, the presence of 11 virulence genes was examined (cadF, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, ciaB, flaA, flhA, iam, wlaN, virB11, racR).From 254 isolates, 128 (50.4%) were Campylobacter jejuni and 126 (49.6%) Campylobacter coli. C. jejuni was the species most prevalent in farm and C. coli the species most prevalent at the slaughterhouse. We detected thermotolerant Campylobacter in samples of wild birds, darkling beetles, farm workers' boots, flies and litter. At the slaughterhouse, the prevalence varied along the process line.By analyzing PFGE results, C. jejuni showed 21 profiles with three predominant genotypes, while C. coli showed 14 profiles with four predominant genotypes. A high genotype diversity was found; however, relationships between isolates from different stages of the broiler meat chain, between broiler and potential sources of thermotolerant Campylobacter contamination and between strains in the farm and in the slaughterhouse were detected. Furthermore, there was evidence of cross-contamination at the slaughterhouse.FlaA, flhA genes were detected in all strains, and the third most prevalent virulence gene was cadF. Only those strains obtained from flies, wild-living birds and broiler carcass samples harbored 10 of 11 pathogenic genes. The prevalence of some pathogenic genes between C. jejuni and C. coli was different.This evidence should contribute the scientific basis to implement risk management measures in public health.