Supply Chains are being Disrupted by Climate Change
Supply chains are being disrupted by climate change, extreme weather events, crop failures, food contamination, power and computer failures.
Disrupting Supply Chains
A single product can be transported by any combinations of plane, marine vessel, barge, rail, truck, barge, rail, truck, drone, car, bike, and foot.
And in its journey a product may move through several distribution centres before it reaches a retail store.
And after purchase by a consumer, there is additional transport to end-of-use recycling or waste disposal.
Supply Chains Near Food Production Sources
The supply chains near the food production sources may be affected by:
- climate change, extreme weather events, heat waves
- crop losses
- transportation bottlenecks
- changes in supply / demand scenarios
An extreme weather event may result in significant crop losses at the location of the event. And local food supplies will be impacted.
Further, extreme events that affect either regional or country food production supplies create increased impacts.
Supply Chains Post-Production
And supply chains after production may be affected by:
- global supply shortages
- supply chain bottlenecks
- transportation bottlenecks
- power outages
- food contamination
- strikes
- computer system failures
- cyber attacks
- pandemics
- and other major disruptions…
Supply Chains and Traceability
And when supply chains are disrupted, food safety concerns arise.
For example, an extreme weather event may result in power outages in food storage facilities. And excess heat or insufficient cooling may result in food safety issues.
In addition, excess heat or cooling during food transportation may also result in food safety issues.
And computer failures may hinder or delay food traceability efforts.
For more information, please refer to Education.
- Last Modified: May 17, 2024