Food loss and waste in the Brazilian beef supply chain: an empirical analysis
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 6 October 2020
Issue publication date: 30 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The livestock sector contributes significantly to the Brazilian economy, but also creates many environmental and social issues. To mitigate these problems and help counteract the effects of the growing production demand, it is essential to address the prevention of food loss and waste (FLW). Therefore, the aim of the present study is to identify the causes of FLW, model their interrelationships and determine their root causes for the Brazilian beef supply chain (SC).
Design/methodology/approach
16 causes are analysed using an integrated interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and matrix impact of cross-multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) methodology. ISM identified interrelationships among the causes and MICMAC determined the root causes of FLW.
Findings
The ISM highlights the “Lack of transportation infrastructures”, “Inadequate handling”, “Poor operational performance”, “Variety of products available in supermarkets” and “Unhealthy animals and outbreaks of disease” as the most influential causes and the MICMAC classifies them as the root causes of FLW in the Brazilian beef SC.
Practical implications
The results provide fundamental insights for researchers, practitioners and policymakers, by exploring which causes are more influential and which are the root causes, thereby assisting the SC members in the definition of suitable strategies to mitigate FLW.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical analysis of the interdependencies between the causes of FLW in the beef SC.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is sponsored by FEDER funds through the programme COMPETE – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – and by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia – under the project UIDB/00285/2020 and the grant SFRH/BD/132563/2017.
Citation
Magalhães, V.S.M., Ferreira, L.M.D.F., César, A.d.S., Bonfim, R.M. and Silva, C. (2021), "Food loss and waste in the Brazilian beef supply chain: an empirical analysis", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 214-236. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-01-2020-0038
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited