It’s an understatement to say that we’ve experienced severe, widespread supply chain disruptions over the past few years. Now that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we’re still facing a perfect storm of crises that are negatively impacting our food supply – and it’s possible that the worst is yet to come.
Consider these simultaneous crises:
- Climate change is devastating our food supply globally. Extreme weather is destroying crops, ruining soil and causing increased world hunger. Droughts in California, floods in the Midwest and record-setting heat in Europe are making it difficult to farm as usual.
- The Russia/Ukraine war will have a long-term impact on our global food supply. Before the conflict, Ukraine exported 6 million tons of agri-commodities, including grain, but now only exports a small fraction of this. As tons of food sit in huge silos, there’s concern it’s not being stored properly or safely and, therefore, won’t be suitable for human consumption. And since Ukrainian farmers have missed several growing seasons due to the war, next year’s crop yields will be lower than average.
- The ongoing labour shortage is causing problems throughout the supply chain. Simply stated, products aren’t being produced or transported because there just aren’t enough workers to make or transport them. Since many fresh foods are perishable, any delay or disruption can lead to spoilage and waste.
- We’re still facing product shortages, as numerous products have become extremely expensive and/or difficult to find. Items including popcorn, sriracha, mustard and olive oil may be scarce – or prohibitively expensive – in the coming months, so restaurants, bars and other food businesses are scrambling to find suitable substitutions.
- Soaring inflation is leading to increased food insecurity. Even before the Russia/Ukraine war, prices for wheat and corn were 40-50% higher than average prices from the past decade. As a result, the number of food insecure people is predicted to grow globally from 440 million to 1.6 billion, as 250 million people face famine.
As we continue to face serious – and simultaneous – threats to our food supply, food brands and businesses should: