Competition and efficiency in international food supply chains : improving food security / John Williams.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

(Ward John)separator_comma 1949- Williams., author.

Contributor:

John.

Series:

Earthscan Food and Agriculture

Earthscan food and agriculture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Food industry and trade--Security measures.

Food industry and trade.

Food supply--Government policy.

Food supply.

Food security.

Sustainable agriculture.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (273 p.)

Edition:

1st ed..

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : Routledge, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"This book examines an array of different distortions that are causing food supply chain dysfunction in many countries. It outlines the underlying changes that are currently occurring, which will have an influence on the direction of future food supply chains, and provides some solutions to the current food security problem"-- Provided by publisher.

"Why have food crises been more frequent in recent years, compared to the last few decades? This book examines an array of different distortions that are causing food supply chain dysfunction in many countries, particularly for staple non-perishable foods such as grains and pulses. It outlines the underlying changes that are currently occurring, which will have an influence on the direction of future food supply chains, and provides some solutions to the current food security problem. Based on an analysis from total regulation in the 1950s-60s through to deregulation during the 1980-90s, as well as post-deregulation, it focuses on liberal trade and deregulation as a more successful solution to stabilising food supply chains and distribution of storable food commodities. The author highlights a common thread of either farmers using government for vested-interest intervention, or autocratic governments seeking market and supply-chain power. The book examines the role of government as expounded or perceived by government themselves after 50 years of food supply chain intervention. It discusses the role of 'trade' markets and cluster industries and how these can quickly disintegrate when price distortions occur. The author studies both food importing and exporting countries and concludes that commingled commoditization of food has lead to increasing hoarding, corruption, and dependence on food aid. He argues that a competitive food supply chain that has minimum intervention is more likely to provide future food security. In conclusion the book emphasises that adequate rewards and competition in the supply chain are the essences of sustainable food security"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

""Cover""; ""Title""; ""Copyright""; ""CONTENTS""; ""Preface""; ""List of acronyms""; ""List of figures and tables""; ""Introduction""; ""1 Commodity supply shocks""; ""2 Supply chain distortions: intervention, subsidies, protection""; ""3 Role of the private sector, price, competition, and government""; ""4 Government intervention by importing countries""; ""5 The rise and fall of commingled commodity handling""; ""6 Government intervention failures in exporting countries""; ""7 Hoarding""; ""8 Corruption in the food chain""; ""9 Food aid problems""

""10 Importance of �trade� markets and merchants""""11 Post-deregulation issues""; ""12 Food supply chain efficiency""; ""Glossary of terms""; ""Index""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-136-33234-0

1-283-52058-3

1-136-33235-9

9786613833037

0-203-12236-4

9780203122365

OCLC:

804661679