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Environmentally-Conscious Supply Chain Design in Support of Food Security
Operations and Supply Chain Management (2010)
  • Caroline C. Krejci, University of Washington
  • Benita M. Beamon, University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Abstract
This paper seeks to design food supply chain structures that can provide food security for every person in the world while supporting long-term environmental sustainability. In particular, we provide alternatives to the current food supply chain structure and analyze their potential for providing food security, in terms of productive capacity and long-term environmental sustainability. Given the current world population and expected continued growth, our analysis suggests that environmentally-sustainable food supply chains would be most effectively supported by local and organic agriculture, while maintaining a parallel industrial agricultural system. This hybrid system would adopt environmentally-sustainable principles whenever possible, seeking to increase reliance on renewable inputs, reduce toxic outputs and maintain biodiversity. 
Keywords
  • : agriculture,
  • sustainability,
  • supply chains,
  • food production,
  • farming
Publication Date
January, 2010
Publisher Statement
Copyright 2010 Operations & Supply Chain Management
Citation Information
Caroline C. Krejci and Benita M. Beamon. "Environmentally-Conscious Supply Chain Design in Support of Food Security" Operations and Supply Chain Management Vol. 3 Iss. 1 (2010) p. 14 - 29
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/caroline_krejci/6/