Skip to main content

Introduction to the global agri-food system

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing

Part of the book series: Food Engineering Series ((FSES))

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of agriculture and agri-food supply chains and the global agri-food system by highlighting some differences and particular characteristics of the sectors. A description of key players and main components of the food system is also discussed. The various players in the agri-food system face a diversity of drivers and concerns, primarily driven by consumers. This chapter also introduces the notion of “greening the supply chain.” The latter refers to the ability of players along the supply chain in the global agri-food system to meet certain levels of environmental responsibilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada. 2010. Structure and performance of the agriculture sector: Backgrounder. AAFC online at www.agr.gc.ca/. Accessed September 2010.

  • BASF. 2010. Cause of starch of potato commingling identified (press release). http://www.basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-10-421. Accessed September 24, 2010.

  • Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. 2008. Food: An analysis of the issues. Cabinet Office of the UK, London www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/stategy/assets/food/food_matters1.pdf. Accessed 14 Oct 2011.

  • Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2011. Overview of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food systems. Ottawa: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canada. Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 2008. Listeriosis outbreak. www.inspection.gc.ca/. Accessed 13 Oct 2011.

  • Canada. Statistics Canada. 2006. Census of agriculture. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association. 2010. Foodservice facts 2010. Toronto: Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M. 1992. Logistics and supply chain management: Strategies for reducing costs and improving services. London: Financial Times/Pitman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. FAOSTAT database. http://faostat.fao.org/. Accessed 20 Oct 2011.

  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Global Perspective Studies Unit. 2006. World agriculture: Towards 2030/2050: Interim report. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global perspective Studies Unit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Globerman, S., and D. Shapiro. 2002. Infrastructure politique nationale et investissement étranger direct (document de travail no.37). Industrie Canada, Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson, S., and J. Humphrey. 2009. The impacts of private food safety standards on the food chain and on public standard-setting processes. Rome: FAO/WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heying, A., and W. Sanzero. 2009. A case study of Wal-Mart’s green supply chain management. www.apicsterragrande.org/Wal-Mart%20Sustainability.pdf. Accessed October 2010.

  • International Monetary Funds. 2010. World economic outlook database. Washington, DC. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/index.aspx. Accessed October 2010.

  • Itradenetwork. 2010. Corporate news, October 20, 2010. www.itradenetwork.com/html/news_articles/corp_news_article52.htm. Accessed October 2010.

  • McCullough, E.B., P.L. Pingali, and K.G. Stamoulis. 2008. The transformation of agri-food ­systems: Globalization, supply chains and smallholder farmers. Rome/London: FAO/EarthScan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mena, C., and G. Stevens. 2010. Delivering performance in food supply chains: An introduction. In Delivering performance in food supply chains, 1st ed, ed. C. Mena and G. Stevens. London: Woodhead Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mentzer, J.T., W. de Witt, J.S. Keebler, S. Min, N.W. Nix, C.D. Smith, and Z.G. Zacharia. 2001. Defining supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics 22(2): 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nestlé. 2003. The Nestlé people development review. Zurich: Nestlé S.A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organization for Economic and Co-operation Development (OECD). 2006. Working party on agricultural policies and markets: Final report on private standards and the shaping of the agro-food system. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pingali, P. 2006. Westernization of Asian diets and the transformation of food systems: Implications for research and policy. Food Policy 32(3): 281–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plambeck, E. 2007. The Greening of Wal-Mart’s Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management Review. www.scmr.com/article/CA6457969.html. Accessed October 2010.

  • Stevens, G.C. 1989. Integrating the supply chain. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Materials Management 19(8): 3–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2001. Economic issues in agricultural biotechnology: Forces driving changes in the agricultural input industries: Plant breeding and biotechnology (AIB-762). Washington, DC: USDA, Economic Research Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Grijp, N.M., and F. den Hond. 1999. Green supply chain initiatives in the European food and retailing industry. Amsterdam: Institute for Environmental Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Braun, J. 2007. The world’s food situation: New driving forces and required actions. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wal-Mart. 2010. Global sustainability report: 2010 progress update. http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/7951.aspx. Accessed October 2010.

  • World Bank, East Asia and Pacific Region. 2005. Spread of avian flu could affect next year’s economic outlook. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). 2010. Food Safety-key themes. Paris. http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=83&L=0.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadia Gagnon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Her Majesty the Queen, in Right of Canada

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gagnon, N. (2012). Introduction to the global agri-food system. In: Boye, J., Arcand, Y. (eds) Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing. Food Engineering Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1587-9_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics