Britain's food industry supply chains remain susceptible to a range of disruptive events according to a report undertaken by Cranfield University for Defra. The year-long research project, which examined the robustness of the country's food supply chains, casts a critical eye over contingency planning within the sector. It examines current provision for localized single firm disruptions & for national emergencies, including disruption to energy supplies & fuel shortages. Emergency planning has been under the spotlight since 9/11, but as New Orleans learned to its cost, serious disruptions to our way of life can come in many guises. As the findings of the year long study show, these do not have to be sudden onset events like a hurricane or terrorist attack. The report is available to download, free of charge from the website listed above.
