Mapping a food donation supply chain and the implications for social policies in Brazil
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 24 October 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic raised global alarms about hunger and food insecurity worldwide and the corresponding need for public policies, particularly in emerging countries. One possible solution for addressing this important topic is a food donation supply chain, which comprises food banks and involves their relationships with suppliers (donors), customers (people in need) and other potential stakeholders. The aim of this research is to understand how different agents in a food donation supply chain use different but interrelated capital dimensions (human, structural and relational) to leverage their resources and build knowledge in their relationships with other stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
We conducted an abductive single case study with the food bank as a focal organisation in a direct supply chain. Data were collected by way of 15 semi-structured interviews with representatives from each tier in the chain (food bank, donor, social impact company and social movement), non-participant observation and secondary data (e.g. codes of practice, websites and media). All data sources were analysed individually and then cross-checked.
Findings
Our findings show that tangible dimensions, such as those that are structural, are present upstream while intangible dimensions – those that are relational and human, for example – are prevalent downstream. The political dimension was identified as an important mechanism that allows stakeholder engagement and access to resources, funding and government incentives.
Originality/value
By applying a multi-tier approach, the present research explores how different stages in this supply chain use intellectual capital (IC) to better manage relationships. The heterogeneity of agents within the food donation supply chain (public, private and third sector), each of which has distinct levels of IC dimensions, can share their knowledge to improve efficiency and social protection mechanism policies. Since the focal organisation is a non-profit organisation, this study also contributes to IC theory.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We also thank and recognise the support of grant São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) as part of the research project 2021/07342-0 – COVID, which provided financial funding to data collection and scholarship grant (2022/05555-0). The opinions, hypotheses, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this material are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAPESP. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of PhD student Isis Domingues in the initial part of this research project.
Citation
Vieira, L.M., Miguel, P.L.d.S. and de Moraes, C.C. (2024), "Mapping a food donation supply chain and the implications for social policies in Brazil", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2024-0132
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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