Introduction
In this project, I will give out some background information about food supply chain and an example about McDonald's food supply chain to show that how a good food supply chain works in sustainable ways, and this can bring people advantages like ensuring the security of the food products.
What is a sustainable food supply chain?
The UK Sustainable Development Commission (SDC; DEFRA 2002) has combined many different stakeholder views to produce an internationally applicable description of ‘sustainable food supply chains’ as those that:
(Reference from B. Gail Smith, 2007 August)
The UK Sustainable Development Commission (SDC; DEFRA 2002) has combined many different stakeholder views to produce an internationally applicable description of ‘sustainable food supply chains’ as those that:
- Produce safe, healthy products in response to market demands and ensure that all consumers have access to nutritious food and to accurate information about food products;
- Support the viability and diversity of rural and urban economies and communities;
- Enable viable livelihoods to be made from sustainable land management, both through the market and through payments for public benefits;
- Respect and operate within the biological limits of natural resources (especially soil, water and biodiversity);
- Achieve consistently high standards of environmental performance by reducing energy consumption, minimizing resource inputs and using renewable energy wherever possible;
- Ensure a safe and hygienic working environment and high social welfare and training for all employees involved in the food chain.
- Achieve consistently high standards of animal health and welfare;
- Sustain the resource available for growing food and supplying other public benefits over time, except where alternative land uses are essential to meet other needs of society.
(Reference from B. Gail Smith, 2007 August)
McDonald's works very well in its food supply chain.