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Cambridge Global Food Security

An Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
 

Dr Soujanya Mantravadi, (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge) presented her research on the importance of digital technologies to urban food security and supply chains.

Coffee Break Seminars are a relaxed online learning and discussion platform for our food security community. Talks take place every Friday during term time at 2 pm, UK time. 

Please find the recording of the talk here.

Abstract:

Dr Mantravadi presented her recently published paper "How Important are Digital Technologies for Urban Food Security? A Framework for Supply Chain Integration using IoT". The paper highlights the significance of digital technologies in improving healthy food access and reducing food waste. It reviews literature on urban food supply chains and identifies digital technology intervention opportunities such as digital platforms, enterprise information systems, traceability systems, and blockchain. The research highlights the need for Industry 4.0-based solutions to improve the urban food system and provides several examples of IoT applications. The talk concludes by presenting a framework for supply chain integration that can prompt food systems thinkers to incorporate IoT principles to design resilient supply chains, capable of handling disruptions and food shortages while improving affordability.

Dr Mantravadi highlights knowledge gaps in digital food supply chains for public health suggesting interdisciplinary research opportunities and research directions for food supply chain digitalization.

References:

  1. Mantravadi, S., & Srai, J. S. (2023). How Important are Digital Technologies for Urban Food Security? A Framework for Supply Chain Integration using IoT. Procedia Computer Science, 217, 1678-1687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2022.12.368
  2. M. White, et al. (2020), What role should the commercial food system play in promoting health through better diet?, Bmj, vol. 368.
  3. G. Buyukozkan and F. Gocer. (2018) Digital Supply Chain: Literature review and a proposed framework for future research. Computers in Industry, vol. 97, pp. 157–177.
  4. De Zeeuw, H. and Drechsel, P. (2015). Cities and agriculture. Developing resilient urban food systems.
  5. Chauhan, C., et al. (2021). Food loss and waste in food supply chains. A systematic literature review and framework development approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 295, 126438.

Speaker: Dr Soujanya Mantravadi, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge Soujanya has a PhD in industrial engineering and information systems. Her research interests include supply chain operations, Industry 4.0, and digital interventions. She is currently part of the Mandala Consortium project aiming to transform urban food systems for public and planetary health, using the Birmingham case.

Date: 
Friday, 31 March, 2023 - 14:00
Event location: 
on-line