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Increasing Resilience of the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable System to Water-Related Risks

Author

Listed:
  • Monika Zurek

    (Food System Transformation Group, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • George Garbutt

    (Food System Transformation Group, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Theresa Lieb

    (Food System Transformation Group, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Tim Hess

    (Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK)

  • John Ingram

    (Food System Transformation Group, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

Abstract

The many economic, regulatory and environmental pressures on growing, processing, distributing and retailing UK-produced fresh fruit and vegetables (FF&V) are managed by a complex set of actors before reaching the consumer. Much of this production takes place in the driest parts of the country which are characterised as “water scarce”. While physical risk is a key component of water-related risks to growers, different actors in the system face other types of risk, such as supply chain risks, food safety risks, reputational risks and/or regulatory risks. In this paper we reveal how different types of actors in the UK FF&V system perceive and frame water-related risks, what risk management strategies they employ and how they envision a FF&V system more resilient to water-related risks. Using interviews with actors from across the system, as well as governmental and nongovernmental actors influencing the system, we unpack the complex nature of the FF&V system. This provides insights into the different ways system actors assemble around water-risk and highlights that, if resilience-building activities at the individual actor level are not coordinated, there is a high risk that they are undermining overall system resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Zurek & George Garbutt & Theresa Lieb & Tim Hess & John Ingram, 2020. "Increasing Resilience of the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable System to Water-Related Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7519-:d:412455
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Monika Zurek & Aniek Hebinck & Adrian Leip & Joost Vervoort & Marijke Kuiper & Maria Garrone & Petr Havlík & Thomas Heckelei & Sara Hornborg & John Ingram & Anneleen Kuijsten & Lindsay Shutes & Johann, 2018. "Assessing Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security of the EU Food System—An Integrated Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Hess, Tim & Andersson, Ulrika & Mena, Carlos & Williams, Adrian, 2015. "The impact of healthier dietary scenarios on the global blue water scarcity footprint of food consumption in the UK," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-10.
    3. Helfgott, Ariella, 2018. "Operationalising systemic resilience," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 852-864.
    4. Tim Hess & Chloe Sutcliffe, 2018. "The exposure of a fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain to global water-related risks," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 746-761, August.
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