WP9 Social Science - The impact of disruption on the UK food system

Calling off from C425727 Research: Social Science Call-Off.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is commissioning a rapid evidence review to examine how recent and ongoing disruptions to the UK food system have affected food system actors and structural aspects of the food system, and to assess the potential implications for the FSA's areas of responsibility.

The review will consider evidence relating to disruptions including, but not limited to, the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical events, trade route disruption, and longer-term pressures such as climate change. It will assess impacts on food businesses, consumers, supply chains, and other relevant stakeholders, alongside implications for food safety, food authenticity, consumer interests and food crime.

The findings will provide the FSA with an improved understanding of the existing evidence base on food system disruption, support future resilience planning and recovery activities, and identify evidence gaps where further research may be required.