1.0
Background
Over
the years, food security has been an issue of great importance as far as
Chinese health public is concerned. In
the 20th century, China faced three years of famine, and the impacts
of the drought were devastating as millions of people ended up losing their
lives due to starvation (Lu et al. 2015). Following the experience of famine,
the issue of food price, supply and availability have been of great public
health interest and the Chinese government put a priority of the food security
concept in its national agenda. The biggest threat to food security in China is
conversion of arable agricultural land into industries and urban centers (Ghose 2014). Companies engaging
in food businesses also focus a lot on their food security issues due to the
fact that this has a directly impact on their ability to generate higher
returns and profits. The food security issues are of major concern to the food
industry due to the impact that it has on the safety of food that is offered to
customers (Lu et al 2015).
In the past Chinese food companies have been
in the limelight for supplying unsafe food products resulting to the death of
many people. Therefore, food security in the Chinese food industry is an issue
of great concern due to the effect it has on ability of companies to provide
safe products and generate high returns (Guangxing and Tian 2012). The focus of most of the food
companies in the past has been in the area of enhancing food supply policies to
ensure they always have adequate food supply for their business activities. The
previous studies focus mainly on general food security issues in China, but it
is important to determine the specific measures put in place by Chinese food
companies to control and manage food security problems.
1.1
Rationale for the Study
Food
security and safety are directly correlated. The ability of companies offering
in the food industry to have a supply of sufficient food supply enhances their
ability to remain profitable and satisfy the needs of target customers in an
effective way. This means that Chinese Food Company needs to have strong
measures in place in areas of supply management with an objective of ensuring
sufficient supply of food products needed in order to prepare different types
of final product products for the final consumers (McLaughlin and Kinzelbach 2015). An effective supply
chain system in a food company ensures those products that supplied are safe
for human consumption. Therefore, the rationale for undertaking this study is
to understand ways in which Chinese food companies are managing and controlling
food security issues with an aim of enhancing food safety and profitability.
1.2
Research Objectives and Questions
The
main objective of this study will be to determine ways in which Chinese food
companies manages and control food security issues. The research questions that
will guide the research process are as follows;
(i)
What are the food securities and safety
issues that Chinese food companies are faced with in their day to day
operations?
(ii)
What are the measures that have been
put in place by the Chinese food companies in controlling and managing food
security issues?
1.4
Significance of the Study
This
study is of great importance when it comes to management of food related
business in China and around the world. The biggest challenge that many food
companies faces is lack of adequate food materials supplies and this impact
negatively on their ability to fully satisfy the needs of target customers. In
addition, food security issues create safety challenges that impact negatively
on the image and reputation of a company. Hence, the findings of the study will
provide information on some of the strategies that food companies in Chinese
and various parts of the globe can employ with an objective enhancing food
security and safety. The findings of the study will also help in enhancing the
profitability of food companies by ensuring they employ the right food supply
management practices in the future as part of enhancing their respective food
security.
1.4
Limitations of the Study
There
are various limitations associated with this research on ways in which Chinese
food companies control and manages food security issues. One of the limitations
is resources available to complete the research, especially financial resources
making it difficult to collect large sample of data with an aim of ensuring the
reliability and validity of the study findings. The second limitation is
associated with the study sample, whereby, it is small in size and this will
make the findings of the study less reliable.
2.0
Literature Review
2.1
Factors that Affect Food Supply in China
According to Lu et al (2015) there
are several factors that impacts on supply of food in the Chinese economy. One
of the major factors is related to land utilization. Lu et al (2015) notes that
the majority of land arable land in China has been converted into urban and
industrial centers and this pose a threat to supply of food to the ever growing
population. Li Xin and Yuan (2009)
point out that for purposes of addressing food productivity in a reduced a
situation where arable land has reduced due to other human activities, such as
urbanization and industrialization, there is need of making use of modern
technology in agricultural activities so as to increase farming yields.
Therefore, the ability of using arable agricultural land effectively is a major
factor that determines the amount of food supply available in the market (Lu et
al 2015).
Lu et al (2015) further indicates
that availability of water is a major factor that influences the availability
of food supply in China. The grain production in China is mainly through
irrigation as 75% of it is produced through irrigation agriculture (Lu et al,
2015). Therefore, availability of water for irrigation at a particular period
determines the amount of grain production in the country. However, climate
change is a major threat to food security in China as it affects the level of
water available for purposes of carrying out irrigation activities (Ghose 2014).
Moreover, soil determines food productivity in Chinese market (Lu et al 2015).
Soil fertility and type determines the ability of producing various types of
food products. Consequently, when soil fertility is low and cannot support
production of certain food products, the supply of the same in the market tends
to be very low (McLaughlin and Kinzelbach 2015).
Finally, shift in diet in the last
five decades is also playing a major role in determination of the supply of
food in the Chinese economy (Song et al 2017). Lu et al (2015) reveals that
most of the Chinese are moving from taking traditional foods to consuming a lot
of animal related products. As result, the diet consumption shift on the nature
of food supply in the Chinese economy.
3.2 Challenges of Food Security in the Food Industry
According to Qingjuan and Huiqiu (2011)
food resource logistics is a major challenge that threatens food security
within the Chinese market. Food logistic is a critical component when it comes
to food supply chain management, as it focuses on issues such as food
packaging, processing, packaging, storage, handling and distribution. There are
certain areas that in China which is a key to ensuring adequate supply of food
raw materials need by companies that are underdeveloped and this threaten the
ability of companies to have sufficient food supply in all areas at all times
(Ghose 2014).
Additionally, Lu et al (2015)
reveals that issue of food safety is a challenge when it comes to ensuring that
there is food security in companies that deal with food products. Most of the
food products are produced using certain herbicides and pesticides that are
dangerous for human consumption. Therefore, ensuring that one is supplied with
the safe food and at the same time enhancing adequate food supply is a
challenge (Lu et al 2015). Finally, ensuring that the supplied food products
have the appropriate nutrition is a food security challenge that many companies
face (Johnston, Fanzo and Cogill 2014).
3.3 Enhancing Food Security
According to Qingjuan and Huiqiu (2011)
food security can be assured in the food industry through employing the right
supply strategies. One of the strategies effectively being used by food
companies is that of entering into contract with farmers to supply food
products within a certain period of time. This help in enhancing food security
at all times. Also, the issue of setting quality and health standards that
should be met when supplying a company with food products is a measure that
helps in enhancing the food safety within a company involved in the food
business (Lu et al 2015).
4.0
Methodology
This
research will be qualitative in nature. Hence, various qualitative research
methods will be employed in the data collection and analysis process so as to
understand means through which Chinese food companies control and manage food
security problems. Qualitative study is concerned with the participants provide
detailed account of their attitude, experiences concerning a particular issue
of a research or problem (Creswell 2013).
4.1
Research Design
The
research design that will be employed in this study will be descriptive design.
According to Creswell (2012) descriptive research design is where the
participants provide accurate information depicting their experience concerning
the subject of the study. Given that qualitative study is being undertaken
descriptive study design fits well within this research. Thus, the design
employed will help in ensuring that accurate data is collected describing some
of the strategies employed by food companies in China in controlling and
managing food security challenges.
4.2
Sample Size and Sampling Method
A
sample of 20 participants will be selected for this research. The study target
population will be senior managers of Chinese food companies. The managers are
in a better position to explain some of the strategic measures employed by
their respective companies in ensuring there they address various food security
challenges faced during the course of doing business.
On
the other hand, the purposive sampling technique will be employed in the study.
The purposive sampling involves selecting a set of participants with certain
characteristics (Merriam and
Tisdell 2015). The nature of participants expected to take part in this study
is those who work in the food companies in China and hold senior management
positions. Therefore, random or probabilistic sampling approaches cannot fit in
this study.
4.3 Data Collection Method
The data collection approach that
will be used in this study is telephone related interview. The interview
approach is where a participant is asked certain question and provides answers to
them (Creswell 2012). The interview as data collection approach has been chosen
for thus study as it is flexible in nature allowing for the participant or
researcher to make certain clarification during the question and answer
session, which not possible using questionnaire approach. The main disadvantage
associated with this approach is that is time consuming and expensive to
implement when compared to questionnaire approach (Maxwell 2012).
4. 4 Data Analysis
Descriptive data analysis techniques
will be employed in the case of this research. Tables will be used to summarize
the study findings. On the other hand, descriptions will be used with an
objective of explaining the strategies that are employed by Chinese companies
in managing and controlling food security challenges as well as their
effectiveness.
4.5 Ethical Issues
In this study various ethical issues
will be experienced. One of the issues is associated with research integrity
and honesty. For purposes of ensuring integrity and honesty is maintained in
the study, the data will be presented the way is collected from the field or
secondary sources without any form of manipulation (Creswell 2013). Informed
consent will also be observed, where the participants will be required to
participate in the study after understanding the purpose and their rights.
Lastly, the issue of copyright will be observed by ensuring all information
obtained from secondary sources will be properly cited.
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