Food chain security and vulnerability

Abstract

In our contemporary societies, the food chain could be defined as a macrotechnical system, which depends on a wide variety of actors and risks analysis methods. In this contribution, risks related to the food chain are defined in terms of "modern risks" (Beck 1992). The whole national economic sector of food production/distribution is vulnerable to a local accident, which can affect the functioning of food chain, the export programs and even the political system. Such a complex socio-technical environment is undoubtedly vulnerable to intentional act such as terrorism. © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2010.