Food insecurity and supply chain issues in fragile areas

Abstract This Special Issue examines how fragility and conflict affect food security outcomes by reshaping food supply chains. It collates evidence that collectively suggests global hunger arises less from insufficient production than from systemic disruptions in logistics, institutions, and the lack of coordination within fragile settings. The issue draws upon evidence from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and the contributions are organized around three analytical pillars: macro-level shocks, meso-level supply chain fragility, and micro-level adaptive responses. Studies on conflict and infrastructure failures illustrate how political instability, energy crises, and war propagate through trade and transport systems, undermining market connectivity. Midstream analyses reveal that disruptions in processing, information provision, and service provision amplify food insecurity, while micro-level case studies show how producers and firms strategize under uncertainty. Together, the findings highlight that food insecurity is a systemic outcome of disrupted coordination among actors rather than reduced agricultural output. The issue calls for strengthening institutional linkages, technological innovation, and midstream capacity building to develop and sustain resilient food systems. It offers a framework for policymakers, researchers, and agribusiness managers to improve food system resilience by strengthening markets, institutions, and adaptive capacity.