Food supply and crisis management towards food security: A review through the lens of Malaysian micro-food businesses

Abstract

Micro-food businesses play a vital role in Malaysia’s economy, making it imperative to understand their dynamics concerning food supply and crisis management for business resilience. This paper delves into the critical issue of food security within the context of micro-food businesses in Malaysia, particularly how they grapple with challenges like maintaining food supply chain stability during crises. Through a narrative review, this research explores the four pillars of food security (availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability) while incorporating agency and sustainability considerations. The review also analyzes food security at general, national, and micro-food business levels, encompassing food supply and crisis management strategies. A comprehensive search was conducted on Emerald Insight, Scopus, and Google Scholar, incorporating Google searches for pertinent reports and policy documents. Drawing on existing literature and research in this field, the paper sheds light on the ongoing challenges and issues surrounding food security among micro-food businesses in Malaysia. Besides, it underscores the need for further in-depth investigations to gain a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of this sector’s intricacies. By highlighting these areas, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on food security and calls for proactive measures to address the persistent challenges faced by micro-food businesses in Malaysia, ultimately contributing to broader global food stability efforts.