Abstract
Organic food is a growing market, there is a price premium between organic and conventional food, giving an economic motivation for organic food fraud. No scientific test can verify that a food is organic; provenance can only be completed by certification and traceability. It is unsurprising, therefore, that organic products frequently appear in lists of food at risk of fraud. The aim of this research is to determine the risk factors that increase the likelihood of organic cattle fraud, as there is limited research in this area and whether the consequences for committing organic food fraud are adequate. In addition, the research objectives are to define the UK organic cattle supply chain and to discover the main driver of organic cattle fraud.Organic cattle arena experts were interviewed, using the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) model for Supply Chain Risk and Resilience as a base. There is no Government surveillance on organic verification and limited enforcement of requirements. Consequences for fraud were found to be insufficient, failing to act as a deterrent. It was found that 80% of the organic cattle supply chain is shared with conventional supply chains, giving an opportunity for fraud. The Factors of Organic Food Fraud (FOFF) were determined, the top ones being Training, Bribery & Corruption, Logistics, Economic Stability, Climate and Location, Lack of a Definitive test, Certification, Organisational Ethos, and Procurement and Supply. To deter organic food fraudsters, it is proposed that the FOFF are reviewed by a group of experts, and the resultant assessment and mitigation suggestions made freely available. This is a novel approach and is in contrast to other resources where the user is expected to complete the assessment using only the insight and resources of the business.
| Date of Award | 26 May 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Lisa Jack (Supervisor) & Jana Ries (Supervisor) |