Perceived effects of Brexit and the Covid-19 epidemic on the UK lamb value chain
A qualitative interview-based study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21295092 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gael Lindsey (0009-0006-5724-6855, Newcastle University), Geoffrey O’brien (0000-0003-2016-2165, Newcastle University), Beth Clark (0000-0002-9828-6806, Newcastle University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | British Food Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-070X • E-ISSN: 1758-4108 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/bfj-07-2024-0755 |
| OpenAlex | W4406648008 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 26 |
Purpose The study aims to investigate how stakeholders in the UK farm-to-retail lamb value chain fared in the wake of Britain’s formal exit from the European Union, along with the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic. Design/methodology/approach Eight interviews were conducted with members of three separate stakeholder groups within the UK lamb value chain (farmers, meat processors and retail buyers) to ascertain the benefits and challenges faced. Interviews were transcribed and thematically coded, revealing three key “themes”: economic consequences, supply chain impacts and policy changes. Findings Farmers were positively affected by an increase in the lamb sale price, but meat processors and retail buyers were more negatively affected by changes to the export process (increased paperwork, bureaucracy challenges and border control checks) and labour shortages. All three groups complained of a perceived lack of support from Government, and of a sense of uncertainty in relation to the new UK Agricultural Policy and future international trade deals. Research limitations/implications The study relates to a limited time-envelope (November 2021–March 2022), and interview sample (2–3 members of each group). Follow-up research will be required to ascertain whether these findings prevail across the UK lamb value chain, and to help inform Government with a view to protecting vulnerable stakeholders in the sector and securing British lamb for consumers. Originality/value The research provides novel insights into the UK lamb value chain at a time of market uncertainty
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Brexit · Business · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · European union · International trade · Outbreak · Pandemic · Qualitative research · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) · Sociology · Statistics · Value (mathematics) · Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Mathematics · Medicine · Organic Food and Agriculture · Virology
Thematic analysis of qualitative research data
Brexit, Europe and othering
Covid-19 and the crisis of food insecurity in the UK
Rapid adaptive modelling for policy support towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Britain, the common agricultural policy and the challenges of membership in the European Community
The governance of global value chains
Using the ‘good farmer’ concept to explore agricultural attitudes to the provision of public goods. A case study of participants in an English agri-environment scheme
Retailer-driven agricultural restructuring—Australia, the UK and Norway in comparison
Importance of building bridging and linking social capital in adapting to changes in UK agricultural policy
Brexit
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Disrupting transitions
Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |