Is Mechanization Causing Food Delays? The Reduction in Workforce Led to a Halt in Logistics: The Food Supply Chain Crisis in the AI Era

Is Mechanization Causing Food Delays? The Reduction in Workforce Led to a Halt in Logistics: The Food Supply Chain Crisis in the AI Era

Even When the Shelves Are "Full," the Flow Can Stop

On a weekend shopping trip, you might see piles of fruit and chilled meat cases. Everything looks normal—but what if the flow of food is connected by a thin thread behind the scenes? Today, the conditions for food movement are not just about refrigerator temperatures or truck fuel. Being "present" in a database, "registered" on a platform, and "verified" by an automated approval system have become the de facto passports for movement.


Without this "passport," food cannot move even if it's right in front of you. If the digital system cannot confirm the shipment, the cargo is not released, uninsured, unsold, and legally cannot be distributed. In other words, food that is "invisible" on the screen becomes "unusable" on the ground.


The "Approval Traffic Jam" Created by Automation

The tricky part here is that the stoppage isn't due to a lack of food. There is stock in the warehouse. Trucks are ready to move. There is space in the store. Yet, without an approval code, with a broken manifest, or a failed verification, the cargo is left "hanging."


This situation is not a traffic jam on the road but a "decision-making jam." When decision-making shifts from humans to systems, and those systems are opaque or not designed for exceptions, no one can move forward the moment they stop.


Cyber Attacks Can Win Without Cutting the "Power to the Fridge"

When we think of threats to food infrastructure, we often imagine power outages, disasters, or fuel shortages. However, in recent years, there have been reports of cyberattacks and IT failures paralyzing delivery and order processing even when physical stock is available.

 
For instance, in 2025, it was reported that United Natural Foods, a major distributor for Whole Foods, experienced operational disruptions due to a cyber incident.

 
Additionally, there have been cases in the UK where cyberattacks on major retailers affected deliveries.


For attackers, the goal is not to "spoil the food" but to create a situation where food cannot be legally moved. The target is not the refrigerator but the approval circuit.


The Paradox of "The Fewer People, the Harder the Recovery"

Under the banner of efficiency, manual procedures are seen as "costs" and gradually phased out. The problem is that when procedures disappear, so does training. An emergency exit that no one uses is one that no one knows how to open in a crisis.


The article outlines a typical scenario when a disruption occurs.


When the approval system freezes, trucks are loaded but no release code is issued. Drivers wait, and food cannot be moved even though it's available. This disconnect between digital records and physical reality leads to chaos that can expand over several days. After about 72 hours, human intervention becomes essential, but paper procedures have been removed, and staff are untrained—this is the situation.


This is compounded by a shortage of manpower. The lack of personnel and skills in transportation, warehousing, and inspection weakens the ability to "restart the flow" even if digital systems are restored.


It's Not a "Supply Shortage" but Also a "Governance Issue"

Food security is often discussed in terms of "how much can be produced" or "how much can be imported." However, there is another bottleneck: "authorization."


If the manifest is damaged and verification fails, the shipment is not released. Supply exists but cannot be distributed.


The question here is not the pros and cons of AI and automation, but the governance of data and decision-making. Who makes the rules, who monitors them, who explains them, and who can stop or override them in an emergency?


AI Is Not the Villain. The Issue Is Whether "Humans Are in the Loop"

AI has certainly been useful in demand forecasting, crop optimization, optimal inventory distribution, and early warning systems. Precision agriculture and predictive systems can reduce losses and improve yields.

 
That's why it's important to focus not on "whether to use it or not," but on "who is overseeing it."


The proposed direction is clear.

  • Designs where humans can intervene (Human-in-the-Loop)

  • Regular implementation of manual switches, training, and drills during disruptions

  • Transparency and auditability of algorithms involved in logistics distribution and approval

  • Avoiding "public safety being sidelined" due to commercial confidentiality

  • Empowering communities and producers to take the lead in data and insights


This is not a story of future science fiction. The phenomenon of having food in warehouses but being inaccessible or "ignored" is already pointed out as an explainable risk.


What Happens When Applied to Japan?

In Japan, logistics are also digitally connected in ordering, inspection, dispatch, temperature control, payment, and traceability, with more situations prioritizing "screen accuracy" over on-site wisdom. Moreover, many operate on a just-in-time basis, with little buffer.


If a widespread disruption or large-scale cyber incident occurs and "approval" stops, what might happen is not "empty shelves" but "stopped trucks." Stores may appear to lack inventory, but in reality, it is stalled just before the ports or warehouses—an invisible crisis.


SNS Reactions (Reconstructed Summary and Atmosphere)

※The following are examples of reactions based on anticipated discussion points from the article (reconstructed to show tendencies of agreement or disagreement).

  • "It's terrifying that food 'doesn't exist if it's not visible in data.' What do you mean it's there but can't be sold?"

  • "The result of discarding paper for efficiency is getting stuck in emergencies. Backups are not a waste."

  • "It's not AI's fault; it's the problem of organizations that 'can't stop AI.'"

  • "Cyberattacks can stop logistics without breaking the fridge..."

  • "The reality and inventory system diverging in 72 hours is similar to experiences during disasters."

  • "In the end, labor shortages have the final impact. Recovery is about 'human skills.'"

  • "Algorithms without transparency determining distribution apply not only to food but also to healthcare."

  • "We need rule designs that prioritize public safety over corporate secrets."

Checklist for Creating "Digitally Strong Food"

Rather than inciting crisis, we want to focus on preparedness. Here are five key points.

  1. "Retain" manual flows for when approval stops

  2. "Train" those manual flows (assuming people will change)

  3. Make important decisions explainable and auditable

  4. Inventory where the single points of failure are in the supply chain (logistics IT, authentication, EDI, payment, etc.)

  5. Include "recovery speed" as a KPI, not just efficiency


The stability of food is not determined solely by farms or fisheries. Our dining tables are also connected to server rooms and approval screens. The issue is not whether "digital breaks," but whether the design allows humans to restore it when it does.


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