Consumer-centred viable agri-food supply chain ecosystem and potential digital enhancements : an exploratory study

![CDATA[The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions, especially in sourcing fresh agri-produce, leading to many agri-food supply chain (ASC) adaptations to ensure sufficient food for people. We studied these adaptations in Sri Lanka, which faced a prolonged disruption due to COVID-19 followed by an economic crisis, to understand how to ensure food availability during a long-term disruption. The various adaptation methods have helped the people source sufficient food during these two back-to-back disruptions that lasted for over two years. The study unveils regional disparity in disruption impact, with urban areas enduring the most severe consequences. The analysis reveals previously unconnected forms of physical and digital channels transforming into a symbiotic existence to ensure consumer demand for agri-food. This was enabled by digital information flow, empowering ASC stakeholders to adapt dynamically to suit disruptive conditions. From the insights gained, we propose a digitally enabled framework for creating viable ASCs.]]