ABSTRACT
A sizeable body of research has explored the significance of trust in food supply systems with regards to consumer decisions, the relations between other actors, and in regulations. While trust issues in relation to food share many similarities to trust in other areas of life and the economy where we may encounter trust in individuals, systems or signs, there are distinct issues related to the millions of producers around the world and the billions of consumers. The perception of vulnerability, paired with the readiness to overlook this vulnerability, lies at the heart of trust, and, vulnerability has particular significance in the context of food. Food supply chains in many less developed countries are characterized by a large number of small-scale traders operating with limited access to banking and investment. In the agri-food system, such expert systems are becoming increasingly common, in the form of third-party certification bodies and quality-assurance schemes.
