Category: The Conversation

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robert Dover, Professor of Intelligence and National Security & Dean of Faculty, University of Hull

For obvious reasons, the secretive world of intelligence agencies and the people who revolve in its orbit remains opaque. So much so, that some of those people may not even be aware of any involvement in the secret world.

The Epstein papers have thrown up speculation about whether the late financier and sex offender might have performed services for one or another of the big intelligence agencies. And in the wake of that speculation, it has been noted that the father of Epstein’s one-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was the late Robert Maxwell, well-known as a larger than life publisher and newspaper proprietor in the UK from the 1950s to the early 90s. He, too, was the subject of much speculation that he might have been involved in intelligence work.

Epstein is now better known for his sex trafficking network and Maxwell for stealing from his employees’ pension funds. But their examples point to how intelligence, high finance and influence work.

Generally speaking there are three main classes of people involved in state intelligence gathering. “Officers” are full-time employees of state intelligence agencies such as MI6. They run their groups of “agents”, who are not formally employed by the state but who deliberately and knowingly gather intelligence and perform tasks for intelligence officers. And there are what is known as “intelligencers” (or sometimes assets) who may not even know they are providing information to a spy agency.

The currency of human intelligence is access, knowledge and often the ability to compromise officials and influential people.

We often think that intelligence agencies and their agent runners seek to directly recruit people with the access and motivation to pass on state secrets. While this is undeniably the case – and the examples of the American Aldrich Ames and the Briton Melita Norwood provide good evidence of this – intelligence agencies are equally interested in recruiting what’s known as “access agents”.

Access agents

The value of an access agent is not the secrets they have access to, but the social and professional access they provide to people who do. People in high-end society, scientific research, banking, politics and culture make excellent targets for access agents. And from an agency’s point of view, the best thing is that these agents are deniable and under the radar.

Intelligence officers and their operatives require funding, mobility and a credible back story (known as a legend). Businessmen like Robert Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein had plenty of all three, making them excellent candidates to theoretically serve the needs of intelligence agencies.

But rather than indulging in speculation about Epstein and Maxwell, which is unlikely ever to be conclusively confirmed or denied, it’s more instructive to look at what we know about access agents. They are often business people, sometimes academics or journalists with a reason to travel and the opportunity to meet people in influential circles in the course of their legitimate business.

It’s worth remembering that Kim Philby, the most notorious of the Cambridge spy ring, cut his teeth as a reporter in Spain during the civil war, before embarking on a career as an MI6 officer (and Soviet double agent). Australian journalist, Richard Hughes – who appeared lightly disguised in novels by Ian Fleming and John le Carre – was believed by many to be an agent for British intelligence, working in southeast Asia during the upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s.

Perhaps the most famous businessman-agent was Cyril Bertram Mills who combined being the director of the Bertram Mills Circus with a four-decade career spanning the years before and after the second world war with British intelligence. Travelling widely in Europe, ostensibly to seek out circus acts, he provided his spymasters with evidence of German rearmament in the 1930s. He also recruited Garbo, one of the most successful double agents, who was instrumental in convincing Germany that the D-Day landings would be in Calais, not Normandy.

An access agent is trained “to be the friend the informant doesn’t have”. They can provide what their contact needs and cannot get hold of: whether that’s useful inside information of some kind, an introduction to someone important, a sexual partner or finance for one of their ventures.

MI5 is quite open about this on its website: “Agents operate by exploiting trusted relationships and positions to obtain sensitive information. They may also look for vulnerabilities among those handling secrets.

Secrets and lies

Determining truth in intelligence is complicated. Very rarely do we see a single piece of incontrovertible evidence that proves someone’s intelligence status or the ethics or efficacy of their actions. But then as we know, all of this is shrouded in secrecy and supposition.

In Maxwell’s case, historical scholarship and TV documentaries have provided unverified hints. In Epstein’s we have indicators such as the claim by former US attorney, Alexander Acosta that he was told Epstein “belonged to intelligence”, when he negotiated his plea deal. But it’s unlikely we’ll ever know the truth about either.

Robert Dover does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. A whiff of espionage around the Epstein files points to how intelligence and influence interact – https://theconversation.com/a-whiff-of-espionage-around-the-epstein-files-points-to-how-intelligence-and-influence-interact-275344

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amalendu Misra, Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University

Panama’s supreme court invalidated a contract in late January that had allowed Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison, to operate two ports on the Panama canal since 1997.

The decision, which ruled that the laws allowing the firm to operate the ports were “unconstitutional”, comes one year after the US president, Donald Trump, threatened to take control of the canal to limit Chinese influence over the waterway.

Beijing reacted to the ruling angrily, calling the judgment “absurd, shameful and pathetic”. It also said the Panamanian government will pay “a heavy political and economic price” for evicting the company from the ports. The ruling is the latest sign that China’s ambitions in the region are losing momentum.

Chinese influence in Latin America is a relatively recent phenomenon. Since 1823, when President James Monroe declared the western hemisphere closed to further European colonisation, the US has largely maintained strict control over the region’s affairs.

But that changed after the end of the cold war in 1991, with successive US administrations reducing their focus on Latin America. This allowed emerging superpowers such as China to assert their influence in the region.

China is now the top trading partner for South America and is becoming the largest for Latin America as a whole. It is also a major source of foreign direct investment and infrastructure lending for the region.

Chinese influence in what the US considers its own backyard has irked the Trump administration. Shortly after the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, declared: “This is the western hemisphere. This is where we live – and we’re not going to allow the western hemisphere to be a base of operations for adversaries, competitors and rivals of the United States.”

The eviction of Panama Ports Company from the Panama canal will have been celebrated as a victory in Washington, which is looking to promote its own national interests in the region. But it is also possible that the incident could prompt countries throughout Latin America to address their reliance on China.

Over the past two decades, China has swamped countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with loans. However, unlike loans from the World Bank or International Monetary Fund that are contingent on structural and institutional reforms, Chinese loans come with few conditions attached. China generally requires governments to guarantee repayment through the future export of commodities such as oil.

At the same time, Chinese investments generally bring low environmental and labour standards. In a 2023 analysis of 14 Chinese mining, hydroelectric, fossil fuel, infrastructure and agriculture projects in Latin America, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights identified patterns of serious rights abuses. These included abuses against the rights of Indigenous people, as well as the rights to health, a healthy environment, water, food and housing.

Chinese investments also tend to focus on areas that give Beijing control over a country’s critical infrastructure. For example, China controls a majority stake in the strategically important Chancay port in western Peru and Chinese firms now control approximately two-thirds of Chile’s energy distribution. Under these circumstances, reducing reliance on China is probably in the interests of many Latin American countries.

In February 2025, Panama became the first country in the region to withdraw from China’s global infrastructure and investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative. The announcement followed a visit by Rubio, drawing criticism from Chinese officials over what they saw as US attempts to “deliberately sow discord” between China and Panama.

At a press conference, the Panamanian president, José Raúl Mulino, said: “I do not know what was the intention of those who signed this agreement with China. What has it brought to Panama all these years? What are the great things that this Belt and Road Initiative has brought to the country?”

China’s choices

China itself already appears to be deprioritising Latin America as an investment destination, largely due to the region’s mediocre growth trajectory and frequent delays to loan repayments. It has scaled back on sovereign loans since 2020, while Chinese investment in large-scale Latin American infrastructure projects has reduced in recent years.

And it may be in China’s interests to accelerate this trend. The US capture of Maduro demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to induce dramatic changes in the Latin American political environment. These changes may undermine China’s ability to extract unpaid debts from governments in the region.

For example, analysts suggest there is a risk that the new Venezuelan government will attempt to challenge the legitimacy of the roughly US$10 billion (£7.3 billion) of debt it owes to China under a legal doctrine known as “odious debt”. This arises when a government argues that debt incurred by a previous regime did not benefit the nation and is therefore unenforceable.

The future ownership of the two ports previously operated by Panama Ports Company is unclear. The firm has announced it is launching international arbitration proceedings against Panama over the contract ruling, a process that is likely to last years. But it appears the high noon of Chinese economic domination in Latin America may well be over.

Amalendu Misra is a recipient of British Academy and Nuffield Foundation fellowships.

– ref. China is losing ground in Latin America – https://theconversation.com/china-is-losing-ground-in-latin-america-275346

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

When the days shorten and the sun sinks low in the sky, that familiar winter slump sets in. There’s a fundamental reason for this seasonal fatigue: low levels of vitamin D – the “sunshine vitamin”.

People in the UK simply can’t make enough of this vital nutrient from sunlight during winter, which is why many are advised to take a supplement.

So, what is vitamin D, why does it matter, and how much do you really need?

Why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means it’s absorbed with other fats in our diet, and stored in the body’s liver and fatty tissue.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the gut and regulates calcium and phosphate levels. These minerals are crucial for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

Vitamin D plays a key role in bone development and in the continuous renewal of bone tissue. Without enough vitamin D, adults can develop osteomalacia (soft bones) and children can develop rickets (a bone deformity, often characterised by bowed legs).

Vitamin D supplementation, in conjunction with calcium, helps maintain bone mineral density and has been shown in trials to reduce fracture risk in people with osteoporosis.

Many tissues in the body have receptors that respond to vitamin D, as well. This means vitamin D can also affect neuromuscular function by helping us maintain muscle strength.

Low vitamin D levels have also been associated with a higher risk of several health problems, including cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure. However, it’s uncertain whether low vitamin D directly contributes to cardiovascular disease or is simply a reflection of overall poor health in people with chronic conditions.

Although the evidence is mixed, some studies suggest vitamin D may help boost the immune system, too. Some studies suggest that the severity of respiratory infections (such as flu or COVID) may be reduced if you regularly take a vitamin D supplement.

Low vitamin D levels have also been linked to multiple sclerosis. In addition, research suggests that vitamin D may help regulate mood – particularly among people with depression or those who are vitamin D deficient. The studies aren’t definitive, though.

Where do we get vitamin D from?

Unlike other vitamins, which we obtain through diet, vitamin D is made when the skin is exposed to sunlight.

In the UK, around 80-90% of the vitamin D we need comes from the sunlight we’re exposed to. Between late March and September, the sun is usually strong enough that most people produce the vitamin D they need naturally.

But from October to early March, the UK’s sun isn’t strong enough for the skin to synthesise vitamin D – even on bright days. This is why it’s recommended everyone should consider taking a daily supplement during the colder months to maintain optimum levels. This becomes even more important as people spend more time indoors during winter.

Some food sources do in fact contain vitamin D – including oily fish (such as salmon or sardines), red meat, egg yolks and fortified cereals. However, only a small proportion (roughly 10–20%) of our vitamin D levels are obtained through diet.

How much vitamin D should I take?

Adults and children over four years old should take 10 micrograms (400IU) of vitamin D per day during the autumn and winter.

Babies under one should be given 8.5-10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if they are breastfed or partly breastfed. Infants are born with limited vitamin D stores, which are primarily transferred from the mother. While infants can produce vitamin D through sunlight exposure, this is often minimal due to sun protection measures. This is why a supplement is recommended.

Because formula is already fortified with vitamin D, only babies who drink less than 500ml of formula a day should be given a supplement.

Although 10 microgram supplements are sufficient, products up to 25 micrograms (1,000IU) are considered safe for general use.

Vitamin D comes in two main forms: D₂ (ergocalciferol) and D₃ (cholecalciferol). Although they differ slightly in chemical structure, both are well absorbed in the small intestine. However, some research shows vitamin D₃ is generally more effective at increasing and sustaining vitamin D levels in the body.

Some people may need to take a vitamin D supplement all year round. This includes people with darker skin tones, such as those of African, African-Caribbean or south Asian heritage, whose higher melanin levels act as a natural sunscreen, reducing how efficiently they synthesise vitamin D from sunlight. People who cover their skin for cultural or medical reasons, or who are housebound or indoors for long periods, will also have less exposure to sunlight and may require a supplement.

Adults over 65 should also consider year-round supplementation. This is because the way the body produces and processes vitamin D changes as we age.

Can you take too much?

It’s important you do not take more than the recommended standard dose. Taking more than recommended is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Higher doses should only be taken under medical supervision for a confirmed deficiency.

Very high intakes (more than 100 micrograms daily) taken over a long time can lead to excessive calcium levels in the body – causing weakened bones and potential kidney and heart problems. Because vitamin D stays in your body for a long time (about two months), symptoms of an overdose can last for several weeks.

You can’t get too much vitamin D from sunlight alone, but it’s still important to protect your skin to reduce the risk of sun damage and skin cancer.

During a British winter, vitamin D is one of the simplest tools we have to support our overall health. With limited sunlight, a small daily supplement offers a reliable way to keep bones and muscles in good working order through the darker months.

Dipa Kamdar does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Vitamin D: everything you need to know about this supplement – from when to take it, to how much you really need – https://theconversation.com/vitamin-d-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-supplement-from-when-to-take-it-to-how-much-you-really-need-274754

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Cambridge

Menopause is a key period in a woman’s life. This transition is often accompanied by wide-ranging physical and psychological symptoms — some of which can be debilitating and affect daily life. Menopause has also been linked to cognitive problems — such as memory, attention and language deficits.

To mitigate the effects of menopause — including hot flashes, depressive symptoms and sleep problems — many women turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In England, an estimated 15% of women are prescribed HRT for menopause symptoms. In Europe, this number is even higher – varying between 18% in Spain to 55% in France.

But there’s limited understanding of the effects of menopause and subsequent HRT use on the brain, cognition and mental health. To address this, we analysed data from nearly 125,000 women from the UK Biobank (a large database containing genetic and health data from about 500,000 people).

We placed participants into three groups: pre-menopausal, post-menopausal and post-menopausal with HRT. The average age of menopause was around 49 years old. Women who used HRT typically began treatment around the same age.

In short, we found that menopause was associated with poorer sleep, increased mental health problems and even changes within the brain itself.

Post-menopausal women were more likely than pre-menopausal women to report symptoms of anxiety and depression. They were also more likely to seek help from a GP or psychiatrist and to be prescribed antidepressants.

Sleep disturbances were more common after menopause, as well. Post-menopausal women reported higher rates of insomnia, shorter sleep duration and increased fatigue.

Brain imaging analyses also revealed significant reductions in grey matter volume following menopause. Grey matter is an important component of the central nervous system which is composed mainly of brain cells. These reductions were most pronounced in regions critical for learning and memory (namely the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex) and areas key in emotional regulation and attention (termed the anterior cingulate cortex).

Notably, the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex are among the earliest affected in Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

The changes we observed in our study could suggest that menopause-related brain changes may contribute to increased vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This could help explain why there’s a higher prevalence of dementia observed in women.

We also investigated whether taking HRT post-menopause had any effect on health outcomes. Notably, HRT did not improve the reduction in brain grey matter.

In addition, we found that women using HRT showed higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to post-menopausal women who had never used HRT. However, further analyses indicated that these differences were already present. This suggested that pre-existing mental health problems may have influenced the decision to begin using HRT rather than these symptoms being caused by the medication itself.

One potential benefit of HRT use was noted in cognitive performance – particularly for psychomotor speed. Psychomotor slowing is a hallmark feature of ageing.

Post-menopausal women who had never used HRT showed slower reaction times compared with both pre-menopausal women and post-menopausal women who had used HRT. This indicates that HRT helps to slow the menopause-related declines in psychomotor speed.

HRT and menopause

There’s still much we don’t know about HRT – and more evidence on its benefits and risks are still needed.

Some studies report that those taking HRT have an increased dementia risk, while others suggest a decreased risk of dementia.

More research is also needed to understand the effects of HRT and how the different routes and dosages affect menopause symptoms. But according to one UK Biobank study of 538 women, the effects don’t appear to differ – regardless of factors such as the formulation, route of administration and duration of use.

Importantly, however, it’s difficult to establish whether women are actually receiving an effective dose. One in four women using the highest licensed dose of HRT still had low levels of estradiol (oestrogen) – around 200 picomoles per litre. Older women and HRT patch users were more likely to have lower levels.

Optimal plasma levels to relieve menopause symptoms are between 220-550 picomoles per litre. This means that for 25% of the women in the study, HRT would not have had optimal benefit for menopause symptoms.

Considering that most women go through the menopause, it’s important to resolve the question of whether HRT is beneficial – including preventing brain grey matter volume reductions and reducing the risk of dementia. It will also be important to know what the best dose and route of administration are.

There is evidence to suggest healthy lifestyle habits may mitigate these menopause-related changes in brain health.

Our work and that of other research groups shows that a number of lifestyle habits can improve brain health, cognition and wellbeing, thereby reducing the risk of cognitive decline associated with ageing and dementia. This includes regular exercise, engaging in cognitively challenging activities (such as learning a new language or playing chess), having a nutritious and balanced diet, getting the right amount of good-quality sleep and having strong social connections.

Research also shows regular physical activity can increase the size of the hippocampus, which may help mitigate some of the menopause-related reductions observed in this region.

Sleep is also critically important as it supports the consolidation of memories and helps clear toxic waste byproducts from the brain – processes that are essential for memory, brain health and immune function.

Having a healthy lifestyle may offer an accessible and effective strategy to promote brain health, cognitive reserve and resilience to stress during and after the menopause transition.

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and the Lundbeck Foundation. Her research work is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes. She receives Royalties from Cambridge University Press for Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life.

Christelle Langley receives funding from the Wellcome Trust. Her research work is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes. She receives royalties from Cambridge University Press for Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life.

– ref. Menopause: our study revealed how it affects the brain, cognition and mental health – https://theconversation.com/menopause-our-study-revealed-how-it-affects-the-brain-cognition-and-mental-health-275329

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jordan Magnuson, Senior Lecturer in Games and Media Art, University of Southampton

Exchanging poems on Valentine’s Day is a long-standing tradition. But poetry doesn’t have to be bound to the page. This February 14, why not try sharing a game poem instead?

Game poems are tiny video games made as a form of poetic expression. They generally only take a few minutes to play and tend to challenge our expectations of what video games are for. Rather than entertaining players with points, competition, or spectacle, they aim to capture a feeling, a thought, or a fleeting moment.

It can seem strange, at first, to consider games as a form of poetry. We often associate video games with speed and large-scale entertainment, while we tend to associate poetry with slowness, intimacy and attention. But games are not bound to the conventions that dominate their mainstream forms.

Game poems show how video games can be used to explore interior life, relationships, and emotional nuance and offer a reminder that creative impact doesn’t always require length or complexity. Sometimes, five minutes is enough.

I’ve been making short video games as a form of poetic expression for over 15 years, and recently launched a playable online magazine dedicated to this sort of work.

If that all of that sounds abstract, the best way to understand what these games are about is simply to play one. Here are five short game poems, all playable in a web browser, that explore themes of love, intimacy, longing and separation – perfect for Valentine’s Day, whether you’re playing on your own, or with a special someone.

1. On Second Thought by Tereza Kotěšovcová

Estimated play time: less than five minutes | Gaming skills required: none

On Second Thought contains no text at all. Instead, it unfolds through simple images, rhythm and the repetition of a single button press. The game centres on a familiar emotional moment: the hesitation that comes with making the first move in a relationship.

As you interact, a seemingly quiet encounter is juxtaposed with the inner tumult that can often seize our imaginations at such moments. In the words of the artist: “You hesitate. You imagine the worst. Miss your moment, and the world will stutter: a coffee spills, a sun is eclipsed, a temple crumbles. You start again.”

Like a lyric poem, the game is less interested in explaining this experience than in letting you sit inside it.

2. Queers in Love at the End of the World by Anna Anthropy

Estimated play time: ten seconds (replays recommended) | Gaming skills required: none

Queers in Love at the End of the World lasts exactly ten seconds.

You and your lover are about to witness the end of the world. In that brief span of time, you can choose how to act: kiss, hold hands, try to say something meaningful – or hesitate and watch the moment pass.

The time limit is a merciless and potent constraint. There is no way to do everything, and no way to “win”. Each play-through becomes a small act of acceptance: whatever you chose, that was enough. Like a powerful short poem, the game lands with emotional force precisely because it ends so quickly.

3. Loneliness by Jordan Magnuson

Estimated play time: less than five minutes | Gaming skills required: none

Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time for people who are feeling isolated, and this game poem doesn’t shy away from that.

Loneliness is an abstract exploration game that I created where the only available input is movement. Explore a flat landscape populated by squares that engage in social interaction represented through patterns of their own simple movement. Do you avoid them or choose to approach? And what about the next group?

Is the way the others react to you real, imagined or remembered? The game leaves that question open, inviting reflection instead of offering answers. The familiar video game convention of exploring a landscape becomes a metaphor for navigating social and emotional distance.

4. The Love Letter by Alex Snyder

Estimated play time: five to ten minutes | Gaming skills required: some

Not all game poems are sombre. The Love Letter is playful, awkward and sweet.

You’re a student at school. A note with a heart appears in your locker. The problem is finding a quiet place to read it while navigating busy hallways and crowds of classmates.

This game poem borrows the language of classic arcade challenges – movement, timing, obstacles – but repurposes them to express something small and personal: the anxious thrill of teenage romance. It feels like a Valentine’s card rendered in playable form.

5. How to Walk Out the Door by Anton Patsi

Estimated play time: five to ten minutes | Gaming skills required: None. But fast typing skills will help.

And for the Valentine’s Day sceptics, something completely different. A game about breaking up. Ending a relationship can be harder than starting one. How to Walk Out the Door turns that difficulty into an intense 20-second loop.

Each round plays out under extreme time pressure and revolves around an unusual game mechanic: typing. With each attempt to leave, you can get a little further – or falter – before time resets and you’re forced to begin again.

The repetition is the point. The game uses rhythm and constraint to convey emotional exhaustion in a way that words alone might struggle to match.

Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

Jordan Magnuson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. These five short video games work like poems – and they’re ideal for Valentine’s Day – https://theconversation.com/these-five-short-video-games-work-like-poems-and-theyre-ideal-for-valentines-day-275148

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mohammed F. Alzuhair, Candidate for a doctorate in business administration., Durham University

Supermarket shelves can look full despite the food systems underneath them being under strain. Fruit may be stacked neatly, chilled meat may be in place. It appears that supply chains are functioning well. But appearances can be deceiving.

Today, food moves through supply chains because it is recognised by databases, platforms and automated approval systems. If a digital system cannot confirm a shipment, the food cannot be released, insured, sold, or legally distributed. In practical terms, food that cannot be “seen” digitally becomes unusable.

This affects the resilience of the UK food system , and is increasingly identified as a critical vulnerability.

Look at the consequences, for example, when recent cyberattacks on grocery and food distribution networks disrupted operations at multiple major US grocery chains. This took online ordering and other digital systems down and delayed deliveries even though physical stocks were available.

Part of the problem here is that key decisions are made by automated or opaque systems that cannot be easily explained or challenged. Manual backups are also being removed in the name of efficiency.

Read more:
The UK’s food supply is more fragile than you might think – here’s why it should be a national priority

This digital shift is happening around the world, in supermarkets and in farming, and has delivered efficiency gains, but it has also intensified structural pressures across logistics and transport, particularly in supply chains which are set up to deliver at the last minute.

Using AI

AI and data-driven systems now shape decisions across agriculture and food delivery. They are used to forecast demand, optimise planting, prioritise shipments, and manage inventories. Official reviews of the use of AI across production, processing, and distribution show that these tools are now embedded across most stages of the UK food system. But there are risks.

When decisions about food allocation cannot be explained or reviewed, authority shifts away from human judgment and into software rules. Put simply, businesses are choosing automation over humans to save time and cut costs. As a result, decisions about food movement and access are increasingly made by systems that people cannot easily question or override.

This has already started to happen. During the 2021 ransomware attack on JBS Foods, meat processing facilities halted operations despite animals, staff, and infrastructure being present. Although some Australian farmers were able to override the systems, there were widespread problems. More recently, disruptions affecting large distributors have shown how system failures can interrupt deliveries to shops even if goods are available.

Getting rid of humans

A significant issue is fewer people managing these issues, and staff training. Manual procedures are classified as costly and gradually abandoned. Staff are no longer trained for overrides they are never expected to perform. When failure occurs, the skills required to intervene may no longer exist.

This vulnerability is compounded by persistent workforce and skills shortages, which affect transport, warehousing and public health inspection. Even when digital systems recover, the human ability to restart flows may be limited.

The risk is not only that systems fail, but that when they do, disruption spreads quickly. This can be understood as a stress test rather than a prediction. Authorisation systems may freeze. Trucks are loaded, but release codes fail. Drivers wait. Food is present, but movement is not approved.

Based on previous incidents within days digital records and physical reality can begin to diverge. Inventory systems no longer match what is on shelves. After about 72 hours, manual intervention is required. Yet paper procedures have often been removed, and staff are not trained to use them.

These patterns are consistent with evidence from UK food system vulnerability analyses, which emphasise that resilience failures are often organisational rather than agricultural.

Food security is often framed as a question of supply. But there is also a question of authorisation. If a digital manifest is corrupted, shipments may not be released.

This matters in a country like the UK that relies heavily on imports and complex logistics. Resilience depends not only on trade flows, but on the governance of data and decision-making in food systems, research on food security suggests.

Who is in control?

AI can strengthen food security. Precision agriculture (using data to make decisions about when to plant or water, for instance) and early-warning systems have helped reduce losses and improve yields. The issue is not whether AI is used, but who is watching it, and who manages it.

Food systems need humans to be in the loop, with trained staff and regular drills on how to override systems if they go wrong. Algorithms used in food allocation and logistics must be transparent enough to be audited. Commercial secrecy cannot outweigh public safety. Communities and farmers must retain control over their data and knowledge.

This is not a risk for the future. It already explains why warehouses full of food can become inaccessible or ignored.

The question is not whether digital systems will fail, but whether we will build a system that can survive its failure.

Mohammed F. Alzuhair does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Replacing humans with machines is leaving truckloads of food stranded and unusable – https://theconversation.com/replacing-humans-with-machines-is-leaving-truckloads-of-food-stranded-and-unusable-274589