Structural Complexity and Multiplier Effects in China’s Agri-Food Supply Chains: Implications for Alternative Food Networks and Operations Management

Conventional global food supply chains are facing growing scrutiny for their environmental externalities and inefficiencies. Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), often realized through Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs), offer localized, transparent, and resilient alternatives. However, operations management lacks robust tools to capture AFNs’ systemic implications beyond local contexts. This study integrates national Input-Output (I-O) analysis with Average Propagation Length (APL) methodology to assess the structural complexity and diffusion dynamics of China’s agri-food supply chains. APL measures the average number of intersectoral linkages over which operational effects propagate, serving as a proxy for supply chain depth. Combined with linkage strength metrics, this approach identifies critical production chains. Multiplier analysis quantifies the total economic and operations management impact, revealing that each USD 1 of agricultural output generates over USD 17 in total economic output. While not directly comparing AFNs and conventional chains, this framework establishes an operations-focused methodology to capture AFN features such as shorter propagation paths and greater local retention. These insights provide a quantitative foundation for assessing the systemic role of agri-food networks in supporting sustainable, resilient local economies.