Future of Food Supply Chain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Future of Food Supply Chain - Essay Example n will collect more information and data from their suppliers, including the farmers, so that they can serve the internal demands related to risk assessment, strategic decision-making and the monitoring of progress towards future-looking targets (Mattoo, Mishra and Narain 56). The forces shaping the food supply chain, which will greatly influence the systems of the future, include dependency on ecosystem services, forest footprinting, and the production of greenhouse gases – irrespective of the fact that the different players within the supply chain will employ their methodologies across the varied business areas (Marsden, Banks and Bristow 426-427). Some of the companies that have been acting in ways that are similar to the outlook of the future food supply chain include LEAF and Landcare as well as commercial players like Unilever; these companies have been gathering information about the sustainable nature of their supply chains, which has helped them to make strategic deci sions (Fafchamps, Vargas-Hill and Minten 257). Farmers will need the information required to support the changes that will make their production more attractive in the market. Further, the end consumer will exercise more control over the production systems and the technologies of the producer, due to changes in preferences and lifestyles – among them the increasing demand for organic foods. The power of farmer groups and Land-management The flow of knowledge, on itself is not sufficient to ensure hat farmers and other players within the supply chain improve their output, efficiency in the use of resources and quality (Marsden, Banks and Bristow 426-427). Regulatory, cultural and organizational changes will become more necessary, in fostering the implementation and the maintenance of positive... This report approves that the future of the business of farmers will represent the outlook of the Farmer Field school movement, which offers training to farmers and allows them to experiment on their own farms, and then group together to chart the way forward for their farming outlook. Through the grouping of farmers into groups, there will be a more strategic realization of strategic partnerships between them and the companies that consume their produce. One example of such a strategic partnership is that of Unilever and its suppliers – the company has strategically positioned itself with the primary processor suppliers. Some agencies that are already studying the system applied to agriculture and their impacts include LCA. Irrespective of the fact that innovation in agriculture is difficult, the future outlook of the members of the supply chain will be more conscious of the changes of land use required.The different areas that will be explored at greater depths include food safety, water footprinting, social impacts, biodiversity, and legality. This essay makes a conclusion that world business and economics are changing swiftly, and that is calling for the constant improvement of the food supply chain. The changes anticipated in the future supply chain include improvements in information and knowledge flow, the increasing command of farmer groups and Land-management and innovating according to market needs. Many of the supply chain changes anticipated for the future are evident from the business of Wal-Mart, which uses IT to monitor its supply chain from the store to the farm.