Is it Agriculture the upcoming agile industry?
How can we make our food businesses more flexible and agile to the quickly evolving environment?
Agile Agriculture
It is not overstated to say that the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly altered how we work, live, and run a business – now, and perhaps for years to come. It had also a significant impact on how we see the inadequacies in the food industry. Producers, retailers, and consumers all experienced disruptions in conventional supply chains as a result of lockdown procedures and the virus’s quick spread through processing facilities. Agile Agriculture
Short-term supply and demand imbalances in the food industry led to excess food being trampled underfoot in farmers’ fields or rotting in storage facilities. Despite there being no actual food scarcity, shoppers in the early stages of the epidemic discovered grocery shelves that were empty. All the way around, food that was originally intended for restaurants and stores ended up in the hands of costumers – packaged in uncomfortable big quantities.
The above case, as well as many more, highlighted the chance for the food industry to do much more, improving its long-term efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Why the Industry Needs Agile Food Systems?
Future food systems need to be more flexible and agile. It must be adaptable and flexible in the presence of unpredictable challenges. Food waste must be eliminated, and food transportation time and distance must be minimised.
Flexible operations, data and technology, and innovative and adjustable packaging are the three components required to build an agile food system! A food supply chain that includes these components is more resilient and improves local food security. Incorporating these components into a food supply chain makes food systems more resilient and improves domestic food security. Agile Agriculture
How can we make our food businesses more flexible to the quickly evolving environment?
Increasing the food system’s agility will undoubtedly depend heavily on technology. By enhancing sell-through rates with dynamic pricing, and/or effective data utilisation, for example, can help businesses respond rapidly to supply and demand challenges, reduce food waste, and reduce oversupply with real-time demand information.
The food system won’t become agile overnight, of course, but by considering the current crisis as an opportunity for transformation, the industry can help ensure that it incorporates the components of an agile food supply chain, ensuring that it wastes less food, consumes more wisely, and conserves valuable resources. Agile Agriculture
The food & agriculture industries still have a lot more space for innovation!
Need for “Agile” governance
Agile suggests a forward-looking approach that aims to foresee problems before they manifest. It goes beyond just combining trustworthy, effective, and efficient public and private organisations to manage problems effectively. With a prolonged pandemic, ongoing violence, a multilateralism crisis, and the ongoing inadequacy of many national governance institutions, the need for nimble governance is greater than ever. Perhaps where it needs to be applied most is in rapidly evolving, important fields like technology, health, sustainability, and economic growth.
The European Union is working towards the equal opportunities related to the Future of Agriculture. More specifically, the EU establishes a sustainable agriculture framework that aims to benefit citizens, businesses, but also the environment.
Check our European Projects here!
