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MSU explores solutions for agriculture and food supply chain efficiencies

Collaborators at Michigan State University are working to strengthen the flexibility and resilience of agriculture and food supply chains during major disruptions.

Co-Director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture Ian Olson tells Brownfield systems need to shift away from being reactionary.

“With food prices where they are, you’ve got more geopolitical instability—everyone’s really trying to figure it out right now,” he says. “It’s kind of a new world order, if you will, when it comes to supply chain management. What we’re trying to do is bridge some of that gap.”

He says researchers are developing models to help evaluate and identify what resources could better support food production from the farm to consumers.

“These supply chain people would love to be more on their front foot, more anticipatory, and trying to find different ways to make sure that you find product that’s available,” he explains. “Find product that’s affordable, and that it meets food safety and quality standards.”

Olson says food processing waste is just one example of an opportunity that could support other industry supply chains.

“How do we do more collaboration, convening, bringing different brands and people together to address those issues?” he challenges. “What are the opportunities for food waste that could go towards energy production? Or how do you look at those things differently?”

He says future supply chain solutions must also account for profitability throughout logistics and processing systems.