Fresh produce supply chains are notoriously difficult to manage, facing unique challenges that are not always present in the supply chains of other goods.
The challenges begin in the field, with production yields and quality dependent upon factors beyond human control, such as weather. Difficulties continue as the product moves downstream, with fresh produce being prone to deterioration and damage. To add fuel to the fire, there are also huge sustainability challenges, as pressure on land resource increases with an ever-growing population and consumers become increasingly interested in living sustainable lifestyles.
This blog explores some recent innovations within fresh produce supply chains, how these address some of the challenges outlined above and their supply chain implications. The blog is split into two parts, with this first part focussing on downstream innovations and the second part on upstream innovations, in particular, agri-tech.
Source: igd.com