Quantifying the agri-food supply chain: overview and new research directions

Abstract

The Frontis workshop ‘Quantifying the agri-food supply chain’ aimed at discussing the possibilities and limitations of quantifying performance, risks and investments in the agri-food chain and at bringing people from international institutes together. Their contributions are organized around five key issues in the agri-food chain: concepts of measuring performance; empirical research in measuring costs, benefits and risk; modelling; value of information; and governance and performance. Papers with a wide variety of approaches from different economic disciplines have been demonstrated to be useful in analysing the supply chain. However, understanding the complex system of agri-food chains requires more investments in retrieving empirical data for testing propositions and developing appropriate models. The identified research gaps and discussion points were shared among an international forum of researchers. International cooperation among researchers will enhance progress in this research field. The workshop was highly valued in this respect.