Marcos Fava Neves

Chains and networks development: a 14-point list

By Marcos Fava Neves (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-05-31 11:35

8 - Climate change and chains adaptation, with higher incidences of draughts, climate unpredictability taking us to a situation of lower production and harvests and loss of land and water, and the possible future migration processes.

9 - Chain information management. The information transparency and sharing has a positive impact over chains activities, bringing better management and performance. This also involves the design of information management systems and decision support models.

10 - Biomass based chains. With the growth in the use of biomass and grains to produce energy and fuel, there is a pressure over existing resources in some countries, bringing mixture of chains and competition for resources.

11 - Metropolitan agriculture chains. The growth of food production in metropolitan spaces and areas and its integration with modern supply chains.

12 - Chain and network intermediaries – In a process of mapping and redesigning chains, there is no more space, in a world of giants and lower margins, of intermediaries that do not add value. These agents and companies are facing a fast exclusion movement.

13 - Chain and network entrepreneurship and innovation. Discussed with China Daily readers in my two previous articles, with an extensive agenda of future work.

14 - Chain inclusion and social innovation – a important topic that we also discussed in this space in previous articles, is the capacity of chains to promote inclusion of smallholders.

We also had the launch of the book “Advances in Supply Chain Analysis in Agro-Food Systems” edited by Dr Decio Zylberstajn and Dr Onno Omta and jointly written by professors of Wageningen and University of Sao Paulo (agribusiness research group PENSA) that celebrated 18 years of cooperation. It is important reading for chain and network researchers. Another unique feeling was my return to Wageningen, city where I studied in 1998/1999, full of good memories and personal development, and a place where several Chinese students are located. I hope this article could contribute with the reader, the company and industry association sharing the information about the conference.

The author is professor of strategic planning and food chains at the School of Economics and Business, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (www.favaneves.org) and international speaker.