Feeding the Future: Building a Sustainable and Secure Food System
There’s nothing like the sight of an empty supermarket shelf to hammer home just how finely balanced the UK’s food supply system is. Over the last few years, we've all witnessed the impact of global shocks and learnt first-hand how important it is that we produce food ‘at home’ as effectively as possible.
Technology has a massive role to play in achieving this, and we’ve seen lots of innovation 'in the field’. Genetics and machinery have optimised production and driven sustainability in arable and livestock farming.
But the ‘after the field’ supply chain has long been overlooked, perhaps because existing systems aren’t broken – they're just not optimised. There’s a huge untapped opportunity in digitising the farm to factory gate. And the good news is that these innovations don’t have to be complex or difficult to implement.
Cut admin, move smarter, and see more
The first quick win? Digitised inventory reporting could make it far easier for farm businesses to know just how much stock they have and where it’s going when it leaves the farm. With inventory reports of the same detail and quality across the supply chain, hours of manual admin can be clawed back.
Improving visibility is another big area of opportunity in the farm to factory supply chain. To take just one example: when grain leaves arable farms, key info such as when and where the crop has been harvested, its quality, how it’s been stored and so on can be lost as it moves from farm to mill/port. This data is critical for those in the supply chain and the producers themselves, so embracing technology that can track and report effectively is an obvious move forward.
Trade is another ‘low hanging fruit’ in the digitisation drive. Having a central record of past sales can help farm businesses stay on top of their performance. This also makes it easier to build a clearer picture of food security, and see exactly where stock/produce is stored.
A final area of focus is transportation. Better information can help farmers and buyers make smarter decisions about what they source, and from where.
“The haulage industry is rife with inefficiencies and ‘empty miles’, but new tools are changing this and ‘Uberising’ how loads are moved. ”
This means easier and faster haulage booking for farmers, fewer miles wasted by hauliers, and an increased ability to get stock where it’s needed in the best condition. It puts less stress on livestock and reduces carbon miles, helping the industry make critical sustainability gains – a win for everyone involved.
A sustainable, digital farming future
Farming has been transformed with in-field advances and innovation, but the ‘back office’ has been largely forgotten. It’s time to recognise the hidden inefficiencies that exist in the farm to factory supply chain, because these inefficiencies don’t just hit farmers’ bottom lines; they multiply-up across the UK food supply chain into significant food security and sustainability challenges.
Making small, simple changes with the support of new digital tools will go a long way to making farmers' lives easier and the industry more profitable. Crucially, it’ll ensure a secure and sustainable food future for the UK – a goal we can all get behind.
Jamie McInnes, CEO and Founder of Hectare