Transforming Agri-Food Value Chains!

In my extensive experience within the agrifood industry, I've witnessed the challenges faced by agribusinesses and food SMEs in developing countries.

As they strive to navigate the global market, competition continues to intensify. However, there are fundamental strategies that can propel them into the international arena and foster business growth.

1. Ensuring Food Quality and Safety: Establish food safety management system. Ensure product quality and safety along the value chain. Meet international standards. Test, test & test!

2. Create Skilled Labor and Effective Leadership: Invest in organizational capacity and skills development. Create a well-trained workforce and capable leadership. Ensure adaptability and competence.

3. Networking & Access to Finance: Focus on the networking, partnerships and financial sourcing. Realize investment plans to scale operations. Enhance innovation, expansion, and agility in the global markets.

4. Leverage Advanced Technologies: Stay updated with the latest technologies, including "Automation & AI", "Cloud & Mobile", "IoT", "FinTech & Blockchain" and Data Analytics. Embrace technology to streamline processes and stay ahead of the curve. Ensure efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

5. Optimizing Production Costs: Produce at a low cost without compromising quality. Create competitive advantage in the market.

In today's fast-evolving landscape, maintaining and expanding international market shares in agriculture and the food industry requires effective food systems. This involves compliance with food safety regulations, offering top-tier services and trade procedures, and innovating in response to the dynamic preferences of the modern consumer, who values health and diversity in agri-food products.

EU-TAF Project. Visit to Darmmess. Producer of Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Souri Olives in Dier Mimas, Southern Lebanon.

Have questions or insights to share about agrifood value chain transformation? Let's discuss and work towards creating a productive, competitive, sustainable, and internationalized agrifood enterprise!

Protect Biodiversity & Ecosystem services!

Key drivers for digital health in personalized nutrition and wellbeing by 2035

I think that we will witness significant developments in personalized nutrition and wellbeing in the future years. This means that we have to consider digital transformation in the agrifood industry to create a sustainable growth and internationalization.

So what should we focus on? Let’s look at the most important drivers:

· Technology advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics

· Genomic research in human genomics and agrigenomics

· Wearable devices and sensors

· Health data integration and interoperability

· Personalized gut microbiome analysis

· Telemedicine and virtual health

· Digital biomarkers

· Social determinants of health

· Personalized mobile applications

· Policy and regulatory support

All these drivers will positively affect the human nutrition and wellbeing and this should be considered by the agrifood industry in the strategic business growth action plans.

On the other hand, I believe that we have to consider healthy active lifestyle and continue to make healthy physical activities (2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity) each week. This will contributes to our wellbeing, and preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases.

Have questions?

Impact of Human Factors in Food Safety Management Systems

I know that people’s experience, knowledge and skills are crucial factors in the food safety management system effectiveness. You have to work with the competent people. In this sense, top management support and prioritization about the identification of the risks, making laboratory tests and taking preventive measures will add value added impact on the safety, traceability, and transparency. You have to design and develop a food safety risk management system from the farm to the fork. You have to create a clear job description and there should be an alignment between their responsibility and their authority. You have to protect the staff who report the non-compliance. Of course, you have to provide necessary resources, including infrastructure, laboratory equipment, supplies and consumables, clear procedures and training and apply cGMPs so that you can get the right information with the right results on time with high confidence.

A fear or cost saving culture may create failures in today’s internet world. Do you have food safety gaps/issues from the farm to the fork? How is your experience?