As global and local forces continue to reshape the agri-food landscape, a new white paper aims to help industry leaders better understand the sources of mounting complexity—and how to prepare for it.
Released by Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business in partnership with global consultancy Kearney, the report, Managing Chaos and Disruption in the Agri-Food System: Part 1 – Understanding the Challenge, provides a comprehensive look at the structural, technological, and consumer-driven shifts transforming the sector.
The agri-food system, which spans input manufacturing to final consumption, is being increasingly influenced by both gradual disruptions and sudden, unpredictable chaos. These forces range from evolving consumer demands and technological advancements to policy volatility, environmental instability, and geopolitical tensions. The report frames these challenges along a spectrum, with long-term disruptions at one end and systemic shocks—such as pandemics or trade breakdowns—at the other.
Key themes explored in the report include:
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Differentiating Disruption from Chaos: Disruptions are slow-moving and foreseeable, while chaos emerges rapidly and unpredictably, requiring different business responses.
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Shifting Consumer Expectations: Trends in health, sustainability, convenience, and transparency are reshaping how food is bought and consumed.
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Technology’s Growing Role: Innovations in precision agriculture, automation, digital finance, and logistics are redefining how food is grown and moved through the system.
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Macroeconomic and Policy Pressures: Political instability, inflation, and trade uncertainty continue to elevate the risks across the value chain.
To stay competitive, the report urges organizations to embrace three core strategic capabilities:
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Resilience – the ability to absorb shocks and bounce back;
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Agility – the speed to adapt to change; and
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Optionality – the flexibility to pivot when conditions shift.
These capabilities, the authors argue, are essential for responding not only to current pressures but also to future unknowns. A second installment of the white paper, expected later this year, will present actionable tools and frameworks to help agri-food businesses implement these strategies.
Read the full report here: Managing Chaos and Disruption in the Agri-Food System: Part 1 – Understanding the Challenge
Background
The Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business, established in 1986, provides professional development, research, and academic programming to support decision-making across the agri-food sector. Kearney, a global management consulting firm, brings decades of strategic expertise to the partnership, helping organizations adapt and thrive in volatile markets.
