Enhancing the AGRi-fOod Supply chain towards Industry 5.0 (AGRO5) in the Ecuadorian Andes

Summary

The global food system faces a complex set of crises, where poor distribution is one of the main factors causing hunger, food loss, and waste. Therefore, the food system is expected to be agile, resilient, and sustainable. In Ecuador, although the agricultural sector is highly relevant in the national economy, the poor food distribution causes child malnutrition, food insecurity, and poor living conditions for its actors. This project analyzes the agrifood supply chain in the Ecuadorian Andes as a critical component to achieve good food logistics. This project is inspired by the Industry 5.0 approach that provides a vision of industry that aims beyond efficiency and productivity as the sole goals. It places the wellbeing of the worker at the centre and uses new technologies to provide prosperity beyond jobs and growth while respecting the production limits of the planet. This project aims are two-fold: 1) develop a framework (AGRO5) to enhance agrifood supply chains towards the Industry 5.0 approach and 2) establish a learning community to promote the transition based on the AGRO5 framework. It will analyze the state of agrifood supply chains and implement the framework in three case studies. They will correspond to three organizations involved in the agrifood supply chain of different food products located in the central-north and south of the Ecuadorian Andes. The intended learning community will be initiated at the national level to promote the transition towards Industry 5.0.

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