Worldwide concern around large food production, processing and formation of closed-loop value chains and networks has motivated a cross-continental partnership between UNE Business School and the University of Bonn, in Germany.

From the 1st of January this year, the shared project “Chain Failure and Chain Goods in Sustainable Food Chains” has been underway with a view to develop a theoretical framework that will enable a closer analysis and improved understanding of value chain outcomes. Concern around issues of transparency and regulation in protection and promotion of competitive food markets has lead the UNE project team to develop a new method of analysing food value chains that is complementary to existing public finance theory.

Prof Garry Griffith (L) and Em Prof Euan Fleming (R) visited the University of Bonn in Germany earlier this year as part of the project.

The team on this project includes Professor Garry Griffith, Emeritus Professor Euan Fleming, Professor Derek Baker, Dr Emilio Morales and Dr Stuart Mounter from University of New England.

With a shared objective of using the newly developed framework to systematically analyse key food markets in Australia and in Germany, UNE team are pleased to welcome a contingent from University of Bonn from Friday 2 September, with Dr Johannes Simons and Mr Christian Deutsch on campus until September 8, and Professor Gerhard Scheifer visiting from September 7 to the 15th.

Professor Gerhard Schiefer, Dr. Johannes Simons, Emeritus Professor Euan Fleming, and PhD Candidate Christian Deutsch

Beyond the opportunity for in-person collaboration on the project, the visit will  include a workshop with PhD students and staff as well as seminars from by Dr Simons (event details here) and Professor Scheifer (event details here).

The team working on this project will be developing and establishing recommendations on the conditions under which primary producers and partners in the value chain should be investing to overcome chain failure. This work can be directly applied to ongoing revisions of policy frameworks around agricultural and food sector strategies.

Questions about the project can be directed to Prof Garry Griffith: ggriffit@une.edu.au