The University has been working with multinational company Unilever and charity Oxfam on a programme that aims to build sustainable smallholder-based food supply chains.
Members of Kent Business School collaborated with the two organisations on a study to help identify the learning to date from their joint work on establishing smallholder farmer-based supply chains.
Dr Sue Hornibrook, of Kent Business Schools’ Centre for Value Chain Research, recently provided feedback at Unilever’s headquarters in London.
Dr Hornibrook said: ‘Demand for food is growing and current food production in the developed world will not be able to cope. We therefore need to think differently in terms of how and where we produce our food.
‘This joint programme will be helping to demonstrate how global food and drinks companies and domestic manufacturers can invest in smallholder-based supply chains that can help meet this growing demand.
‘Oxfam has worked for decades on agricultural development to secure the income and food security of those living in poverty. A key work-stream within Oxfam private sector and livelihoods strategies is to increase investment in sustainable smallholder agriculture, particularly for women.
‘Unilever is an industry leader in sustainable agriculture. As part of its Sustainable Living Plan, Unilever has made a public commitment to involve more smallholder growers in its supply chains, to secure agricultural raw materials and to improve the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. The joint programme with Oxfam will be instrumental in developing the business models needed for this,’ she said.
Dr Hornibrook, who worked with KBS PhD student Chris Sausman on providing the programme feedback, added that she hoped to collaborate further with Unilever and Oxfam on similar work in the future.
I recently came across your post about the University of Kent’s collaboration with Unilever and Oxfam on building sustainable smallholder-based food supply chains, and I wanted to reach out to express how impressed I am with this initiative.
Dr. Sue Hornibrook’s feedback at Unilever’s London headquarters highlights the critical importance of rethinking our food production systems to meet growing global demand. The program’s focus on integrating smallholder farmers into supply chains is a fantastic step towards achieving more sustainable and equitable food systems. It’s inspiring to see how academic research can directly contribute to meaningful change in the industry.
The partnership with Oxfam, which has long been dedicated to agricultural development, and Unilever’s commitment to sustainable agriculture under its Sustainable Living Plan, demonstrates a powerful combination of expertise and resources aimed at improving livelihoods and securing food supplies. This kind of collaboration is vital for developing robust business models and ensuring the future resilience of food supply chains.
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Thank you for sharing this important update. I look forward to following the continued success of this program and future collaborations.