Predictions for the Produce Industry in 2023: The year to innovate or die?

The year has started with the threat of more labour shortages, rampant inflation, climate change challenges and increased cross-border legislative requirements. Those looking to thrive this year will use these setbacks to their advantage. 

Relentless pressure means we are very likely to see industry consolidation with a number of take-overs and mergers, and, sadly, some businesses going under.
 
Successful businesses will move fast and target structural change to underlying costs.

This year we predict that:

• Growers will significantly increase their investment in innovative farm automation to reduce labour requirements and costs.

•  Exporters and importers will target process simplification automation by the digitisation of supply chain processes.

• New shipping rules will drive up admin requirements exponentially, putting intolerable pressure on already overworked customs and supply chain teams. Businesses will need to find new approaches and new partners to navigate these new uncharted waters.

• All “actors” across the supply chain will look to collaboration and data exchange with trading partners up and down the supply chain to drive value – “we can’t do this on our own” will be the mantra.

•  Collaboration will be seen as the route to accurate and immutable sustainability information required to meet ever more challenging ESG requirements.

•Investing in innovation will move firmly onto the boardroom agenda as a way of driving up the pace of change.  
 
The Fresh Produce Journal has also released an article on how agility will be the saving grace for businesses looking to survive the unpredictable nature of the supply chain this year, focussing on a drive towards automation and AI to optimise sustainability, traceability and other key areas of the supply chain:
https://lnkd.in/eEQrWafD