DOCSLIB.ORG

Enhancing Coffee Supply Chain Towards Sustainable Growth with Big Data and Modern Agricultural Technologies

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Enhancing Coffee Supply Chain Towards Sustainable Growth with Big Data and Modern Agricultural Technologies sustainability Review Enhancing Coffee Supply Chain towards Sustainable Growth with Big Data and Modern Agricultural Technologies Yotsaphat Kittichotsatsawat 1 , Varattaya Jangkrajarng 2,3,* and Korrakot Yaibuathet Tippayawong 2,4,* 1 Graduate Program in Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; [email protected] 2 Excellence Center in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand 3 Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Business Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand 4 Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand * Correspondence: [email protected] (V.J.); [email protected] (K.Y.T.); Tel.: +66-8-1884-1221 (V.J.); +66-8-1671-9019 (K.Y.T.) Abstract: Modern agricultural technology management is nowadays crucial in terms of the economy and the global market, while food safety, quality control, and environmentally friendly practices should not be neglected. This review aims to give perspectives on applying big data analytic and modern technologies to increase the efficacy and effectiveness of the coffee supply chain throughout the process. It was revealed that several tools such as wireless sensor networks, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), image processing, convolutional neural networks (CNN), and remote sensing Citation: Kittichotsatsawat, Y.; could be implemented in and used to improve the coffee supply chain. Those tools could help in Jangkrajarng, V.; Tippayawong, K.Y. reducing cost as well as time for entrepreneurs and create a reliable service for the customer. It can Enhancing Coffee Supply Chain be summarized that in the long term, these modern technologies will be able to assist coffee business towards Sustainable Growth with Big management and ensure the sustainable growth for the coffee industry. Data and Modern Agricultural Technologies. Sustainability 2021, 13, Keywords: modern technology; smart technology; big data analytic; coffee supply chain 4593. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su13084593 Academic Editors: Anna Irene 1. Introduction De Luca and Marc A. Rosen Recently, many problems have arisen in the agricultural sector of Thailand. Especially, Received: 30 January 2021 the agri-products do not meet international standards because of farmers’ lack of knowl- Accepted: 15 April 2021 edge and marketing insight. Thus, they cannot be competitive with other entrepreneurs. Published: 20 April 2021 Moreover, this will lead to a lack of opportunities for finding new markets and increasing market share in the future [1]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral These issues reflect the fact that farmers still lack the tools for sustainable development, with regard to jurisdictional claims in particularly in terms of know-how about increasing productivity in the production process published maps and institutional affil- in the long term. Therefore, entrepreneurs are focusing on big data analysis for raising iations. productivity and controlling the quality of the production process system. Thus, big data analysis can be applied for developing, improving, and increasing productivity and efficiency. Likewise, big data can be applied to operations and operating systems’ control to meet both farmers’ and consumers’ needs. Nowadays, more people are becoming Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. interested in studying big data and applying it to organizations in the agricultural industry Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. sector, as shown in Figure1. This article is an open access article Moreover, big data can be applied in supply chain management for building organiza- distributed under the terms and tions’ competitive advantage by using a data supply chain (DSC). It will help in examining conditions of the Creative Commons interconnected data characteristics and their relationship to and impact on the organization. Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// In the same way, it can assist with the agile monitoring and management of supply chain creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ risks in the process management framework [2,3]. Therefore, big data is one of the most 4.0/). Sustainability 2021, 13, 4593. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084593 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, 4593 2 of 20 Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 21 essential tools in organization management and will likewise enable entrepreneurs to operate their businesses sustainably in the future [4]. Figure 1. Big data and ICT in smart farming. Figure 1. Big data and ICT in smart farming. Currently, technology is being applied in many agricultural sectors, where it is adopted to increaseMoreover, operational big data can efficiency be applied and in create suppl valuey chain in themanagement business. Technologyfor building is organi- used in zations’the production competitive industry advantage to increase by using opportunities a data supply and chain productivity (DSC). It aswill well help as in to exam- reduce iningcosts, interconnected resources, and data management. characteristics As and a result, their modernrelationship technology to and impact is progressing on the or- and ganization.contributing In the to greatersame way, efficiency it can assist [5]. Agriculturalwith the agile technology monitoring refers and management to technology of or supplymachines chain used risks for in the the agricultural process management production fr process,amework such [2,3]. as Therefore, farmland, big operations, data is one and ofproduction the most essential [6]. It can tools help in organization in the design management and practical and use will of thelikewise agricultural enable entrepre- process at neursall stages to operate [7]. It their comprises businesses emerging sustainably digital in technologies the future [4]. such as remote sensing [8–11], wirelessCurrently, sensor technology networks (WSN) is being [12 ,13applied], cloud in computing many agricultural [12,14,15], sectors, the Internet where of Thingsit is adopted(IoT) [13 to,16 increase–18], image operational processing efficiency [19–21 ],and and create convolutional value in the neural business. networks Technology (CNN) [ 19is ]. used inMeanwhile, the production a smart industry farm is to part increase of the opportunities agricultural revolution and productivity towards as green well agricul- as to ture necessary for the new world, with science and technology at the center of its operation reduce costs, resources, and management. As a result, modern technology is progressing process. Smart farming can increase a coffee plantation’s productivity and create high- and contributing to greater efficiency [5]. Agricultural technology refers to technology or quality coffee beans following customers’ needs [20]. Additionally, it is used to create machines used for the agricultural production process, such as farmland, operations, and innovation and improve the reality of customer demand and the appropriate redesign production [6]. It can help in the design and practical use of the agricultural process at all of the value chain. Smart farming can be used to control the quality of the environment stages [7]. It comprises emerging digital technologies such as remote sensing [8–11], wireless and resources based on human food needs [21,22]. Likewise, smart farming will lead to sensor networks (WSN) [12,13], cloud computing [12,14,15], the Internet of Things (IoT) creating safe and environmentally friendly practices [23,24]. Big data can help improve the [13,16–18], image processing [19–21], and convolutional neural networks (CNN) [19]. forecasting and operational efficiency of large-scale farms in the future [25]. Meanwhile, a smart farm is part of the agricultural revolution towards green agricul- Hence, smart farming will lead to modern farms in which agricultural management ture necessary for the new world, with science and technology at the center of its operation with suitable and sophisticated technology will consist of sensors, devices, machines, process.and information Smart farming technology. can increase Additionally, a coffee smart plantation’s farming productivity will increase and the efficiencycreate high- and qualityeffectiveness coffee beans of the following agricultural customers’ production needs process, [20]. Additionally, for example, it using is used new to technologycreate in- novationto increase and theimprove value the of productsreality of andcustomer integrating demand smart and technology the appropriate for cross-industry redesign of thetechnology. value chain. These Smart advanced farming technologies can be used include to control (a) next-generationthe quality of the farms environment use traceability and Sustainability 2021, 13, 4593 3 of 20 technology such as QR code, RFID, and blockchain; (b) precision agriculture and predictive analytics, for example, remote sensing, WSN, and CNN; (c) robotic and drone; (d) plant data/analysis such as vertical application, ad/media application, business intelligence, analytics and visualization, analytics infrastructure, and structured database; (e) smart irrigation, for example, data collection, irrigation control, 4G/3G/NB-IoT, data processing, failure alarm, and video surveillance; (f) farm management software consisting of cloud computing, the Internet of Things, CPS, and machine learning). Those technologies will help businesses increase their
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Manufacturing
    Best Practices for Businesses to Reopen MANUFACTURING • Face coverings are encouraged but not required if an employee can isolate or separate their work area, either by PREPARE THE closing doors or using other physical PREPARE THE barriers to maintain six foot distance BUILDING from other individuals at all times, WORKFORCE • Zone the factory floor and encourage including individuals in adjacent • Train employees in current COVID-19 employees to remain in their cubicles or hallways. health and workplace guidelines designated area to the extent possible. to include procedures for social • Even when practicing social distancing, distancing, timeclock usage, use • Place partitions such as plexiglass to masks or face coverings must be worn when walking through hallways or of common areas, disinfecting separate people that work together in expectations and proper PPE usage. the production process. when two or more people are together in a space such as an office, conference Training should be included in daily • Increase ventilation rates and the room, or restroom. safety meetings to frequently remind percentage of outdoor air that employees and employers of their circulates into the system. • Face coverings are not required if responsibilities. wearing a face covering would subject • Assemble a team whose the person to an unsafe working • Offer teleworking where appropriate. responsibilities include implementing condition, as determined by federal, Give employees flexibility regarding and monitoring guidelines provided by state, or local occupational safety returning to the factory / office. the CDC, OSHA, the State, and by the regulators or workplace guidelines. For • Implement a daily screening process company. exceptions to this requirement, please for workers and other personnel which see the latest .
    [Show full text]
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology
    MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY “Modern manufacturing activities have become exceedingly complex because of rapidly increasing technology. This has increased the demand for highly skilled manufacturing technologists, engineers, and managers.” – Society of Manufacturing Engineers Manufacturers in the United States account for 12.5% of the total economic output employing almost 9% of the nation’s workforce. (National Association of Manufacturers, 2015) DEGREE Top 3 Reasons to Choose BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MFET) Manufacturing Engineering Students in the major are introduced to the fundamentals of Technology engineering, materials, and production processes used within industry. AT MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY The program provides in-depth technical content in advanced manufacturing with an emphasis on automated manufacturing and 1. Despite misconceptions that “manufacturing is dead” or computer integrated manufacturing. Students to design, develop, and that “all manufacturing has moved overseas” the National construct projects in laboratory-based courses. Technologies Network for Manufacturing Innovation (commonly commonly used in industry are emphasized throughout the curriculum. known as Manufacturing USA) estimates that the Seniors are encouraged to participate in a cooperative education or manufacturing workforce employs approximately 12 internship experience to further enhance their knowledge in technical million people nationwide. areas within an industrial environment. 2. Manufacturers in Pennsylvania
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Imaging and Metrology with the Helium Ion Microscope
    Understanding Imaging and Metrology with the Helium Ion Microscope Michael T. Postek, Andras E. Vladar and Bin Ming National Institute of Standards and Technology Frontiers of Characterization and Metrology for Nanoelectronics CNSE University at Albany May 11-14, 2009 Disclaimer • Certain commercial equipment is identified in this report to adequately describe the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the equipment identified is necessarily the best available for the purpose Nanoelectronics Manufacturing • The helium ion microscope is an exciting new technology for nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing. – Initially, appears straightforward – But, much must be understood • Especially to obtain meaningful quantitative information. • The NIST Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) has supported “nanomanufacturing” through the development of measurements and standards since about 1999. • Semiconductor manufacturing is “nanomanufacturing” and MEL has supported SEMATECH since its inception • New magnification calibration sample Nanoelectronics Manufacturing • Development of successful nanomanufacturing is the key link between scientific discovery and commercial products • Revolutionize and possibly revitalize many industries and yield many new high-tech products • Without high-quality imaging, accurate measurements and standards at the sub- nanometer scale, nanomanufacturing cannot succeed Imaging and Measurements
    [Show full text]
  • REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE and the SOIL CARBON SOLUTION SEPTEMBER 2020
    REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE and the SOIL CARBON SOLUTION SEPTEMBER 2020 AUTHORED BY: Jeff Moyer, Andrew Smith, PhD, Yichao Rui, PhD, Jennifer Hayden, PhD REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IS A WIN-WIN-WIN CLIMATE SOLUTION that is ready for widescale implementation now. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? Table of Contents 3 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 9 A Potent Corrective 11 Regenerative Principles for Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration 13 Biodiversity Below Ground 17 Biodiversity Above Ground 25 Locking Carbon Underground 26 The Question of Yields 28 Taking Action ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 30 Soil Health for a Livable Future Many thanks to the Paloma Blanca Foundation and Tom and Terry Newmark, owners of Finca Luna Nueva Lodge and regenerative farm in 31 References Costa Rica, for providing funding for this paper. Tom is also the co-founder and chairman of The Carbon Underground. Thank you to Roland Bunch, Francesca Cotrufo, PhD, David Johnson, PhD, Chellie Pingree, and Richard Teague, PhD for providing interviews to help inform the paper. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The environmental impacts of agricultural practices This introduction is co-authored by representatives of two The way we manage agricultural land 140 billion new tons of CO2 contamination to the blanket of and translocation of carbon from terrestrial pools to formative organizations in the regenerative movement. matters. It matters to people, it matters to greenhouse gases already overheating our planet. There is atmospheric pools can be seen and felt across a broad This white paper reflects the Rodale Institute’s unique our society, and it matters to the climate. no quarreling with this simple but deadly math: the data are unassailable.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Guide For: Newly Adopted Course of Study Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Cluster, and Argiscience Middle School
    2020-2021 PROGRAM GUIDE FOR: NEWLY ADOPTED COURSE OF STUDY AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES CLUSTER, AND ARGISCIENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL NOVEMBER 20, 2020 ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ANDY CHAMNESS, EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR COLLIN ADCOCK, EDUCATION SPECIALIST JERAD DYESS, EDUCATION SPECIALIST MAGGIN EDWARDS, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (334) 694-4746 Revised 2/23/2021 Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Cluster This cluster prepares students for employment in career pathways that relate to the $70 billion plus industry of agriculture. The mission of agriscience education is to prepare students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource industries. There are six program areas in this cluster: General Agriculture, Animal Science, Plant Science, Environmental and Natural Resources, Industrial Agriculture and Middle School. Extended learning experiences to enrich and enhance instruction are reinforced through learner participation in the career and technical student organization related to agriculture education. The National FFA organization (FFA) serves as the CTSO for this cluster. Additionally, project-based learning experiences, otherwise known as a Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) are an integral part of agriculture education. General Agriculture Program Pathway Career (Must teach three courses from this program list within two years) Pathway This program is designed to deliver a variety of agricultural disciplines
    [Show full text]
  • Manufacturing Activities During the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
    INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY When you have read this document, you can affirm at the bottom. As of June 26, 2020 Purpose This Interim Guidance for Manufacturing Activities during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Manufacturing”) was created to provide owners/operators of manufacturing sites and their employees and contractors with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 as manufacturing sites reopen. These guidelines are minimum requirements only and any employer is free to provide additional precautions or increased restrictions. These guidelines are based on the best-known public health practices at the time of Phase I of the State’s reopening, and the documentation upon which these guidelines are based can and does change frequently. The Responsible Parties – as defined below – are accountable for adhering to all local, state and federal requirements relative to manufacturing activities. The Responsible Parties are also accountable for staying current with any updates to these requirements, as well as incorporating same into any manufacturing activities and/or Site Safety Plan. Background On March 7, 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order 202, declaring a state of emergency in response to COVID-19. Community transmission of COVID-19 has occurred throughout New York. To minimize further spread, social distancing of at least six feet must be maintained between individuals, where possible. On March 20, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.6, directing all non-essential businesses to close in-office personnel functions. Essential businesses, as defined by Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) guidance, were not subject to the in-person restriction, but were, however, directed to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), and were strongly urged to maintain social distancing measures to the extent possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Productivity and Costs by Industry: Manufacturing and Mining
    For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, April 29, 2021 USDL-21-0725 Technical information: (202) 691-5606 • [email protected] • www.bls.gov/lpc Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • [email protected] PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING AND MINING INDUSTRIES – 2020 Labor productivity rose in 41 of the 86 NAICS four-digit manufacturing industries in 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The footwear industry had the largest productivity gain with an increase of 14.5 percent. (See chart 1.) Three out of the four industries in the mining sector posted productivity declines in 2020, with the greatest decline occurring in the metal ore mining industry with a decrease of 6.7 percent. Although more mining and manufacturing industries recorded productivity gains in 2020 than 2019, declines in both output and hours worked were widespread. Output fell in over 90 percent of detailed industries in 2020 and 87 percent had declines in hours worked. Seventy-two industries had declines in both output and hours worked in 2020. This was the greatest number of such industries since 2009. Within this set of industries, 35 had increasing labor productivity. Chart 1. Manufacturing and mining industries with the largest change in productivity, 2020 (NAICS 4-digit industries) Output Percent Change 15 Note: Bubble size represents industry employment. Value in the bubble Seafood product 10 indicates percent change in labor preparation and productivity. Sawmills and wood packaging preservation 10.7 5 Animal food Footwear 14.5 0 12.2 Computer and peripheral equipment -9.6 9.9 -5 Cut and sew apparel Communications equipment -9.5 12.7 Textile and fabric -10 10.4 finishing mills Turbine and power -11.0 -15 transmission equipment -10.1 -20 -9.9 Rubber products -14.7 -25 Office furniture and Motor vehicle parts fixtures -30 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 Hours Worked Percent Change Change in productivity is approximately equal to the change in output minus the change in hours worked.
    [Show full text]
  • The Making of Hollywood Production: Televising and Visualizing Global Filmmaking in 1960S Promotional Featurettes
    The Making of Hollywood Production: Televising and Visualizing Global Filmmaking in 1960s Promotional Featurettes by DANIEL STEINHART Abstract: Before making-of documentaries became a regular part of home-video special features, 1960s promotional featurettes brought the public a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood’s production process. Based on historical evidence, this article explores the changes in Hollywood promotions when studios broadcasted these featurettes on television to market theatrical films and contracted out promotional campaigns to boutique advertising agencies. The making-of form matured in the 1960s as featurettes helped solidify some enduring conventions about the portrayal of filmmaking. Ultimately, featurettes serve as important paratexts for understanding how Hollywood’s global production work was promoted during a time of industry transition. aking-of documentaries have long made Hollywood’s flm production pro- cess visible to the public. Before becoming a staple of DVD and Blu-ray spe- M cial features, early forms of making-ofs gave audiences a view of the inner workings of Hollywood flmmaking and movie companies. Shortly after its formation, 20th Century-Fox produced in 1936 a flmed studio tour that exhibited the company’s diferent departments on the studio lot, a key feature of Hollywood’s detailed division of labor. Even as studio-tour short subjects became less common because of the restructuring of studio operations after the 1948 antitrust Paramount Case, long-form trailers still conveyed behind-the-scenes information. In a trailer for The Ten Commandments (1956), director Cecil B. DeMille speaks from a library set and discusses the importance of foreign location shooting, recounting how he shot the flm in the actual Egyptian locales where Moses once walked (see Figure 1).
    [Show full text]
  • Scanning Tunneling Microscope Control System for Atomically
    Innovations in Scanning Tunneling Microscope Control Systems for This project will develop a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) platform technology for scanning probe microscope-based, high-speed atomic scale High-throughput fabrication. Initially, it will be used to speed up, by more than 1000 times, today’s Atomically Precise single tip hydrogen depassivation lithography (HDL), enabling commercial fabrication of 2D atomically precise nanoscale devices. Ultimately, it could be used to fabricate Manufacturing 3D atomically precise materials, features, and devices. Graphic image courtesy of University of Texas at Dallas and Zyvex Labs Atomically precise manufacturing (APM) is an emerging disruptive technology precision movement in three dimensions mechanosynthesis (i.e., moving single that could dramatically reduce energy are also needed for the required accuracy atoms mechanically to control chemical and coordination between the multiple reactions) of three dimensional (3D) use and increase performance of STM tips. By dramatically improving the devices and for subsequent positional materials, structures, devices, and geometry and control of STMs, they can assembly of nanoscale building blocks. finished goods. Using APM, every atom become a platform technology for APM and deliver atomic-level control. First, is at its specified location relative Benefits for Our Industry and an array of micro-machined STMs that Our Nation to the other atoms—there are no can work in parallel for high-speed and defects, missing atoms, extra atoms, high-throughput imaging and positional This APM platform technology will accelerate the development of tools and or incorrect (impurity) atoms. Like other assembly will be designed and built. The system will utilize feedback-controlled processes for manufacturing materials disruptive technologies, APM will first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and products that offer new functional be commercialized in early premium functioning as independent STMs that can qualities and ultra-high performance.
    [Show full text]
  • Aerospace Manufacturing a Growth Leader in Georgia
    Aerospace Manufacturing A Growth Leader in Georgia In this study: 9. Research Universities 10. GTRI and GTMI 1. Industry Snapshot 11. High-Tech Talent 3. A Top Growth Leader 12. Centers of Innovation 4. Industry Mix 13. World-Class Training Programs 6. Industry Wages and Occupational 15. Strong Partnerships and Ready Workforce Employment 16. Transportation Infrastructure 7. Pro-Business State 17. Powering Your Manufacturing Facility Community and Economic Development 8. Unionization 18. Aerospace Companies Aerospace Manufacturing A Growth Leader in Georgia Aerospace is defined as Aerospace Products and Parts Manufacturing as well as Other Support Activities for Air Transportation. Aerospace Georgia is the ideal home for aerospace include Pratt & Whitney’s expansion in companies with ¨¦§75 ¨¦§575 25+ employees companies. With the world’s most traveled Columbus in both 2016 and 2017, Meggitt «¬400 ¨¦§85 ¨¦§985 airport, eight regional airports, prominent Polymers & Composites’ expansion in military bases and accessibility to the Rockmart and MSB Group’s location in ¨¦§20 ¨¦§20 country’s fastest-growing major port, Savannah. For a complete list of new major ¨¦§85 Georgia’s aerospace industry serves a locations and expansions, see page 2. ¨¦§185 global marketplace. Georgia is also home to a highly-skilled workforce and world- ¨¦§16 Why Georgia for Aerospace? class technical expertise geared toward promoting the success of the aerospace • Highly skilled workers ¨¦§75 ¨¦§95 industry. Georgia’s business climate is • World-class technical expertise consistently ranked as one of the best • Renowned workforce training program in the country, with a business-friendly tax code and incentives that encourage • Increasing number of defense manufacturing growth for existing and personnel newly arriving companies.
    [Show full text]
  • Handout 3.1: Looking at Industrial Agriculture and Agricultural Innovation
    Handout 3.1: Looking at Industrial Agriculture and Agricultural Innovation Agricultural Innovation:1 “A form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish and crops. The methods it employs include innovation in agricultural machinery and farming methods, genetic technology, techniques for achieving economies of scale in production, the creation of new markets for consumption, the application of patent protection to genetic information, and global trade.” Benefits Downsides + Cheap and plentiful food ‐ Environmental and social costs + Consumer convenience ‐ Damage to fisheries + Contribution to the economy on many levels, ‐ Animal waste causing surface and groundwater from growers to harvesters to sellers pollution ‐ Increased health risks from pesticides ‐ Heavy use of fossil fuels leading to increased ozone pollution and global warming Factors that influence agricultural innovation • Incentive or regulatory government policies • Different abilities and potentials in agriculture and food sectors • Macro economic conditions (i.e. quantity and quality of public and private infrastructure and services, human capital, and the existing industrial mix) • The knowledge economy (access to agricultural knowledge and expertise) • Regulations at the production and institution levels The Challenge: Current industrial agriculture practices are temporarily increasing the Earth’s carrying capacity of humans while slowly destroying its long‐term carrying capacity. There is, therefore, a need to shift to more sustainable forms of industrial agriculture, which maximize its benefits while minimizing the downsides. Innovation in food Example (Real or hypothetical) processing Cost reduction / productivity improvement Quality enhancement / sensory performance Consumer convenience / new varieties Nutritional delivery / “healthier” Food safety 1 www.wikipedia.org .
    [Show full text]
  • The Business of Making Movies
    Cover Story THE BUSINESS OF MAKING MOVIES B Y S. MARK Y OUNG,JAMES J. GONG, AND W IM A. V AN DER S TEDE The U.S. motion picture industry generates close to $100 billion in revenues, is one of the country’s largest exporters, and exerts enormous cultural influence worldwide. But today it also faces enormous pressures. 26 STRATEGIC FINANCE I F ebruary 2008 oing to the movies has always been one of ney Pictures, Warner Brothers Pictures, Paramount Pic- society’s most pleasurable pastimes. Over tures, Columbia Pictures, and Universal Pictures. The the past few years, though, enormous MPAA represents these studios internationally and plays a changes have occurred in the movie- number of roles: It advocates for the U.S. film industry, making business: escalating production protects producers from copyright theft, and fights pira- and marketing costs, the significant impact cy. In 2006, the MPAA studios released 203 films (34%), of increased piracy, the uncertainty in film and other, independent distributors released 396 (66%). financing, the proliferation of digital tech- Even though major studios have made their name in Gnology, and the increase in available entertainment Hollywood, large, vertically integrated conglomerates options for consumers. These and other factors have own them today. These conglomerates also incorporate a implications for the motion picture business, the types of number of other forms of entertainment and media, such movies it will produce, and how and where people will as radio stations, cable and network television stations, view them. Based on research sponsored by the Foundation for Applied Research (FAR) of the Institute of Management THE LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS OF Accountants (IMA®), this is the first in a series of articles on the U.S.
    [Show full text]