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Building Resilience to Shocks and Disruptions in Local and Regional Food Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Recent multiple shocks (e.g., COVID-19 combined with climate shocks and foodborne pathogens) have revealed critical vulnerabilities of agri-food systems. These shocks uniquely challenge local and regional food supply chains, many of which produce, process, and distribute food products critical to the food and nutritional security of the US population. Although multiple types of shocks occur concurrently and/or sequentially, previous research and strategies have largely addressed individual shocks separately. Thus, complex interactions and cumulative impacts of multiple shocks are often overlooked.

Since the magnitude and frequency of shocks are projected to increase, understanding their impacts is crucial to enhance food system resilience through better decision-making, extension, and education. The goal of this project is to build local and regional food systems that are resilient to multiple shocks. This goal will be accomplished through nine interrelated objectives. Objectives 1-3 evaluate key characteristics of supply chains, impacts of historical and projected shocks, and alternative mitigation/adaptation strategies. Objectives 4-5 center on innovative systems modeling, simulation, and decision support using artificial intelligence. Objective 6 examines the impact of shocks and mitigation strategies on food and nutrition security, particularly among vulnerable US populations. Objectives 7-8 apply novel research findings to extension and education. Objective 9 promotes a holistic integration of research, extension, and education to inspire futuristic, equitable solutions to policymakers and stakeholders. While our focus is the US Midwest, this integrated project will have national and international applicability.

Dr. Brent Ross is an associate professor and the associate chairperson in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Today’s global agri- food system faces increasing levels of complexity, uncertainty, and disruption. Dr. Ross seeks to understand and improve how firms and supply chains manage and create sustainable value in this type of competitive environment. His scholarly research activities in this area have focused the adoption of sustainability initiatives in food supply chains, and the emergence of new business models (and organizational innovations) in local and regional agri-food systems. Dr.
Ross is also an award-winning instructor. Active learning strategies (case studies and simulation) are central to his teaching approach, and he is regularly invited (in the U.S., and globally) to develop and deliver food and agribusiness management curriculum and programming.

He has published over 30 articles in leading agribusiness journals and his work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Most recently, he is program director for the new USDA NIFA Sustainable Agricultural Systems Food Shocks Project.