Dive Brief: Dive Insight: Walmart said the first-of-its-kind Agritask initiative aims to reduce food waste, provide fresher produce to customers and improve supply chain management by giving sourcing managers more information about factors impacting seasonal crops. Climate, especially, is playing a major role in supply chain disruptions. A recent report from Everstream Analytics said extreme weather events are the top risk facing supply chains in 2024.
The USDA has estimated that 30% of food loss occurs during agricultural production and harvest. The agency noted in a report that weather, disease and pests are major factors impacting food loss and quality in the food supply chain, flagging unpredictable weather as a key driver of food loss. "This pilot offers innovative solutions to address climate change and improve industry sustainability,” Kyle Carlyle, vice president of sourcing innovation and surety of supply at Walmart, said in an email.
“Amid changing weather patterns, these technologies help us adjust sourcing strategies, ensuring product availability and quality despite climate challenges.” Walmart and Agritask said they selected cherries and blackberries for the pilot because those fruits are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and moisture levels, which can impact their growth and quality. The information the companies gather could, for example, allow managers to receive information about unexpected frost harming cherry production or information abou.
