Kearney and Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business partner on a two-part series exploring disruption, chaos and the future of food and agriculture.
The agri-food system is facing more complexity than ever. From changing consumer expectations to labor gaps and policy shifts, every part of the value chain is under pressure to adapt.
A new white paper, Managing Chaos and Disruption in the Agri-Food System: Part 1 – Understanding the Challenge, produced in partnership between Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business and global consulting firm Kearney, offers a detailed look at what’s driving this volatility and how agribusinesses can begin to respond.
This collaboration reflects the center’s ongoing commitment to helping agri-food leaders navigate today’s challenges and plan for tomorrow’s opportunities.
The report explores these forces and distinguishes between disruption – gradual but transformative shifts – and chaos – sudden, unpredictable shocks that upend entire value chains.
Key highlights include:
- Disruption vs. chaos.
Not all challenges look the same. The report distinguishes between slow-moving disruptions and sudden, unpredictable chaos, and explains why understanding both is essential. - Consumers are changing fast.
Health, taste, sustainability, convenience and transparency all play a growing role in how consumers make decisions. - Technology is evolving the system.
From precision ag and automation to new finance tools and supply chain platforms, tech is reshaping the way food is grown, processed and delivered. - Policy and macro forces matter.
Political instability, trade policy and rising input costs are increasing the stakes.
To remain competitive, the authors argue, businesses across the agri-food system must adopt strategies built on resilience, agility and optionality. These three critical capabilities will enable firms to respond to both the expected and the unknown.
The second report in the series will offer tools and frameworks to help organizations put resilience, agility and optionality into practice.
About the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business
The Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business provides professional development, advanced degree programs and applied research for the agribusiness industry. Established in 1986, the center is part of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics and connects academic expertise with industry needs. Programs include open-enrollment workshops, custom training, and the MS-MBA in food and agribusiness management. The center also conducts research to support data-driven decision-making in food and agriculture. Learn more at https://agribusiness.purdue.edu.
About Kearney
Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm. For nearly 100 years, we have been a trusted advisor to C-suites, government bodies and nonprofit organizations. Our people make us who we are. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we work alongside our clients to regenerate their businesses to create a future that works for everyone. Learn more at www.kearney.com.
