Sustainable Agri-food Supply Chain Management from edX

Sustainable agri-food chains should operate in a manner that exploits and optimizes the synergies among environmental protection, social fairness and economic growth. Today, societal stakeholders demand the management of a sustainable agri-food supply chain to incorporate a diverse and often inter-related set of issues relating to sustainable development. There is surmounting global pressure for corporate responsibility to transcend product quality and extend to areas of labor standards, health and safety, environmental sustainability, non-financial accounting and reporting, procurement, supplier relations, product lifecycles and environmental practices. Principles of accountability, transparency and stakeholder engagement are highly relevant to sustainable agri-food supply chain management. Sustainable agri-food supply chain management covers the concept of sustainability from the field to the supply chain level by providing learners with tools for improving their company’s competitiveness, sustainability and responsibility towards stakeholder expectations.

A key priority in corporate strategic design is for an organization to emerge as socially responsible and sustainable through environment protection with a focus on maintenance of biodiversity and prevention of landscape damage. As well as reducing and controlling the environmental footprint of their agri-food supply chains. In order to develop sustainable and competitive agri-food supply chains the learner will explore the unique attributes of sustainable agri-food supply chains (SAFSCs) that differentiate them from other supply chains. Insight will be provided to the learner on the three dimensions of sustainability; economic, social, and environmental that competitive SAFSCs need to accommodate. In response to pressures for transparency and accountability, learners who take on the role of a sustainable agri-food supply chain manager, will need to know how to measure, benchmark, and report environmental sustainability performance of their supply chains. This course provides an in‐depth examination of SAFSCs and the related decision‐making.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply supply chain management principles in a sustainable way that protects the environment
Measure environmental sustainability performance of supply chains

Analyze the importance of ethics and transparency in supply chain management

Apply supply chain management principles in a sustainable way that protects the environment
Measure environmental sustainability performance of supply chains
Analyze the importance of ethics and transparency in supply chain management

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for learners pursuing a career as a supply chain manager

Examines sustainability concerns that are increasingly relevant in business and industry

Covers sustainability from a wide perspective, encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions

Helps learners develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainable supply chain practices

Suitable for learners interested in sustainability and its role in supply chain management

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Agri-food Supply Chain Management with these activities:

Refresh essential mathematics concepts

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Brush up on the principles of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics, which underpin many concepts in this agri-food chain management course.

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Review online resources on basic mathematics
Attend a workshop on mathematical fundamentals
Solve practice problems on algebra and geometry

Review environmental sustainability principles

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Review the core principles of environmental sustainability to set a strong foundation for exploring and understanding sustainable supply chain management.

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Read articles and books on environmental sustainability
Take online courses or workshops on environmental sustainability

Identify and analyze environmental sustainability performance indicators

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Analyze environmental sustainability performance indicators to sharpen your skills in measuring and reporting environmental impacts.

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Identify common environmental sustainability performance indicators used in agri-food supply chains.
Develop a framework for analyzing the relevance and effectiveness of different indicators.
Apply the framework to a case study and evaluate the environmental sustainability performance of an agri-food supply chain.

Two other activities

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Develop a sustainability strategy for an agri-food supply chain

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Apply your knowledge to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy for an agri-food supply chain, addressing environmental, social, and economic aspects.

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Conduct a thorough assessment of the current sustainability performance of the supply chain.
Identify key sustainability goals and objectives.
Develop strategies and action plans to achieve the sustainability goals.
Create a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and make necessary adjustments.

Create a sustainable agri-food supply chain case study

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Develop a case study to apply the principles of sustainable agri-food supply chain management to a real-world scenario, enabling you to grasp the practical implications of the concepts learned in the course.

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Research and select a case study topic that aligns with the course content.
Gather data and conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders.
Analyze the data and identify areas for improvement in terms of sustainability.
Develop recommendations for implementing sustainable practices in the supply chain.
Prepare and present a comprehensive case study report that outlines your findings and recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Agri-food Supply Chain Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Analyst

A Sustainability Analyst is responsible for investigating environmental and social issues within an organization and value chain. Sustainability Analysts must be able to quickly learn complex supply chains and industries, measure and report on their impacts, and then take action to improve them. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they can demonstrate their ability to measure and report on the environmental sustainability performance of supply chains.

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Environmental Consultant

An Environmental Consultant conducts environmental studies and assessments for clients, such as businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have built a foundation in the principles of sustainability and environmental protection.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager is responsible for developing and implementing corporate social responsibility strategies for an organization. Corporate Social Responsibility Managers must be able to understand the social and environmental impacts of their organization's activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable supply chain management strategies.

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Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer designs and implements solutions to environmental problems. Environmental Engineers must be able to understand the environmental impacts of their designs and develop solutions that minimize those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement sustainable supply chain management solutions.

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Supply Chain Manager

A Supply Chain Manager oversees the movement of goods and services from suppliers to customers. Supply Chain Managers must be able to manage complex supply chains, identify and mitigate risks, and optimize efficiency. Graduates of this course may find success in this role as they will have gained the skills necessary to manage a sustainable supply chain.

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Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for an organization. Sustainability Managers must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of their organization's activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable supply chain management strategies.

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Sustainable Development Manager

A Sustainable Development Manager is responsible for developing and implementing sustainable development strategies for an organization. Sustainable Development Managers must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of their organization's activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable supply chain management strategies for organizations.

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Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant provides advice and support to organizations on sustainability issues. Sustainability Consultants must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of their clients' activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to provide advice and support to organizations on sustainable supply chain management.

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Sustainability Scientist

A Sustainability Scientist conducts research on the environmental and social impacts of human activities. Sustainability Scientists must be able to understand the complex interactions between human activities and the environment and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct research on the environmental and social impacts of supply chains.

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Product Sustainability Manager

A Product Sustainability Manager is responsible for developing and implementing product sustainability strategies for an organization's products. Product Sustainability Managers must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of their organization's products and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable supply chain management strategies for products.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a company. Operations Managers must be able to manage complex operations, identify and mitigate risks, and optimize efficiency. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the skills necessary to manage a sustainable supply chain.

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Logistician

A Logistician is responsible for planning and executing the movement of goods and services. Logisticians must be able to manage complex supply chains, identify and mitigate risks, and optimize efficiency. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the skills necessary to manage a sustainable supply chain.

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Supply Chain Analyst

A Supply Chain Analyst is responsible for analyzing the performance of a company's supply chain. Supply Chain Analysts must be able to identify and mitigate risks, and optimize efficiency. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the skills necessary to analyze the performance of a sustainable supply chain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst

ESG Analyst

An ESG Analyst is responsible for analyzing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities for investors. ESG Analysts must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of companies' activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze ESG risks and opportunities for investors in supply chains.

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Sustainability Reporting Analyst

A Sustainability Reporting Analyst is responsible for preparing and reporting on an organization's sustainability performance. Sustainability Reporting Analysts must be able to understand the environmental and social impacts of their organization's activities and develop strategies to reduce those impacts. Graduates of this course may find success in this role because they will have gained the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare and report on sustainability performance in supply chains.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Reporting Analyst