Shelf-life Prediction & Dynamic Incentives Team Continues to Drive Innovation

The Future is Now - Supply Chain of the Future Launches Phase II!

From Vision to Action: The Movement Gains Momentum

The fresh produce industry is experiencing a paradigm shift, and the Supply Chain of the Future (SCOTF) initiative is leading the charge! Fresh off an electrifying symposium in Washington D.C. that brought together over 200 industry leaders from 19 countries, we're thrilled to announce the launch of Phase II – where innovative ideas transform into practical, implementable solutions.

What Makes This Initiative Game-Changing?

This isn't just another industry talking shop. Steve Alaerts from IFPA captured it perfectly: "This is a movement." We're moving beyond the traditional silos that have held our industry back for decades, creating a collaborative ecosystem where every stakeholder – from growers to retailers, from tech providers to logistics companies – can thrive together.

The excitement is palpable.

"We're not just painting cool pictures of great tech that everyone gets excited about. We're connecting the people and businesses that make the supply chain work, ensuring everyone's needs are met and there's something in it for them." - Drew Zabrocki

Phase II: Three Powerhouse Working Groups

1. ROI Calculators & Business Impact

Led by Walter Tordoff from Fresh Del Monte, this group is tackling the #1 question every CFO asks: "What's in it for us?" They're creating practical frameworks, templates, and case studies that demonstrate clear return on investment for shelf-life prediction and dynamic incentive technologies.

The Vision: No more struggling to justify supply chain innovations. Companies will have ready-to-use tools that speak the language of finance teams and make the business case crystal clear.

2. Best Practices & Service Level Agreements

Under Mike Laws' leadership from Laws Logistics, this group is solving the "how do we actually do this?" challenge. They're developing commercial frameworks, contract templates, and service level agreements that make data sharing and collaboration seamless.

The Impact: Finally, a standardized approach to incorporating cutting-edge supply chain technologies into everyday business practices.

3. Pilot Program Framework

Jim Schallman from Danaco Solutions is spearheading efforts to democratize innovation. This group creates toolkits and guidance that enable companies of all sizes to run successful pilots and technology evaluations.

The Promise: Innovation isn't just for the big players anymore. Mid-size companies will have the same tools and frameworks that industry leaders use to evaluate and implement new technologies.

Global Recognition: Taking It to the UN

The initiative's impact has caught international attention! The team has been invited to present at the World Trade Organization's Technical Barriers to Trade committee in Geneva. This recognition validates that collaborative industry-led standardization efforts like SCOTF are the future of effective regulation and trade facilitation. 

• Read more about that here:  www.collaboratoryaf.org/geneva 

What's Coming Next?

Mark Your Calendars:

• July 15th: Phase II officially launches with bi-weekly working group sessions

• October: Grand showcase at the Global Produce Show in Anaheim

• Beyond: Scaling adoption across the industry

The steering committee, featuring powerhouse companies and organizations, is designing an October presentation that will demonstrate real, functional tools and pilot results – not just concepts, but working solutions ready for industry adoption.

The Innovation Hub Advantage

One of the most exciting developments is the expansion of the Innovation Hub concept. The three-minute lightning rounds at the D.C. symposium were such a hit that they're becoming a cornerstone of how emerging technologies get connected with established industry players.

Join the Movement

This is more than an initiative – it's a fundamental shift in how our industry approaches collaboration, innovation, and shared value creation. The energy is infectious, the momentum is building, and the results are going to be transformative.

Ready to be part of the future? The next phase promises practical tools, real implementations, and measurable outcomes that will reshape how we think about fresh produce supply chains forever.

🚀 Join the working groups today, click here.

The future isn't coming – it's here. And it's more exciting than we ever imagined.