October 2023

Workshop in Tunisia

Over the course of the 4-day project meeting, the project team delved into crucial aspects of sustainability and circular economy in Mediterranean citrus supply chains. The agenda covered a comprehensive range of topics, including market analysis, pilot studies, and scenario exploration. Discussions extended to the scalability and transferability of value cases, lifecycle assessment, logistics optimization, and supply chain network design.

Further highlights were presentations on simulation models and the ADSS platform, addressing country profiles, technology roadmaps, and customization of assessment models and algorithms. The meeting concluded with insightful field trips, exploring a citrus farm incubator, and a public center for professional agriculture training, emphasizing potential cooperation opportunities in engineering and agriculture training.

See the video of this project meeting here.

The insights of the workshop were used to synthesize the individual tasks, streamlined to foster innovation adoption in citrus supply chains.
Various key aspects across different thematic areas were assessed, serving as inputs to other tasks, especially supply chain mapping. In the context of market mnalysis (T2.3), valorization paths and technologies, considering country agreements, consumer perspectives, examination of technology adoption criteria, and differentiation of supply chains based on product types (such as organic and probiotic juices) are examples of relevant aspects for the development of business models and mapping of citrus supply chains. Moving to business models (T3.3), the focus is on the assessment of potentials and trade-offs in valorization paths, tailored to different value chains. The identification of value creation points and key performance indicators are also crucial aspects to consider, emphasizing a regional perspective and scalability to business models. In the realm of logistics optimization (T4.2), the evaluation of trade-offs within supply chain networks, practical implications for farmers (T5.1), and strategies for companies derived from T5.2 are necessary inputs for supply chain mapping.

A lifecycle assessment for different supply chain networks, particularly those involving cold chains, can be used to compare the current pilot case (Al-Hady) with future improvements, while scenarios help to make strategic decisions and reduce uncertainties. All these aspects are crucial inputs for a strategic mapping of supply chains, which can be employed to identify waste and waste qualities at each stage of the supply chain. Eventually, these aspects should be reflected in the ADSS, which should provide opportunities for stakeholders to design sustainable and resilient citrus supply chains.