Using macro environmental data to support long term adaptation, management and mitigation of sustainability and climate change issues within agriculture and supply chains to the UK food retail sector

This project brings together the University of Leeds and Grantham Institute with commercial developers from BioCarbon Tracker and ESRI UK to provide Sainsbury’s with insights into site-specific, multi-parameter environmental risk profiles, both for now and for future forecasting. Risk profiles will combine three categories of data: multiple layers of geospatial data for environmental conditions; combined with crop models and production conditions (to predict performance); and linked to corporate data (such as supplier locations, supply chains, procurement volumes). Outputs from geoprocess models will indicate risks - by type and location - that affect product quality, availability or cost and allow model-based analysis of sustainability and risk. Within the project, ArcGIS Online will be used to share findings with Sainsbury’s suppliers for specific sites, which will be validated with growers’ direct experiences. The development of this system will provide insights to Sainsbury’s and its vast network of suppliers to make them more competitive in the global market. Insights will ultimately inform investment decisions and contractual arrangements to shape supply chains of the future.