Return to Theoretical Simplified System Using DIDO

The Theoretical Agricultural Supply Chain goes beyond just bing produce to the table, it also considers the organic certification of food. According to the USDA¹⁾

USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.

Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In instances when a grower has to use a synthetic substance to achieve a specific purpose, the substance must first be approved according to criteria that examine its effects on human health and the environment

This infers that the Supply Chain needs to reach back to before the crops are harvested and for several years before they are even planted. To tackle this problem, the Supply Chain is divided into two areas: Organic and Agricultural Supply Chains. Each is discussed separately: