What does the Chair of Food Supply Chain Management actually do?

What specifically are you researching at the new faculty in Kulmbach?
Companies in the food industry are faced with the challenge of bringing goods to customers sustainably, quickly, and safely. In practice, this gives rise to numerous operational issues that are not easy to manage. Together with a highly motivated research team, I develop computer-aided management systems that can support the numerous companies in the food sector in analysing these questions and designing individual solutions. The focus is on logistical processes, such as the organisation of food delivery, but also on the specifics of regional supply chains.

What do you see as the (potential) benefits of this research?
About one third of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. This is not only an enormous waste of resources that is harmful to the environment, but also a major economic and ethical problem. An important point of our research work is therefore the prevention of food waste. At the same time, we want to help strengthen people's security of supply and make them less vulnerable to crises – whether in our own country or in other regions of the world. The events of recent years show us what dramatic worldwide consequences can occur when problems and delays occur in supply chains in the food sector. All our Kulmbach projects are committed to the principle of sustainability, in economic, ecological, and social terms.

Do you cooperate with companies or public institutions in the region? With which ones and in what way?
We are currently cooperating with Tafel Kulmbach e.V. as part of a master's thesis. Further cooperation projects are still in the development phase.