What can be done to support supply chain farms under contract?
Evaluating and choosing a supply chain and contract are keys to success. Assuring access to information on industry contracting standards and supply chain track records is important. Policymakers can set minimum contract standards and assure ability to monitor complaints. Contracts imposing exclusive buy back and bundling requirements for generic inputs can be prohibited. Assurance that contract disputes will be adjudicated in local courts is important for farmers who contract with out-of-state firms. Some universities are examining public/private research partnerships that preserve proprietary information but create unique research and education opportunities for meeting the needs of the supply chain stakeholders. Supply chains are more likely to flourish under policies that do not arbitrarily assure protection of open markets but that do require reporting of market information. Given the stormy relations that can develop between franchisees and franchisors, supply chain farms operati
