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Cultivating resilience: How trust-based partnerships are shaping the U.S. Northeast's regional grain economy
via www.foodsystemsjournal.org
Posted October 20, 2025 9:46 am
Behind thriving regional grain chains are strong relationships and shared values—the “soft infrastructure” that makes collaboration possible and resilience achievable. |
JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Elise Neidecker (U of New Hampshire), Thomas Safford (U of New Hampshire), Matthew Hoffman (Landmark College), Michelle Miller (U of Wisconsin–Madison), Heather Darby (U of Vermont Extension), and Analena Bruce (U of New Hampshire)
The industrialization and commodification of grain production have led to significant environmental, health, and economic consequences. In response, regional grain value chains are emerging through collaborations among farmers, millers, bakers, maltsters, and brewers. These partnerships are part of a broader movement toward the development of values-based supply chains in the food system, where long-term, strategic business relationships are built on shared principles such as fairness, community commitment, and environmental sustainability.
In a new JAFSCD article, “Not a siloed effort”: Partnership strategies supporting regional grain value chains in the Upper Northeast, USA, authors Elise Neidecker, Thomas Safford, Matthew Hoffman, Michelle Miller, Heather Darby, and Analena Bruce, examine the key partnership strategies that sustain these values-based regional grain systems.
Corresponding author Elise Neidecker can be contacted at e.neidecker@gmail.com.
KEY FINDINGS
JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Elise Neidecker (U of New Hampshire), Thomas Safford (U of New Hampshire), Matthew Hoffman (Landmark College), Michelle Miller (U of Wisconsin–Madison), Heather Darby (U of Vermont Extension), and Analena Bruce (U of New Hampshire)
The industrialization and commodification of grain production have led to significant environmental, health, and economic consequences. In response, regional grain value chains are emerging through collaborations among farmers, millers, bakers, maltsters, and brewers. These partnerships are part of a broader movement toward the development of values-based supply chains in the food system, where long-term, strategic business relationships are built on shared principles such as fairness, community commitment, and environmental sustainability.
In a new JAFSCD article, “Not a siloed effort”: Partnership strategies supporting regional grain value chains in the Upper Northeast, USA, authors Elise Neidecker, Thomas Safford, Matthew Hoffman, Michelle Miller, Heather Darby, and Analena Bruce, examine the key partnership strategies that sustain these values-based regional grain systems.
Corresponding author Elise Neidecker can be contacted at e.neidecker@gmail.com.
KEY FINDINGS
- Trust is foundational: Verbal agreements are often honored as reliably as written contracts, underscoring the importance of long-standing, trust-based relationships in values-based supply chains.
- Early and frequent planning: Grain processors work closely with farmers and end-users to plan crop varieties, acreage, and delivery timelines—often before planting begins. This integrated planning fosters stability in these business partnerships.
- Flexible pricing built on transparency: Prices are negotiated collaboratively, grounded in actual costs and mutual respect, in contrast to the opaque and transactional nature of commodity markets.
- Personal relationships build resilience: Many partners describe each other as friends as well as business collaborators, helping them navigate market shifts and difficult years together.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Invest in both physical and relational infrastructure: While equipment and infrastructure investments are essential, so are convenings, educational efforts, and matchmaking initiatives. Public funding and grant programs should support both.Support Extension and nonprofit organizations: University Extension services and nonprofits play a vital role in facilitating knowledge exchange and relationship-building across values-based supply chains. These entities require sustained investment.
SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS Behind thriving regional grain chains are strong relationships and shared values—the “soft infrastructure” that makes collaboration possible and resilience achievable. In a new JAFSCD article, authors examine the key partnership strategies that sustain these values-based regional grain systems.
Read the entire article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.144.024
Re-posted from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development - News Flash, October 16th 2025
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