Inaugural JAFSCD column on Value Chain Coordination by Anaya L. Hall (U of Kentucky), Laura Edwards-Orr (Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA), Andrew Carberry (Wallace Center at Winrock International), and Eric De Luca (Leverage Point Consulting)
JAFSCD is delighted to share this first column on the topic of value chain coordination (VCC). We define VCC as the development of relational infrastructure—networks, information channels, and partnerships—that support thriving and sustainable regional food economies. Across various geographies and markets, VCC has emerged as a critical lever for addressing challenges like supply chain disruption, market consolidation, and increasing climate-driven risk.
In this inaugural column, we introduce VCC—a concept that bridges many concerns of JAFSCD readers—and suggest a few topics that upcoming columns may address. JAFSCD also announces a new series of program, policy, and practice briefs focused on value chain coordination. This series aims to synthesize the current knowledge on coordinating values-based food supply chains into concise, high-impact, practitioner-focused briefs. We also provide some context on the first VCC Brief from JAFSCD (to be published soon!), which focuses on how VCC offers a pathway to address challenges associated with institutional purchasing and harness this strategic opportunity to support regional and sustainable food producers.
The series and associated articles are being curated by a JAFSCD Value Chain Coordination Editorial Circle made up of scholars and practitioners who will also jointly produce this quarterly column. Corresponding author and JAFSCD Associate Editor for VCC Anaya L. Hall can be reached at anaya.hall@uky.edu.
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JAFSCD shares the inaugural column on the topic of value chain coordination, and announces a new series of program, policy, and practice briefs focused on value chain coordination. Follow along with us and read the inaugural article, for free, @JAFSCD: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2026.152.039
