WEB-BASED TOOLS TO ENHANCE LIVESTOCK INFRASTRUCTURE IN REGIONAL and LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS

This project seeks to introduce web-based technology tools to the livestock industry that would equilibrate business risks between farmer and processor, moving the relationships toward mobile technology for convenience and reliability, and increasing business efficiency for both parties.Our project is designed to make small to mid-sized livestock farms more profitable by assuring the availability of a necessary component of infrastructure -- namely, slaughter and processing -- when the availability of these services is required. Equally, it is designed to increase the viability and growing profitability of slaughter and processing facilities, whose existence is essential to livestock farmers in all rural areas near metropolitan centers. The raising of livestock and the processing thereof are interdependent activities. Neither can grow and prosper, neither can do its share to build rural communities, without both being economically sustainable, and without sharing the business risks associated with meat production.