Orchardland's SCI Lab: Pioneering research at the intersection of AI and global trade

The Supply Chain Intelligence (SCI) Lab at Orchardland operates at the intersection of AI research and international economics. We conduct open, data-driven investigations into the systemic challenges that limit global trade and supply chain efficiency. Our mission is to illuminate inefficiencies—such as pricing asymmetries, supply chain friction, documentation barriers, and trust deficits between buyers and suppliers—that prevent equitable access to international markets.

By analyzing large-scale economic and trade data across nations, we investigate how value chains break down, where costs inflate, and what structural or regulatory gaps hinder smoother, more transparent trade. Our research covers real-world issues such as price transmission failures, middle-layer inefficiencies, and the difficulty of establishing verified, trustworthy connections between buyers and suppliers. These frictions often lead to inflated costs for end consumers and limited reach for small or emerging exporters.

SCI Lab combines the expertise of economists, data scientists, and AI engineers to model commodity price flows, track where value is added or lost, and pinpoint how documentation and compliance requirements impact trade access. We also study buyer-supplier dynamics with an eye toward improving market trust, transparency, and match efficiency. Using advanced AI tools, we run large-scale analyses and support primary and secondary data collection campaigns to ground our findings in both empirical evidence and field insights.

We regularly publish open-access case studies, visual reports, and explainers that inform policymakers, researchers, and global businesses on how to reduce trade friction and build stronger, more resilient global supply networks.

Are you passionate about economic research and data analysis? Join us to build a future of frictionless, transparent, and equitable global trade.