equity: industry analysis: "integrate backward"

sometime in industry analysis, i see “lack attractive opportunies to integrate backwards”, what is “integrate backwards”? Thanks.

It means moving backwards in the supply chain, like when a brewery buys the farm that supplys the hops/grain. Forward integration would be if the farmer bought out the brewery. So your buying backwards in your supply chain gaurantee your supply of raw materials

Integrating forward means, a player in the supply chain moves closer to the customer. Eg. A wholesales buys a retailer. Integrating backwards is moving away from the customer. A manufacturer buys its supplier.