Agro-food chains and networks play an increasingly important role in providing access to markets for producers from developing countries. In developing countries companies become integrated into geographically dispersed supply networks that link producers, traders and processors from the South with retailers and consumers in urban centres and in the North. Globalization of trade and integration of supply chains lead to new demands regarding food quality, safety and health.
Companies involved in global food and agri-business chains and networks face fast changes in their market and business environment. New procedures and practices for organizing food supply networks – based on co-innovation between primary producers, processors and retailers – are emerging to cope with food grades and standards. Optimizing chain performance asks for cooperation between all agents involved in the supply chain. Agro-food companies communicate consumers’ demands to smallholders to guarantee stable market access. Public and voluntary agencies may provide important contributions for reinforcing the supply-chain environment.
This volume combines insights from theory with a large number of business cases to enable a better understanding of the opportunities and constraints that supply-chain integration can offer for stimulating rural development.
AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK.- AGRO-FOOD CHAINS AND NETWORKS FOR DEVELOPMENT Issues, approaches and strategies.- CHAIN INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT.- AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE LIBERALIZATION.- PARTICIPATION OF SMALLHOLDERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE.- CHAINS AND NETWORKS FOR DEVELOPMENT Articulating stakeholders in international trade.- VEGETABLES SOURCING IN AFRICA The experience of Freshmark.- BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS FOR ADDING VALUE The role of agribusiness in developing trade.- THE CONTRIBUTION OF FAIR TRADE TOWARDS MARKET ACCESS BY SMALLHOLDER BANANA PRODUCERS.- THE RAPID RISE OF SUPERMARKETS AND THE USE OF PRIVATE STANDARDS IN THEIR FOOD PRODUCT PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.- AGRO-FOOD CHAINS AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD A case study of cassava marketing in Nigeria.- BUSINESS CASES.- SUPPLY-CHAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THAILAND.- FRUITFUL Integrated supply-chain information system for fruit produce between South Africa and The Netherlands.- BRASCAN How to capture value in the beef chain.- FISH IN KENYA The Nile-perch chain.- ORGANIC CACAO CHAIN FOR DEVELOPMENT The case of the Talamanca Small-Farmers Association.- THE NOVELLA PROJECT Developing a sustainable supply chain for Allanblackia oil.- DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE MEDICINAL-PLANT CHAIN IN INDIA Linking people, markets and values.- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.- SUSTAINABLE AGRO-FOOD CHAINS Challenges for research and development.- EXCLUSION OF SMALL-SCALE FARMERS FROM COORDINATED SUPPLY CHAINS Market failure, policy failure or just economies of scale?.- FOOD CHAINS AND NETWORKS FOR DEVELOPMENT Lessons and outlook.
