BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN FARMERS AND CONSUMERS: VALUE CREATION AND MEDIATION IN “PASTURE-RAISED BEEF” FOOD NETWORKS

The aim of this article is to explore how different quality dimensions (safety, aesthetics, ethics and rooted ness) are created in food networks; how these qualities are transferred until the consumers; and how this process is supported by the organisation of the food network. Our postulate is that combining the quality and organisation dimensions and exploring the link between them will provide an interesting perspective for improving the sharing of values in food networks. This framework is applied to five case studies of “pasture-raised beef” food networks in France, representing a diversity of organisations such as public label scheme, cooperate owned brand and direct sell from farmer to consumer. The results highlight the importance of the role of certification and personal commitment for the creation, and also for the mediation of added-value.Grassland, Meat quality, Sustainability, Food labeling, Case study, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Organic Farming Development and Agricultural Institutions in Europe: A Study of Six Countries

Cooperation between general agricultural institutions and the organisation of the organic farming sector are key factors for the development of organic farming. This study analyses the relationships of organic farming organisations with other farmers' organisations, agencies of agricultural policy and food market firms in six European countries. On this basis it identifies a path for successful development of organic farming which is adaptable to the special conditions of all European countries. This book presents the most systematic and in-depth comparison of the dynamics of organic farming development to date, providing concrete suggestions for a line of action for everyone with an interest in developing organic farming

New Developments in Agricultural Policy Modelling and Consequences for Managing the Policy Analysis Systems

Last decade, the importance of multifunctionality and environmental issues in agricultural policies has been growing. This shift in scope of agricultural policy instruments implies an adjustment of the conventional ex-ante policy analysis systems. New requirements on input and output parameters will be needed. The objective of this paper is to show how the input/output management can be improved. Focus is on how the information management by the system can enhance the policy analysis and decision making and facilitate information flow and social support from the stakeholder debate.policy impact analysis, joint production, farmers' behaviour, knowledge flow Organisation, Agricultural and Food Policy, C8, Q18,

Agricultural Trade Policy Issues in the Eighties, Current Research and Long-Term Forecasting

Domestic agricultural policy and trade policy are closely linked. Thus, research, including long-term forecasting activities, must take into account the domestic as well as international implications of trade policy issues. The seventh meeting of the Consortium on Trade Research on June 23-24, 1983, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, focused on the problems facing international agricultural trade in the eighties; current research efforts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Canada, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretariat; and the status, problems, and applications of long-term forecasting models.Trade policy, trade modeling, long-term forecasting, monetary policy, exchange rates, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade,

Agricultural competitiveness and supply chain integration: South Africa, Argentina and Australia

The international competitiveness of South African agricultural exports relative to those of Argentina and Australia is considered. Competitiveness was measured in terms of the Relative Comparative Advantage (RTA) using data from FAOSTAT 2002, while trade perspectives were examined using data from the World Trade Organisation and the Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) databases. The results of the RTA show that South Africa's agricultural food chains are marginally competitive internationally, whereas Argentina and Australia's agricultural food chains are internationally competitive. The analysis also shows that South Africa has managed to move up the value chain relative to Argentina and Australia. Nevertheless, competitiveness decreases in all three countries when moving from primary to processed products in the chains, which implies that value-adding opportunities are limited. Based on their competitive status, there is a potential in certain agro-food chains for supply chain integration and co-operation. Strategic alliances are important instruments for competitiveness. They create flexibility in operations, enhance technology transfer and networking and exploit possible complementary and supplementary relations between industries and organisations.Agribusiness,

CHALLENGES FOR THE FLEMISH AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES TO SUPPORT AN INNOVATIVE AND COMPETITIVE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Agriculture is faced by permanent evolution and it is expected that this trend will continue in the next decennium. The question is what challenges lie ahead and which types of agricultural research can support the sector in order to retain its competitive power by the year 2020. To address this issue, a multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary process was initiated in Flanders. The process outcomes learn that two types of action are needed. Firstly, there is need for a focused knowledge production in 5 thematic fields. Central issues hereby are an efficient agriculture, the broadening of the value creation model of agriculture and the increasing sustainability of production. Secondly, efforts should be made to improve the organisation of research with emphasis on participation, anticipation, meta-coordination and validation of research outcomes.Research organisation, Knowledge networks, Innovation, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Agri-food business: Global challenges â Innovative solutions

The rise of a western-style middle class in many successful emerging economies like China currently is inducing deep structural changes on agricultural world markets and within the global agri-food business. As a result of both higher incomes and concerns over product safety and quality the global demand for high-quality and safe food products is increasing significantly. In order to meet the new required quality, globally minimum quality standards are rising and private standards emerging. All over the world these developments cause adjustments at the enterprise, chain and market levels. At the same time, the tremendously increasing demand for renewable energy has led to the emergence of a highly promising market for biomass production. This has far-reaching consequences for resource allocation in the agri-food business, for the environment, for the poor in developing countries and for agricultural policy reforms. The challenges increase with ongoing liberalisation, globalisation and standardisation, all of which change trade patterns for agricultural and food commodities, and influence production costs and commodity prices. The objective of the IAMO Forum is to show opportunities as well as risks for all participants of the food economy in the ongoing globalisation process: for small peasants in developing countries, farmers in Europe and globally active food enterprises and retailers. The success of enterprises depends on the ability to find innovative solutions with regard to the organisation of enterprises, chains, and markets, as well as future policy design. Concerning bio-energy strategies has to be identified to combat global warming most efficiently and concurrently attenuate the competition between "tank and table" on farmland. IAMO Forum 2008, as well as this book, would not have been possible without the engagement of many people and institutions. We thank the authors of the papers, as well as the referees. Furthermore we are highly indebted to MARLIES LOHR, NADINE GIEMSA and RONNY RECKE who in an outstanding way contributed to the organisation of the Forum. This is true as well for the IAMO administration, whose work we gratefully acknowledge. Many sponsors has funded the IAMO Forum 2008. We are very grateful to the German Research Foundation (DFG), The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Production in Germany, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Federal State Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and last but not least the City of Halle. Further Conference sponsors are the BIONADE Corporation, Gaensefurther Mineral Water, The Wine Growers Association of the Region Saale-Unstrut, Germany, Obsthof am SüÃen See GmbH, Monsanto Company, KWS Saat AG, Sachsen-Anhalt-Tours, Baumkuchen Salzwedel and the Hallesches Brauhaus.Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Industrial Organization, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Development, Marketing, Political Economy,

Diversifying agriculture in post-conflict areas: 7 things we can change

Agricultural biodiversity is central to current and future food and nutrition and security needs in Uganda. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, such as Teso and Acholi sub regions, which faced up to two decades of conflict, this diversity is increasingly under threat from practices such as charcoal making and land clearing for agriculture. As a result, there is reduced investment in longer term sustainable farming practices that conserve and promote diversity. This contributes to high food insecurity and lack of access to diverse diets especially among vulnerable groups such as Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) (15-49 years) and children under five years. Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices can promote agrobiodiversity and enhance nutritional outcomes and quality of life of vulnerable groups. This brief gives a summary of findings and insights from research conducted in 2018 by Bioversity International and Trocaire, Uganda, working closely with a number of partners including National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO), Makerere University and Ministry of Health-Uganda (Division of Nutrition). It points out interventions and actions that can be implemented in culturally

The Pakistan Agricultural Research System: Present Status and Future Agenda

Alarming food supply and demand deficits are projected to the year 2020 and beyond for Pakistan, based on its current low investment/low growth agricultural sector. Evidence suggests that agricultural productivity growth and increases in production may not keep pace with past growth rates. Part of the problem is an underfunded and poorly managed agricultural research system that can not hope to contribute significantly to increasing agricultural productivity now or in the future. The World Bank-assisted Agricultural Research II Project (ARP-II) was initiated to partially overcome some of the funding problems and provide institutional development in the areas of organisation, planning, and management of the research system at both the federal and provincial levels. A National Master Agricultural Research Plan (NMARP) was one of the principal goals of the ARP-II as part of improving research planning and management. The objective of this paper is to review the reasons why the Pakistan agricultural research system needs to be revitalised, review the status and problems of the present agricultural research system, and outline a future agenda for Pakistan’s agricultural research system based on the plan developed for the NMARP.

Organic food marketing and distribution in the European Union

The paper discusses the European organic agricultural sector from a socio-economical point of view and from a EU perspective. In the 1990s organic agriculture has known a strong development and today it is considered as a stable sector and with a certain economic importance inside agricultural sector. If originally organic food was the result of an ideological choice and was set inside the alternative culture in opposition to current models of economic development and social organisation, today it has the feature of an entrepreneurial phenomenon, belonging to a life style and to a finally acknowledged cultural model which is able to attract human and financial resources on its own, to produce profit and to satisfy a steadily increasing market. A description of the data obtained by the main available sources on organic food markets in Europe is provided, trying to analyse the present scenario for organic agriculture with the lenses of the 4Ps marketing management paradigm. The analysis may be useful to shed light on the several facets of the organic sector in Europe, and as a basis for further studies on the topic.organic food, distribution, marketing, communication, brand