12 April 2007 Multi-Stakeholder Workshop
Improving the position of smallholders through knowledge exchange between Tropical Food Chains and Research
Background
Chain development is playing an increasingly important role in food production in both local and international markets. Developing countries are becoming more and more integrated in the global food market due to an increase of consumer demand for year round supply of exotic products in Western countries. This means, however, that developing countries must adapt to stringent quality and safety standards and regulations in these markets. They must also gain better control over production, trade and distribution of their agricultural products in order to guarantee traceability of their products and to operate in a cost-effective way so as to compete on the global market. Supply chain collaboration can support developing countries in obtaining access to potential markets and it can transfer knowledge and technology in order to optimise production and distribution throughout cross-border supply chains.
Unequal power relationships in the chain (e.g. increasing global power of retailers) and trade barriers impact not only the organisation of the cross-border supply chain (moving value-adding activities to western countries) but also the division of costs and benefits. In particular small-scale producers in developing countries are in a disadvantageous position because they have little capital to invest, use traditional techniques, are dependent on family labour and lack contact with (international) market players. As a result of increased competition, these small-scale producers may turn-out as the losers.
Presentations (pdf files)
Workshop Pictures
