"The role of producer organizations in market chains has received increasing attention in recent years, both from governments and donors. In order to lower transaction costs, markets demand that smallholder farmers operate in an organized manner. However, though the policy openings for support seem promising, smallholder market access through farmer-led economic organisations is not easy. This book presents various approaches to support producer organisations in terms of providing economic services to their members, with a focus on developing countries. Markets are increasingly fragmented in value chains that link farmers with specific processors, retailers and consumer segments. Several contributions in this book analyse these dynamics in specific value chains, such as the fair trade and organic agriculture and their potential to provide market outlets for smallholder farmers. This book is the result of a Dutch partnership between policy makers, researchers and practitioners designed to confront ideas with realities. Organized in a platform called Agri-ProFocus, members aim to provide more and better support to producer organisations in the South. Through so-called expert meetings, staff from donor organisations and knowledge centres, government officials, and business representatives, share their experiences and lessons learned. The experiences presented in this book are not recipes for instant success, but instead, highlight that support processes are often more fragile and slower moving than policy makers realise. This book is essential reading for scholars, practitioners and researchers interested in supporting and facilitating trajectories of change led by producer organisations in developing countries."

The book provides step-by-step guidance for development practitioners, managers, and all those interested in how development organisations can help small-scale producers build effective collective businesses.

This book studies the management challenges and possibilities in sustaining farmer producer organisations (FPOs). It goes beyond the conventional metrics of cost-benefit analysis by drawing on 15 case studies of diverse FPOs spread across India to fill a significant knowledge-practice gap in the domain of producer collectives. The book explores issues of ownership and governance, studies the empirical basis for policy decisions on FPOs, and provides actionable insights and knowledge, keeping in mind the complexity of the institutional design of an FPO. It also discusses the envisioned role of civil society organisations in supporting FPOs and looks at the kind of institutional innovations that are needed to create a cohesive ecosystem for FPOs. A unique collaborative project jointly authored by academics and development practitioners, the book will be of use to students and researchers of agricultural economics, environment and business, agricultural development, environmental economics, rural studies, entrepreneurship, and South Asian studies. It will also be of interest to development professionals, civil society organisations, and policymakers.

Business organizations can take various forms, each with its own legal and operational implications. Here are some common forms: Sole Proprietorship: A business owned and operated by a single individual. It's the simplest form of business organization, where the owner has complete control and receives all profits but also bears all liabilities. Partnership: A business owned and operated by two or more individuals or entities. There are several types of partnerships: General Partnership: All partners share in profits, losses, and management responsibilities. Limited Partnership: Partners have limited liability but also limited involvement in management. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Partners have limited liability for the debts and obligations of the business. Corporation: A legal entity separate from its owners, known as shareholders. Corporations can: Issue stock to raise capital. Have limited liability, where shareholders are only liable for their investment. Be taxed separately from its owners (double taxation), though certain types of corporations (S corporations) can avoid double taxation by passing income and losses through to shareholders. Limited Liability Company (LLC): Combines elements of partnerships and corporations. LLC owners are called members and have limited liability while enjoying the flexibility of partnership-style management. Cooperative: Owned and operated by a group of individuals or businesses for their mutual benefit. Profits and control are shared among the members based on their participation. Nonprofit Organization: Operated for purposes other than profit-making, such as charitable, educational, or religious purposes. They can take various legal forms, such as trusts, associations, or corporations. Joint Venture: A temporary partnership between two or more parties for a specific project or business activity. Choosing the right form of business organization depends on various factors including liability considerations, tax implications, management preferences, and the nature of the business itself. Consulting with legal and financial advisors is often recommended to make an informed decision.

Due to increased purchasing power of certain consumer segments all over the world and the related growing demand for food specialties for differentiated goods in the international markets, agri-food trade and marketing is no longer focused on commodities only. Key concepts of 'Marketing', 'International Trade' and 'Quality' are taking the forefront in the scientific debate among agricultural economists dealing with agricultural and food products markets. The need for scientific knowledge about several aspects of marketing for quality food products is growing. The aim of this book is to link these key concepts together and consider connections, overlaps, contradictions and complementarities between them. This book contains peer-reviewed articles covering a range of studies on international marketing and trade for quality food products and is edited with the support of the BEAN-QUORUM project, funded by the European Union's Asia Link Programme. The topics covered by the studies range from geographical indications to organic food; from fair trade to functional food; from knowledge about quality requirements to the impact of the quest for quality. The geographical scope of the studies is broad and the perspectives vary including the consumer, the producer and the supply chain side. The focal interest of the studies also range from competitiveness, to policy, to potential demand. The book is of interest to researchers and practitioners in international food networks of all types.

In an effort to promote agro-enterprises and agro-industries as viable forms of inclusive development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) in collaboration with the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), organized an international symposium on the topic “Innovative Institutions, Public Policies, and Private Strategies for Inclusive Agro-Enterprise Development”, as part of the Triennial Meetings of the IAAE held in Foz do lguaçu, Brazil, in August 2012.This book contains the major papers presented at the symposium, which feature a wide range of country and regional experiences and examine the influence of markets and technology transfer to agro-enterprises on food security, poverty, and economic growth. The contributions also identify alternative market access strategies for sustainable economic development. This volume will enrich existing knowledge of agro-enterprises as a channel for promoting inclusive growth and reducing poverty levels across developing and emerging markets.

Adopting a 'global value chain' approach, Value Chain Struggles investigates the impact of new trading arrangements in the coffee and tea sectors on the lives and in the communities of growers in South India. Offers a timely analysis of the social hardships of tea and coffee producers Takes the reader into the lives of growers in Southern India who are struggling with issues of value chain restructuring Reveals the ways that the restructuring triggers a series of political and economic struggles across a range of economic, social, and environmental arenas Puts into perspective claims about the impacts of recent changes to global trading relations on rural producers in developing countries

This project identifies thousands of tonnes per annum of potential enhanced plastics recycling from Nordic electronic waste. Plastics recycling does not always feature prominently in waste treatment. Recycling is technologically viable although the market and economic landscape is challenging. Easy export markets for waste plastic are largely closed and near-source treatment is increasingly needed. Concerns include issues of quality and worries about hazardous materials. Positively engaging electronics producers - beyond the bare punitive requirements within extended responsibility schemes – is a crucial driver for further developments. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth”. Read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way” at www.nordicway. org or at www.norden.org/greengrowth The report for Part 2 will be published in December 2014.

With a Foreword by Dr Lisa Kitinoja, Founder of the Postharvest Education Foundation, this book includes information on the many topics related to cold chain management of fresh produce, from the farm until it reaches the final consumer. While there are other cold chain management books, few focus on the preservation of fresh produce, of particular importance in developing countries. This book will find utility with readers from different Universities and other research institutions involved in teaching, research and extension staff as well as students will be interested in the content. Additionally, extension agencies in different government departments in various countries, private consultants, trainers, NGO staff who work in the field, functional cold chain operators will also be interested.

Mondiale waardeketens zijn het complexe netwerk van activiteiten tussen lokale producent en eindgebruiker. "Global value chains" schetst de invloed van deze waardeketens op lokaal, nationaal en internationaal niveau. Het boek geeft eerst een theoretisch en wetenschappelijk kader. Vervolgens krijgt de lezer een compleet beeld van de betekenis van mondiale waardeketens aan de hand van diverse casestudies, zoals de bierbrouwindustrie in Ghana, de Namibische bio-industrie, de industrie van halfgeleiders in China en Maleisië en het toerisme in Tanzania.