Agribusinesses are usually built around a small number of large-scale suppliers ignoring that 85% of the world’s farms are managed by small-scale producers. Smallholders are often excluded from modern agribusiness channels due to a lack of access to services, high transaction costs, and poor infrastructure. This, in turn, increases the perceived risks and costs associated
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After sharing insights from market access work in Laos both in the form of text and video as well as inputs from similar work from Vietnam, we are happy share the final version of the workshop report from the final SADU event held the 5th and 6th of July in Vientiane. The final report can
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In addition to the finalization of the SADU project in Laos which we mentioned earlier this week, CIAT also conducted similar work in the uplands of Vietnam from 2003 until the end of 2009. Final reports on that work have been submitted and the project officially over for two years now. However a few weeks
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Costco: Investing in Sustainable Agriculture Partnership for Better Human Development Outcomes Ms. Sheri Flies, who won the James Beard Award (the equivalent of the “Oscar” in the food Industry) for her ground breaking work in the sustainable food movement. Ms. Flies presented on responsible agriculture sourcing for better human development outcomes at the World Bank
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The agricultural sector in Laos has changed dramatically over the past decade. A relatively short time ago subsistence-based farming dominated, especially in the uplands, but recently commercial farming has been making in-roads in rural Laos. These developments have not been uniform across the country. Many of the major cash cropping areas are in the lowlands
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CODATA’s Global Roads Data Development Task Group is developing a transportation data set for use in modeling and analysis related to roads and development.

We had a great recent post about small farmer participation in formal and informal markets by Rajiv earlier this month. In thinking about how a large portion of small farmers can be integrated in regional and international food systems, the sheer size and scope of global retailers offers significant new opportunities for inclusion. Connecting the
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“We just can’t be sure.” This five word excuse has been used by consumers and industry leaders alike to distance them from the production practices that so many of their products and parts embody. This week, a great article in the Guardian highlighted the need for greater research into value chains in order to really
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Last week an interesting article showed up at the NYT about microfinance and predatory lending.  While we tend to focus more on mechanisms that lend to the missing middle of agriculture finance it’s certainly a scary reminder what’s at stake and how easily things can go wrong. Then again, with current financial crisis underpinned by predatory
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The need to focus in on women and girls in development represents a critical, growing field of work that’s ushering in new development projects and some big ideas for greater inclusion in both markets and in the workplace.  Women farmers in the developing world face structural and social barriers to accessing credit, technical assistance, and
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