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
[continue reading...]

During the last 2 weeks DAPA team went out to the field to visit farmer communities in Honduras and El Salvador. Part of the project “Tortillas on the Roaster”, the aim of the trip was to visit Hot-spots with predicted high yield-impact on maize-beans production systems due to predicted climate change scenarios and quantify their
[continue reading...]

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
[continue reading...]

Over the past few decades, huge transformations have taken place in the global agrifood industry. In particular this era of globalization has seen the decline of state-led rural development, whilst witnessing the ascendance of private agribusinesses. Consequently, much of the academic literature has been keen to emphasise the shift from traditional wholesale markets to modern
[continue reading...]

“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
[continue reading...]

A few weeks ago I posted on invisible assets and the need to put a price tag on environmental resources.   Farmers, in particular, often feel the pinch or prod of these “hidden assets” which includes assets like quality soil, favorable weather conditions, functioning credit systems, or access to water (via adequate rainfall, groundwater wells and
[continue reading...]

Last week’s UN Biodiversity Summit ushered in a landmark set of important targets aimed at reducing species and habitat loss and promoting biodiversity goals. This new United Nations strategy has specific implications for agriculture and food security including obligations to conserve genetic diversity of cultivated crops and their wild relatives.

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
[continue reading...]

With just under five days before World Food Day, we’re seeing some significant attention being placed on food, agriculture, and rural development.  From the private sector’s push to standardize sustainability metrics and impact analysis for investment in agriculture to important papers and speeches on the status of food security, climate change, and hunger, we’ve collected
[continue reading...]

Note: This post is Part 5 of a 6-part series exploring new business models for linking small farmers to global markets being analyzed through an international collaborative effort that can be read about here.  Read an introductory post, see links to parts 1-4 below, or follow our series at Nextbillion.net. Innovation and Development Innovation is the way
[continue reading...]