Beijing conference 2008

Regoverning Markets, in partnership with the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy and the Office of Agricultural Vertical Integration, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China, hosted an international conference in Beijing to address the challenges of small-scale producers' inclusion in dynamic domestic and regional agrifood markets in developing and transition economy countries. The conference, entitled "Inclusive Business in Agrifood Markets: Evidence and Action" took place in Beijing on March 5-6, 2008.

This conference brought together 130 invited leaders in farming, food and agriculture policy, agrifood business, research and civil society. It shared the evidence and insights generated from research and learning on business practice and policy undertaken by the Regoverning Markets programme through its global consortium. The presentations and discussions addressed the business case for working with small-scale producers; how policy approaches can anticipate and manage change in the agrifood sector; and how producers and their organizations can be partners with new agribusinesses. A one-day visit to wholesale and retail agrifood markets in the greater Beijing area preceded the conference, on March 4, 2008.

This conference was undertaken with the financial support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Development Cooperation

Press release available here. Associated media reports have been produced by IFAP and FANRPAN.

The final conference programme is available here

A record of the Wholesale market and modern retail market tour is available here‎ ‎

Conference presentations, posters and summary papers are available for download here

Issues Papers associated with the conference programme are availalable: