Globally, producer organisations have yet to find their voice in the new politics of agrifood governance. This section of the Regoverning Markets website aims to provide producers and their organisations with a 'one-stop shop' around the main opportunities and challenges with connecting to dynamic modern agrifood markets. These are the markets to supply international retailers, wholesalers, and food manufactuers and processors.

Are producers' organisations (‘cooperating to compete’) the best routes to include family farmers in ‘modern’ markets? To what extent will domestic markets no longer be a refuge for poorer/smaller farmers, as they take on characteristics of global markets? To what extent do supermarkets represent higher value, de-commodified markets? And sources of technical skills, finance..? Is the restructuring seen in fresh fruit and vegetable and dairy sectors also played out in commodities? Do changes in wholesale, cash & carry, and food processing have same impacts? Are lessons transferable from country to country (including from OECD to ‘developing’ countries)? What policies and business models protect open and fair markets?

These are challenges not only to public policy. Insufficient attention has been paid to the importance of a receptive private sector; new business models are required to sustain fair, long term trading relationships, in which private sector buyers are partners in development. It also needs new approaches to producer organisation.