Conference Report: Second European Forum on Sustainable Rural Development Berlin, June 18-21, 2007

European Commission Directorate-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States, November 2007

Includes a theme "Rural livelihoods in Africa in the face of globalisation" which concludes:

"Farmers need to be linked into markets. The rise of supermarkets in developing countries poses both an opportunity and a threat for smallholders. It has quickly changed the traditional ways of retailing in agrobusiness and the preferences of customers. To adapt to the new environment, farmers must be appropriately organised and able to supply the required quantities and qualities of products certified according to food quality grades and safety standards. They must also build their capacity to capture more of the value chain."

Available for download at http://www.ruralforum.info  

In English: http://www.ruralforum.info/documents/finalreport/ruraldev_finalreport_en_2007.11.07.pdf

In French: http://www.ruralforum.info/documents/finalreport/ruraldev_finalreport_fr_2007.12.03.pdf