Conference Issues Paper 5 - Linking Actors

Linking market chain actors for effective policy

The past decade has seen the emergence of a policy debate worldwide on the modernisation of agrifood markets and the implications for rural development, farming, food, public health, trade and environment.  Few debates focus specifically on the developmental impact of changes in agrifood market on small-scale producers and the rural labour force, or the means to secure broad-based, pro-poor and inclusive market development. The capacity for public policy to anticipate change remains limited.   Innovation in chain-wide learning, engaging direct and indirect stakeholders, can help to understand the changes taking place at national levels and inform public policy and private sector action.  Such approaches are greatly enhanced through evidence-based learning and cross-fertilisation of experiences and practice between regions.