Second European Rural Forum calls for dialogue between donors and supermarket chains

The Second European Forum on Sustainable Rural Development took place during the week of 18 June 2007 in Berlin. The event brought together 400 participants, including policy makers and practitioners from the European Commission and EU Member States' governments and development agencies, parliamentarians from EU and African countries, as well as expert speakers from developing countries governments, civil society organisations, research institutes and international organisations.

The Theme 1 session "Rural livelihoods in Africa in the face of globalisation" had a number of recommendations, including the following:

"There is a need to support their farmers' organisations so that they can intervene in policy dialogue with governments, in risk management, in trade dialogue with retailers and traders and in the innovation processes"

"In supporting farmers to participate in the global supply chains, donors should exchange experience, develop a common understanding of the supermarket revolution and establish dialogue with these supermarket chains.

For more information, see www.ruralforum.info