New business models for sustainable trade
Millions of farmers in Africa depend on export markets for their livelihoods. But recent market trends have led to declining small farmer participation. Yet, these farmers have the skill and soil to provide the high-quality products the food industry seeks. This collaborative initiative engaged with research, civil society and private sector partners to develop new business models across a variety of sectors that enable smallholders to participate in sustainable trading relationships with international businesses and thereby improve their livelihoods.
Fine flavor cocoa in Ghana: reaching high value markets
Stephanie Daniels, Peter Lauderach, Melissa Paschall
Certified cocoa: scaling up farmer participation in West Africa
Melissa Paschall, Don Seville
Shaun Ferris, Melissa Paschall, Don Seville
Abbi Buxton, Bill Vorley
Sourcing gender: gender productivity and sustainable sourcing strategies
Sourcing gender: gender productivity and sustainable sourcing strategies -summary paper
Anoushka Boodhna
Under what conditions are value chains effective tools for pro-poor development
Under what conditions are value chains effective tools for pro-poor development - summary paper
Don Seville, Abbi Buxton, Bill Vorley
Commodity exchanges and smallholders in Africa
Commodity exchanges and smallholders in Africa - summary paper
Peter Robbins
Information and communication technologies
Shaun Ferris
Branding agricultural commodities: the development case for adding value through branding
Branding agricultural commodities: the development case for adding value through branding - summary paper
Chris Docherty
The project has also produced a practical toolkit, "Linking Smallholders: A guide on inclusive business models", to help facilitators of market linkage work understand conceptual frameworks, cases, and practical processes for linking small scale producers to modern markets.
English version [PDF]
Spanish version [PDF]
Public Interest in Private Label. How New Relationships Between NGOs and Retailers Can Help Build Trade to Benefit the Developing World's Small Scale Farmers.
Sustainable Food Laboratory
Think Big Go Small. Adapting Business Models to incorporate smallholders into the supply chain.
Oxfam Briefing Paper
New Business Models for Sustainable Trade flyer
Business models that are inclusive of small farmers
Bill Vorley, Mark Lundy, James MacGregor
Links to associated blog posts published by The Guardian
How markets can bloom for Africa's smallholder farmers
New cocoa business model catching on
Quality control helps Ghana's fine cocoa producers go global
IIED press release - New business models can spell success for African farmers
Asda press release - Asda’s bouquets flourish with the Rainforest Alliance Certified TM seal