Value Chain Actors Research Articles

Comprehensive insights into the risks of climatic factors on rice production and its value chain- A Review

Climate change is the most serious problem of the last two centuries. It is being observed as a silent threat to global food production, leading to food insecurity for the burgeoning population. Rice is an important food crop and has also been identified as sensitive and highly vulnerable to climate change. Global rice production is affected by climate change and will soon be seen as a food security threat. Climatic factors like temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity, and solar radiation significantly impact physiological, biochemical and morphological traits, eventually resulting in a decline in yield. The whole process is discussed in this review. Several previous studies focused more on the impact of climate change on the productivity and production of crops without paying any or less attention to the vulnerability of value chain actors to climate risks and climate-related losses in the value chain. The climate risk management by value chain approach establishes connections between input suppliers, farmers, processors, retailers and consumers, identifying risks and formulating adaptation and mitigation strategies at every stage across the value chain. The identified appropriate strategy from the review, including climate-resilient rice varieties, conservation agricultural practices, climate-smart cultivation and water management techniques, could reduce the impact of climate change and enhance food security.

Strengthening the governance of food systems for nutrition in Africa: a political economy analysis of food policy in South Africa and Ghana.

To examine underlying political economy factors that enable or impede the integration of nutrition considerations into food system governance. Comparative political economy analysis of data collected through (1) value chain analyses of selected healthy and unhealthy commodities and (2) food system policy analyses, using a theoretical framework focused on power, politics, interests and ideas. Ghana and South Africa. Value chain actors relevant to healthy and unhealthy foods (Ghana n 121; South Africa n 72) and policy stakeholders from government (Health, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Finance), academia, civil society, development partners, Civil Society Organization (CSO) and private sector (Ghana n 28; South Africa n 48). Nutrition was a stated policy priority in both countries; however, policy responsibility was located within the health sector, with limited integration of nutrition into food system sectors (including Agriculture, Trade and Industry). Contributing factors included a conceptions of policy responsibilities for nutrition and food systems, dominant ideas and narratives regarding the economic role of the food industry and the purpose of food system policy, the influence of large food industry actors, and limited institutional structures for cross-sectoral engagement and coordination. Integrating nutrition into multi-sectoral food policy to achieve multiple food system policy goals will require strategic action across jurisdictions and regional levels. Opportunities included increasing investment in healthy traditional foods, strengthening urban/rural linkages and informal food systems, and strengthening institutional structures for policy coherence and coordination related to nutrition.

Milk Value Chain Analysis: The Case of Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Ambo and Dendi Districts, West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was aimed at analyzing value chain of milk in Urban and Peri – Urban areas of Ambo and Dendi districts of West Shewa Zone. The study made use of both primary and secondary data collected from 146 smallholder farmers, 30 consumers, 10 Hotels and Cafeterias and 2 primary milk cooperatives through application of individual interview schedules, focus group discussions and key informant interview. The analysis was made using descriptive statistics and value chain analysis. The value chain analysis revealed that the major actors in the districts milk value chains are input suppliers, milk producers, collectors, processors and consumers. Accordingly, the value chain activities in the chain were input supply, production, processing, marketing and consumption. Four milk marketing channels were identified and relative to all other fresh milk marketing channels, producers get a higher proportion of total gross marketing margin when they sell milk to cooperatives. Profitability analysis result for dairy production indicated that, a dairy producer obtains average gross margin of 83.65per improved cow per day, in the study areas which shows that dairy production was a profitable venture for smallholder dairy producers. Milk value chain in the study areas was hindered by shortage of feeds, continuous increasing price of feeds, poor AI service provision, poor supply of genetically improved cattle breeds, limited availability of credit services, limited extension service provision, poor feeding and animal husbandry practices, low level of market linkage among the value chain actors, absence of milk processing plant and non-market oriented milk production. Therefore, policy aiming at increasing farmers’ access to modern inputs, feed conservation practices, adequate training provision to AI technicians, developing and improving infrastructure, cooperative development and improving extension services are recommended to accelerate the milk value chain’s development in the study areas.

Farmers Preference and Willingness to Pay for Sugarcane Seed Attributes in Kenya

Over the years, Sustainable production of sugarcane has been impeded by scarcity of high-quality seeds, this has been mainly attributed by dominancy use of recycled planting materials which are often sourced from local social networks. To help reverse this trend, a number of organizations have been involved in the development of improved and clean seed cane planting material. However, a sustainable seed-system has not yet been actualized largely due to limited development of improved cane seed systems. In order to inform the improved cane seed development efforts, it is important to understand farmer’s preference toward different attributes attached to sugarcane seed varieties. It’s due to the above insistence to identify these preferences that this article has been developed, the data used was collected in Kakamega and Kisumu Counties which occupies the large sugarcane production zone. 284 sugarcane farmers and Value chain actors were interviewed. Choice experiment approach was used in assessment of farmers preferences for sugarcane seeds attributes . The findings of the study revealed that mean age of the farmers was approximately 50 years (49.96 yrs.) with average of 14 years in sugarcane production and average land size of 2 acres with most of farmers having just basic education (Primary school level). The findings indicated that, in general, sugarcane farmers mostly preferred to purchase seed cane planting material with high adaptability to the environment, high yielding, disease resistance, early maturity and Sucrose level in that respective order of importance. The marginal willingness to pay for each attribute show that adaptability had the highest WTP of 3970 followed yields (KES.1316), resistance (KES.608), maturity (KES. 379), and level of Sucrose content (KES.238)respectively. The study therefore recommends that awareness creation on improved cane seeds should be done, and an efficient distribution system for improved seed cane should be established.

AGRIBUSINESS STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING RISKS IN THE TOMATO VALUE-CHAIN: FROM SOKOTO FIELDS TO MARKETS

This study examined the risks, attitudes, and management strategies of 100 tomato value chain actors (45 farmers and 55 marketers) aged 30-60 years in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select respondents An interview schedule was used for the data collection, while descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The socioeconomic results reveal that all the respondents were male, mostly middle-aged (mean of 42 years), married. About 72% of the marketers are members of cooperative associations while none of the farmers were members. About 67% of the farmers and 33% of the marketers have a secondary occupation. Results revealed that farmers predominantly encountered pests and diseases infestation (mean score 5.00), yield variability (mean score 4.69), and price instability (mean score 4.69) as major risks. Marketers, on the other hand, cited perishability (mean score 4.98), price instability (mean score 4.96), and payment defaults (mean score 4.84) as critical challenges. While pest and disease control, crop diversification, and income diversification were common among farmers, marketers primarily relied on price negotiation, improved storage, and efficient transportation. The study concludes that enhancing extension services, promoting cooperatives, and improving infrastructure are crucial to mitigating risks and boosting the tomato value chain's sustainability in Sokoto.

Value Chain Analysis of Haricot Bean in East Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The key objectives of the study were identifying haricot bean value chain actors, their functions and relationship among them, examining actor’s performance along the chain and analyzing factors affecting supply to the market and factors affecting market outlet choice in the study area. Both primary and secondary sources were used for data collection. The primary data was collected through interviewing 180 sample household farmers and 40 traders using semi-structured questionnaires. STATA version 15 Software was used for data analyzing. As the descriptive result indicate that, on average farmers allocate 0.72ha of land for haricot bean production, from which 21.72qt/ha of output gained. In the value chain of haricot bean input suppliers, farmers, collectors, traders, transporters and consumers are the major value chain actors who perform various value chain. From the study result, six marketing channels of haricot bean are exhibited in the study areas. Estimates of the multiple linear regression models indicate that the level of haricot bean supplied to the market is determined by educational level of household, haricot bean farming experience, land allocated for haricot bean, market price of haricot bean, TLU, access to credit, and access to market information. Therefore, policy makers should focus more on the abovementioned variables in the future intervention to increase volume of haricot bean supplied to the market. As the multivariate probit model result indicated that the market outlet choice of rural assemblers was positively and significantly influenced by distance to the nearest market center, distance to all weather road, and educational level whereas it’s negatively and significantly influenced by output level where as selling direct to consumers outlet choice was negatively and significantly affected by sex of household, educational level, farm experience of household in haricot bean, and output level. Urban traders/wholesalers market outlet was positively and significantly affected by sex of household, educational level, haricot bean farm experience, access to credit, access to market information, membership of cooperative, and output level whereas it’s negatively influenced by distance to the nearest market center, distance to all weather road and extension service. Based on the findings of this study, some relevant implications can be drawn that can assist to design appropriate intervention mechanisms to improve market outlets choice of haricot bean farmers in the study area.

Supply and Demand of Processed Potato Products in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda: Variety Requirements of Processing Companies and Implications for Trait Prioritization for Breeding

AbstractThe potato processing industry in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda is expanding rapidly. This study assesses the current situation and outlook of the local industrial potato processing sector and the alignment of the industry’s variety requirements with the priorities set by breeders. Currently, potato processing companies in the three countries use both varieties selected locally from public international germplasm and varieties introduced by Dutch seed companies, and their suitability for processing is discussed as well. Overall, the processing industry pays high attention to traits affecting processing efficiency and consumers’ acceptance while breeders, in spite of being aware of the characteristics required for processing varieties, are more focused on traits related to production and disease resistance. As the processing sector develops further, breeders will have to pay increased attention to the progressively stricter requirements of the industry, striking the right balance between farmers’ and processors’ variety requirements. While their opinions on the farmers’ acceptability of processing varieties diverge, breeders and industry agree about the challenges represented by the limited access to quality seed and poor business linkages between value chain actors in securing the supply of varieties suitable for processing. Based on these findings, it is recommended to pay more attention to both the development of dual-purpose varieties and the strengthening of the potato value chain through the improvement of business linkages between seed producers, farmers, and processing companies.

Moving milk and shifting risk: A mixed methods assessment of food safety risks along informal dairy value chains in Kisumu, Kenya

Animal sourced foods (ASF) are important for global food security and in mitigating the impact of undernutrition. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, demand and urbanization continue to increase, creating a greater divide between farm-level production and consumption. Food safety residues including antibiotics and aflatoxin residues often originate at the production site, and risk can shift as milk is transported. In 2022, milk samples (n = 190) were collected from eight milk vendors in Kisumu, Kenya and tested for betalactams and aflatoxins with cut off values of 300 parts per billion (ppb) and 200 parts per trillion (ppt), respectively. Data was collected on the origin and containers of each sample, and the eight vendors responded to an open-ended questionnaire regarding the structure and challenges in their milk business.Aflatoxin residues were detected in 7 % (13/190) of samples with no samples (0/190) testing positive for antibiotic residues. Overall, 80 % samples were collected from metal transportation containers, and no milk containers >20 l tested positive for aflatoxins. The origin location(s) of milk was not significantly associated with residues (p = 0.44). Vendor questionnaire data were summarized into three themes: 1) Physical properties of milk are understood to influence quality, 2) Fluctuating availability of milk impacts profits and is the main influence on choice of supplier, and 3) Trust and rapport among value chain actors are key to mitigating business challenges.Our results indicate that farm-level practices around antibiotic use is not posing a major milk safety risk to urban consumers. Use of large 50-l containers for transporting milk may be protective as risk of aflatoxin residues is diluted below key thresholds. We recommend supporting existing relationships and identifying drivers that build trust among informal value chain actors which could strengthen collaboration and allow actors to move towards a shared goal of reliable and safe milk available for urban consumers.

Capture Fish Value Chain Study in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria: A panacea for sustainable development

The study examined fish value chain in Yobe state Northeast Nigeria. Value addition, profitability, efficiency in marketing and structure of the fish markets were assessed using data elicited in 2023 from 640 respondents. Four Local Government Areas in the state (Bade, Geidam, Jakusko and Nguru) prominent in capture fish production were purposively selected for the study. Six major value chain actors were identified and value added per Kg of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was higher for fish processors (319.3/Kg) while, processed fish marketers had highest marketing efficiency (321.8%). Similarly, raw fish marketers received the highest marketing margin (20.63%) and the gross margin for artisanal fishermen was 272.5/Kg and on average a total 22,891.8 per day. The study revealed that, products flow was less complex from fishing points to consumption and that the values of Gini Coefficient indicated a monopolistic completion in both fresh/raw fish and processor markets. Based on the above findings, it was concluded that fisheries sub sector in Yobe state had the potential of creating more employment opportunities, increase per capital income/GDP and sustained economic development. It was therefore recommended that, more effort should be intensified by relevant stakeholders to enhance the value addition at every node of the chain and there should be policy to maintain the existing fishing sites (rivers) and to also explore other potential areas

ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND FACTORS LEADING TO DISCONTINUED UTILIZATION OF BIO-FORTIFIED MAIZE IN OYO AND ONDO STATES, NIGERIA

The study assessed the communication strategies and factors leading to the discontinued utilization of bio-fortified maize among selected value-chain actors in Oyo and Ondo States, Nigeria. Information was collected from 320 value chain actors on the sources of information on bio-fortified maize, factors affecting its utilization, and factors leading to its discontinued adoption. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, tables, means, and standard deviations, with hypothesis tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results revealed that 34.1% of respondents received information on yellow maize most frequently through extension agents, 33.0% often through friends/relatives, and 35.3% often through family members. Key factors affecting the utilization of yellow maize included the value chain actors’ experiences (mean = 1.70), market availability (mean = 1.66), and economic benefits (mean = 1.54). Additionally, 57.5% of respondents discontinued utilizing yellow maize due to low distribution of seeds by ADP extension agents, 51.9% due to exploitation by middlemen, and 51.0% due to poor market infrastructure. A significant relationship was found between factors affecting utilization and those leading to the discontinuation of yellow maize (r = 0.364, p ≤ 0.01). The study concluded that value chain actors have access to extension services and receive information on yellow maize through multiple sources, including extension agents, friends/relatives, newspapers, drama, and bulletins/handbills. However, challenges such as low seed distribution, middlemen exploitation, and poor market infrastructure persist. It is recommended that extension agents and other stakeholders address these factors to promote the sustained adoption and utilization of bio-fortified maize among value-chain actors.

Pristineness, heritage, and the dissociative power of place imaginaries: Marketing ‘dark places’ in global value chains

To qualify products as premium, branding and marketing initiatives often employ imaginaries about the product’s origin to invoke positive associations. Yet, little is known about the dissociative aspects of how these place imaginaries create value. In this paper I examine comparatively how in both one aesthetic and one relatively standardized agri-food market – wine and farmed salmon from Chile – imaginaries of pristine and traditional places are becoming central referents for product quality. I demonstrate how, in the context of rising sustainability demands in global value chains, the value of these place imaginaries lies not only in their power to create positive associations in the end market. Instead, they also help powerful actors to dissociate from locally contentious politics surrounding harmful social and environmental practices. The paper contributes to research on firms’ dissociative practices by disentangling the ideational and relational work through which value chain actors dissociate in qualification processes and draws implications for material changes in production systems in view of their environmental and social sustainability.

Enhancing Capacity to Comply with Sustainability Standards in the Milk Value Chain in East Africa: Challenges, Prospects, and Policy Implications

This paper addresses the need to contextualize sustainability standards and supply chain management in dairy value chains in East Africa, where milk perishability and limited cold storage significantly impact the industry. The study highlights the importance of localizing these standards, given the greater dependence on local supply chains following the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on milk standards literature and various interventions aimed at promoting systemic change, this review analyses the capacity of marginalized stakeholders in East Africa’s dairy value chains to meet sustainability standards, focusing particularly on the social dimensions of these standards. The findings indicate that compliance with sustainability and safety standards is predominantly restricted to formal dairy networks, which process less than 20 percent of milk produced in the region. Most milk sales occur through informal or unorganized markets, which face significant barriers to meeting international sustainability benchmarks. The review advocates for the alignment of international sustainability standards with the unique conditions of the informal markets dominating East Africa’s dairy sector. It suggests enhancing stakeholder capabilities and addressing regulatory barriers as necessary steps for improving compliance with these standards. The co-operative model is highlighted as a promising approach to integrating farmers and marginalized value chain actors into the formal sector, thereby facilitating incremental adoption of sustainability standards. The paper identifies strategic entry points for organizing and upgrading the supply chain, including capacity building, certification, and catalyzing farmer groups to compliance and productivity.

Perceptions of cheese authenticity: A comparative analysis of value chain actors in Mexico

Authenticity, an ever-evolving concept, has become crucial in the context of the industrialization of food and the growing problem of food fraud. This exploratory study focuses on understanding how cheese authenticity is perceived by value chain actors in Mexico, taking into account their experiences and perspectives. Two online questionnaires were used, one aimed at consumers and the other at producers and promoters. A total of 1223 consumers, 69 producers and 26 promoters participated. The free word association (FWA) technique was used to capture the participants' unconscious perceptions. The results showed significant differences in perceived authenticity between the different actors. For consumers, authenticity was related to their own quality standards and to the influence of external international factors. For the producers and promoters, on the other hand, the authenticity of the cheese is based on the implicit characteristics resulting from the rural environment in which it is produced. These results suggest that the differences in the perception of authenticity between actors are the result of the influence of the environment, experiences and the particular conditions they experience due to their position in the value chain. The study suggests that understanding these differences can help small cheese producers differentiate themselves in the marketplace and focus their efforts on more effective strategies. It also shows the importance of taking into account the perceptions of the different actors in the value chain in order to effectively combat food fraud and promote authenticity in the Mexican cheese industry.

Designing precision livestock farming system innovations: A farmer perspective

Precision livestock farming (PLF) is increasingly being suggested as a promising tool for contributing to the sustainable transition of livestock farming as a market system innovation for farm-animal value chains. The innovations of PLF systems are over and above applications aimed at achieving on-farm goals (e.g. improving efficiency and monitoring farm animals), which are well recognised in the existing literature. This paper specifies the new dimensions of PLF systems, including data-sharing with retailers in the chain, with certifiers/control organisations, with other farmers and with market innovators, as well as data governance. Because farmers approach PLF applications that extend beyond on-farm use with reluctance, it is crucial to take farmer preferences into account when designing multi-actor PLF-system innovations. Proceeding from a mixed-method design, this study begins with a literature review and expert interviews, followed by an examination of farmer preferences regarding the architectural-design attributes of a PLF-system innovation. The latter takes the form of a conjoint study based on data obtained from 367 pig and dairy farmers in Finland, the Netherlands and Spain. Results indicate that farmers attach the greatest importance to the governing structure that manages their data, followed by the opportunity to use an on-farm early-warning system to monitor farm animals, and the possibility of sharing the collected data with value-chain actors mainly for purposes of optimising business innovation and certification. A cluster analysis further highlights the importance of finding customised solutions, considering the heterogenous preferences of farmers for PLF-system innovations beyond European borders. These preferences should be considered in the design of multi-actor PLF-system innovations.

Agricultural Value Chains and Gender in the Post-reform Era

This article systematically reviewed literature on agricultural market reforms, value chains and gender, selected from Global South developing countries to generate evidence on the changes in smallholder agricultural value chains and gender relations, following liberalization reforms. The study specifically aimed to; identify and critically analyse previous attempts to categorize agricultural value chains; and provide new value chain categorizations and associated gender relations. We found that only 5% of the reviewed 60 publications have attempted to categorize agricultural value chains, however with no consideration of gender relations. A new value chain typology has been provided as: “Traditional”, Digitally-led”, “Group-led” and “Firm-led” value chains, respectively basing on 13%, 35%, 32%, and 24% of the publications. With regard to gender relations, the main finding was that unequal gender relations are inherent in all forms of value chains but tend to be experienced differently by value chain actors –men and women – depending on the type of value chain. The commonly identified underlying factors for gender inequality included; patriarchal structures that bestow upon men decision-making power and control over production resources mostly land. Related were social norms that confine women to the domestic realm, proscribe their mobility and participation in higher value chain nodes and farmer groups. Lastly were gender disparities in education, skills and income leading to differences in access, ownership and use of ICTs. From the results, we note that inasmuch as different forms of value chains present some opportunities for actors, the evolution in smallholder value chains continues to engender equality challenges, mostly affecting women. We contributed to filling the knowledge gap on transformations in post-reform value chains and its effect on gender relations.

Social life cycle assessment of green hydrogen production: Evaluating a projected Portuguese industrial production plant

The increase in industrial production and energy consumption has led to excessive exploitation of non-renewable resources, resulting in serious environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions. In response, there's a growing investment in renewable energies such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar power. However, these sources are unable to fully meet demand, leading to imbalances between consumption and production. An emerging solution to this challenge is green hydrogen, produced from clean sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The S-LCA methodology presented in the UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for the Social Life Cycle Assessment is applied to the production of green hydrogen via the electrolytic separation of water using a proton exchange electrolyser. The process involves the extraction and processing of raw materials from the electrolyser, BOP and reverse osmosis system, the manufacture of the systems and the production of green hydrogen. The data from each stage is inventoried and entered into the PSILCA v.3.1 and SHDB 2022FV5 databases, integrated into the SimaPro software version 9.3.0.2, enabling a complete analysis of the social impacts associated with the production of green hydrogen. The data was evaluated considering 4 stakeholder categories: workers, value chain actors, society and local community. The results indicate that the extraction and processing of raw materials for the electrolyser was the primary stage responsible for the social impacts in both databases. However, the electrolyser manufacturing stage was the main contributor to the indicators “weekly working hours per employee” and “union density” in the PSILCA database. Nafion® and Iridium were identified as the major contributors among components in both databases. The study highlights the significant role played by countries like China and South Africa in social impacts, particularly in the extraction and processing of raw materials. Despite this, Portugal emerged as the largest contributor to five out of fourteen indicators in the PSILCA database, while its contributions in the SHDB database were less than 7 %. Moreover, a comparison between the two databases revealed that PSILCA exhibited a greater distribution of results across various stages, components, and countries assessed, whereas SHDB showed more centralized results. The observed discrepancies between the results obtained from different databases can be attributed to three main factors: the input-output database utilized in each S-LCA tool, the assumed risk levels for each indicator, and the equivalence between indicators and subcategories. This exploratory study offers valuable insights for guiding strategic decisions regarding the social component of sustainability, providing a detailed understanding of the social impacts associated with the specific case of green hydrogen production in a planned hub in Portugal.

Economics of Fresh Water Cultured Fish Production in Odisha and Bihar, India: A Comparative Analysis

Fisheries and aquaculture are important sectors that provide nutritional security, contribute to agricultural exports, and provide livelihoods to about 28 million fishermen, fish farmers, and other value-chain actors. The study was conducted in two states of Eastern India, i.e. Odisha and Bihar, to estimate the comparative economics of freshwater fish production and its profitability. The results showed that the cost of fish production was estimated to be Rs. 346943.45/ha of pond, constituting Rs. 208582.74 as a variable cost and Rs.138360.71 as a fixed cost in Odisha. In Bihar, the per hectare fish production for an average pond size was estimated to be Rs. 318445.47, comprising variable cost as Rs 188061.82 and fixed cost as Rs. 130383.64. On average, per hectare, fish production in Odisha from all ponds was estimated to be 45.69 quintals, while in Bihar, it was 35.67 quintals. The profitability analysis revealed that in Odisha, per hectare gross income, on average, for all ponds was Rs. 717763.06. In the case of Bihar, the gross income for all the ponds was calculated to be Rs. 540352.02/ha. It was concluded that returns on investments in all pond categories were comparatively higher in Odisha than in different pond size groups of Bihar.

Private sector led multi-stakeholder platforms positively influence certified common bean seed supply in Malawi

Common bean yields in Malawi remain low, primarily due to the use of low-yielding, recycled local seeds by most smallholder farmers. The low uptake of certified bean seed is attributed to limited incentives from the private sector. This study hypothesizes that the sustainable adoption of market-preferred varieties can be achieved by synchronizing and linking seed production to the grain market through committed value chain actors in a private sector-led multi-stakeholder platform. This paper examines the role of private sector-led multi-stakeholder platforms in the supply of certified common bean seed in Malawi. The research draws on both qualitative and quantitative primary data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and interviews with key informants. Data were analyzed using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model. The results indicate that several variables representing membership in multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) significantly affect the supply of certified common bean seed. Participation in MSPs, contractual arrangements, market structure, extension services, and seed demonstrations positively influenced seed supply. The findings underscore the need for a well-coordinated multi-stakeholder platform to enhance the supply of certified common bean seed, supported by effective policies and incentives from policymakers.

Diverging Stories on food system transitions. A qualitative analysis of policy narratives in the public consultation on the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy

The transition towards more just and sustainable food systems is a major challenge which requires persuasive policy narratives for motivation and coordination. However, research about how relevant European actor groups view crucial elements of food system transitions is scarce. The consultation on the European Commission's Farm-to-Fork Strategy provided an opportunity to analyze how elements of food system transitions are represented and connected in the policy narratives of European stakeholders. A deductive-inductive content analysis of 164 public responses, using an analytical framework based on the multi-level-perspective of food system transitions, found twelve distinct narratives, mostly focused on agricultural production. Ten of them showed clear connections to three established agricultural policy discourses: neomercantilism, multi-functionalism and market liberalism. While the narratives together provided a comprehensive account of transition drivers, challenges, opportunities and responses, individually they presented rather partial perspectives. For example, market-liberal narratives emphasized the role of value chain actors and “consumer choice”, whereas multifunctionalist narratives called for more regulation. Farmers' associations mainly deployed neomercantilist, NGOs multi-functional and industry representatives market-liberal narratives, revealing dissent on the importance and desirability of change. The findings indicate that shifting the discussion venue away from core agriculture policy arenas broadened entrenched discourses only marginally.

Applied qualitative methods for social life cycle assessment: a case study of Canadian beef

PurposeThis paper presents a transparent and rigorous methodological approach to conducting a case study of social performance (SP) within the conventional life cycle of Canadian beef. The objective was to explore the potential benefits and risks (or hotspots) of practices on Canadian beef farm businesses (BFBs) and slaughter operations (BSOs) to establish valid benchmarks and a social sustainability roadmap for decision-makers to improve SP.MethodsThis study undertook a novel and participatory approach to social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). Respondents from both within and at-arms-length to the beef value chain were engaged to identify SP practices and perceptions and develop the life cycle inventory. The goal and scope, inventory, assessment, and interpretation were conducted in a three-phased approach: (i) scoping; (ii) practice-based assessment; and (iii) deep-dive assessment. Data collected through mixed methods, including Q method, interviews, surveys, and literature review, were assessed using a type I (reference scale) approach and interpreted through critical interpretive synthesis. Organizational SP was explored at BFBs and BSOs, considering the following stakeholders: value chain actors, farmers, employees, and cattle.Results and discussionOutcomes from the applied approach explore the interrelations between organizations and stakeholders along the value chain. Impact categories concerning labour management, people’s health and safety, and animal care were prioritized for deep-dive assessment. Subcategories included novel topics, like recruitment and retention and access to mental health resources. A range of potential benefits and areas for improving SP were identified at BFBs and BSOs. Potential risks from SP were identified for stakeholders from working hours, communication and dispute resolution, animal transport, and personal protective equipment practice areas. Results informed strategic activities for the National Beef Sustainability Strategy.ConclusionThis study contributes to the social sustainability discourse in livestock systems by demonstrating a qualitative approach to S-LCA that can be replicated by practitioners to explore valid and locally specific social dimensions of sustainability. Practitioners may consider the approach and results in future studies to better capture and manage the complex and dynamic nature of livestock systems, leading to more effective social sustainability decisions that incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives.