Africa

This report presents findings of research which aims to understand the leverage points that can catalyse investment opportunities for enhancing quality and safety in the domestic fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) sector. Key findings on the supply side include that good production practices are diffused from the export platform by small- and medium scale farmers who are producing FFV for both export and domestic markets. A key finding on the demand site is that there is a clear segmentation of markets that recognize the importance of food safety and those wo do not. »

This article examines the linkage between farm production diversity and household dietary diversity in rural Ghana and how that linkage changed between 2005–06 and 2012–13. Results suggest that farm production diversification, as well as household income growth, continues to be strongly associated with increased household dietary diversity. Recent agricultural transformation seems to have not yet markedly improved integration of rural food and agricultural markets into the wider economy. »

This article examined whether the concept of tempered radicals, developed originally to interrogate change processes in organizations, has validity in rural agricultural settings. Whilst both women and men innovators face considerable challenges, women, in particular, are precariously located ‘outsiders within,’ negotiating carefully between norm and sanction. »

This study aims to develop an explanation for how the competition over food resources conditions the strategic behaviors of three actors: rebels, civilian producers who grow crops, and state forces. Findings suggest that the imperative for food denial as a microlevel tactic in civil war should be more seriously incorporated into the work of scholars and policy makers. »

This report proposes strategies and policies, harnessing cooperation between Africa and Europe, to enable the African agri-food and rural economy to respond to the challenge of generating sufficient jobs and incomes for the African workforce. Africa and Europe should implement and innovative partnership for the inclusive and sustainable development of Africa’s agri-food sector and rural economy, where African political and policy leadership should be a key element. »

This research was undertaken to better understand the paradox of young people turning away from agricultural employment in spite of such high levels of unemployment in the country. From a youth perspective, the results suggest that the interests and expectations of youth are more than sufficient to warrant substantial investment into engaging them as active co-creators in the re-design of the food system. However, these positive aspirations tended to be at odds with the kinds of jobs created by an increasingly corporatised food regime, »