Towards a global research and learning agenda for inclusive agribusiness

Beginning March some 35 experienced practitioners came together to consider how to learn more effectively from the wealth of work being done on inclusive agribusiness, and to formulate key points for a global research and learning agenda. By the end of the workshop six collaborative action priorities for taking the inclusive agribusiness agenda forward were agreed upon.

The workshop “Towards a global research and learning agenda for inclusive agribusiness” took place in Brighton to foster strategic action in the field of inclusive agribusiness. Participants represented the full range of parties working on inclusive agribusiness: private sector, knowledge institutes, donors & implementing agencies, governments from the Global South, producer organizations and NGOs.  Initiaters of the event were Seas of Change, the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development and BEAM Exchange, supported by the F&BKP.

By the end of the workshop, the following six main areas of work needing collaborative action were defined:

1. Synthesis and meta-analysis of research done. The most urgent need, as there is too little harvesting from all that is happening to reveal emerging insights and trends.
2. The business case of inclusive agribusiness cases. Cost-benefit analysis of many cases is the most urgent synthesis priority.
3. A big data approach to link and analyse relevant databases. Setting up a longer-term structure to share data, and make on-going synthesis and analysis possible
4. Supporting those who induce system change in inclusive agrimarkets. Inclusive agribusiness is about changing the way business is done, which requires more deliberate targeting of change-makers.
5. More precise policy advice. An essential requirement for desired system change.
6. Better multi-stakeholder collaborations. Inclusive agribusiness is always a joint effort, what are best ways of working together.

These actions will capitalize on work being done and both inform and stimulate responsible and worthwhile investments in time, energy and money in future inclusive agribusiness.

Overall the workshop laid bare the wealth of work going on in this space, and the lack of capitalizing collectively on that work. In direct follow-up Seas of Change have teamed up with the Practitioner Hub for Inclusive Business to curate a series on “What’s new in inclusive agribusiness?”, leading to a two-part blog series. Individual and joint follow-up opportunities are being scoped in the coming months on the priority areas.

Please follow this link to download the complete report of the workshop.