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Over approximately the past 40 years, many developing countries invested in the establishment of agricultural market information systems or services (MIS). These systems or services were initially run by government agencies, but since the turn of the millennium private organizations have shown interest in providing data on a commercial basis. To date, however, these private services, while usually being more efficient than the government-run ones, have also largely depended on donor support for their continued operation. It has proved difficult to develop a profitable business model as many of the clients are small farmers and traders. Agricultural market information systems or services (MIS) can cover staples, horticultural crops, livestock, and export commodities. They are generally designed to collect, process, and disseminate or distribute data of relevance to farmers, traders and other buyers, such as processors, but the data they generate can also be used for a variety of purposes by governments, donors, international organizations and others.
The Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) Guidelines were developed for assessing the impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. The guiding vision of SAFA is that food and agriculture systems worldwide are characterized by all four dimensions of sustainability: good governance, environmental integrity, economic resilience and social well-being.
This publication reviews the features of market information systems (MIS) development for agriculture, focusing on price information and new technologies for price data collection and dissemination.
"The purpose of this manual is to improve and build the capacities of small and medium agro-industrial enterprises in order to guarantee the quality and safety of food products. The approach integrates the different factors that affect the capacity of a business to produce foods to meet market expectations and recognized standards, while maintaining and increasing the profitability and life of the business. Management and technical aspects are integrated through a practical and cost-effective approach. The manual includes four modules on the following subjects: the use of market information for improving quality management; systems and tools for improving quality and safety management in agro-industry; the application of quality management principles in small and medium agro-industrial enterprises; planning as a tool for improving quality and safety management. The manual contains case studies, exercises and bibliographic references, as well as a trainers' guide ... appendices with further reading, links of interest and a glossary. The manual aims to assist trainers and entrepreneurs wishing to use the material for self-learning. With this manual, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides the small and medium agro-industry sector in developing countries with an important tool for improving competitiveness and the capacity to deliver high-quality products to consumers."--P. [4] of cover.
Farming is a business, as well as a way of life. Whole Farm Management is a comprehensive guide developed by the Small Farms Program at Oregon State University to help aspiring and beginner farmers make smart business decisions to ensure lasting success. In clear, accessible language, this book covers every essential step, from developing a strategic plan to acquiring equipment, establishing infrastructure, finding markets, budgeting, managing day-to-day operations, and selecting a business structure for long-term viability. The emphasis throughout is on using sustainable agricultural systems and managing the whole farm, whether raising grass-based livestock, perennial food crops, or annual crops such as flowers. Case studies of successful farms, along with guidance and solutions to common problems from long-time farmers, round out this essential handbook.
How we produce and consume food has a bigger impact on Americans' well-being than any other human activity. The food industry is the largest sector of our economy; food touches everything from our health to the environment, climate change, economic inequality, and the federal budget. From the earliest developments of agriculture, a major goal has been to attain sufficient foods that provide the energy and the nutrients needed for a healthy, active life. Over time, food production, processing, marketing, and consumption have evolved and become highly complex. The challenges of improving the food system in the 21st century will require systemic approaches that take full account of social, economic, ecological, and evolutionary factors. Policy or business interventions involving a segment of the food system often have consequences beyond the original issue the intervention was meant to address. A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System develops an analytical framework for assessing effects associated with the ways in which food is grown, processed, distributed, marketed, retailed, and consumed in the United States. The framework will allow users to recognize effects across the full food system, consider all domains and dimensions of effects, account for systems dynamics and complexities, and choose appropriate methods for analysis. This report provides example applications of the framework based on complex questions that are currently under debate: consumption of a healthy and safe diet, food security, animal welfare, and preserving the environment and its resources. A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System describes the U.S. food system and provides a brief history of its evolution into the current system. This report identifies some of the real and potential implications of the current system in terms of its health, environmental, and socioeconomic effects along with a sense for the complexities of the system, potential metrics, and some of the data needs that are required to assess the effects. The overview of the food system and the framework described in this report will be an essential resource for decision makers, researchers, and others to examine the possible impacts of alternative policies or agricultural or food processing practices.