Private agrifood standards and a sustainable future for African agriculture 

27-28 March 2008, London

IIED and NRI are jointly organising a technical workshop on ‘Private agrifood standards and a sustainable future for African agriculture' to be held on the 27th and 28th of March 2008 in central London. This workshop will present the recent research findings on private standards in horticulture and seek ways to go forward. Studies conducted by IIED and NRI as part of the DFID-funded project ‘Private agrifood standards and small-scale growers in Africa' show that there are no easy answers and deeper analysis alerts us to the complexity of both rural horticultural systems and their potential solutions. Private standards are costly on one hand, but for those who can remain in these trading relationships, there are net benefits that exceed these financial costs.

This technical workshop brings together researchers, practitioners and implementers to investigate ways forward that allow compliant produce to supply European retail food markets and in doing so enable trade to contribute to development worldwide. The workshop will identify ways in which governments, standards-setters, the private sector and the donor community can work together to achieve these symbiotic aims. The agenda will be designed to allow participants time to discuss, offer feedback, debate and network.

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