ABSTRACT

The following section of this book presents six empirical case studies on the implications and impacts of the transformation of food systems.The studies use a similar approach, but each addresses a specific set of questions according to the country context. Research was conducted in Kenya, Bhutan, India, China, Honduras and Mexico,1 a set of countries that cover a wide spectrum with respect to the transformation of food systems. In Kenya and Bhutan, food systems are still somewhat traditional. In the rest of the countries, they are structured and modernizing. The studies in Kenya and Bhutan focus on market access and market participation across different market conditions.The studies in China and India draw comparisons between the traditional marketing system, which holds the majority of market share and is well structured, and alternative marketing chains that serve higher value urban consumers. Both Honduras and Mexico have higher urbanization rates and higher levels of food retail flowing through modern food chains.The studies in Honduras and Mexico (along with a few high-value export chains examined on a case basis in India and Kenya) address in detail the costs of participating in high-value chains for perishable products and compare different strategies to reduce these costs.