Cross Regional Influences and Acceptance of Environmental Management Standards in Fruit and Vegetable Chains
Environmental management standards (EMS) are playing an increasing role in international value chains. The introduction and implementation is however often related with problems and restraints. While the role of governance structures on the diffusion of EMS has already been analysed, there is only a limited number of works dealing on the influence of actors that are located outside the chain. However, it is understandable that actors in the producer region (e.g. by knowledge transfer) as well as in the target region (Cross Regional Influences; e.g. by market pressure or by law) have influence on the producer regarding his ability to adopt, his acceptance and his understanding of the standard.
The target of the project is to show and analyse the importance and influence of the different actors and networks in and outside the chain and their influence on the acceptance and understanding of the producer on the example of fresh fruit and vegetable chains (Kenya EU and South Africa SADC). Based on the results it is aimed to enlarge and enrich existing value chain concepts and to develop guidance for business and politics how to improve the standard setting and collaboration of the different actors in the chain in order to get a better acceptance of EMS.
Financer
DFG Individual Research Grant
Duration of project
Start date: 09/2009
End date: 12/2013
