Collective action for market chain innovation in the Andes

• Published in: Food policy Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 31 - 38
• Main Authors: Devaux, André, Horton, Douglas, Velasco, Claudio, Thiele, Graham, López, Gastón, Bernet, Thomas, Reinoso, Iván, Ordinola, Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2009; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Food Policy
• Subjects: Agricultural policy; Agricultural production; Andean region; Andes; Business networks; Collective action; Collective action Potato Andean region Participatory method Market chain Innovation Stakeholder platform; Crops; Farmers; Innovation; Innovations; Market access; Market chain; Participatory method; Potato; Projects; Stakeholder; Stakeholder platform; Supply chain management; Andes Mountains; Market chain; Potato; Andean region; Innovation; Participatory method; Collective action; Stakeholder platform
• ISSN: 0306-9192; 1873-5657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.10.007

The Papa Andina network employs collective action in two novel approaches for fostering market chain innovation. The participatory market chain approach (PMCA) and stakeholder platforms engage small potato producers together with market agents and agricultural service providers in group activities to identify common interests, share market knowledge and develop new business opportunities. These forms of collective action have generated commercial, technological and institutional innovations, and created new market niches for Andean native potatoes grown by poor farmers in remote highland areas. These innovations have benefited small farmers as well as other market chain actors. This paper describes Papa Andina’s experiences with collective action for market chain innovation. It then discusses the implications of these experiences for the understanding of collective action and the policy implications for research and development organizations.