In preparation of the international learning workshop, research in a number of commodity chains is undertaken by the Seas of Change Initiative. The focus lies on a number of key sectors, including: cocoa, coffee, cotton, dairy, horticulture, and fishery to explore which emerging lessons can be replicated and adapted.

Part of this commodity research has resulted in a commodities background study. The study provides a snapshot of current trends in agri-food commodities supply and demand, with the objective of exploring how business, with the right support from government, donors, NGOs and research can scale up inclusive agri-food market development to ensure food security for 9 billion people and help to tackle poverty.

We aimed at answering the questions: Which commodities exhibit the greatest growth potential in Africa? Which agri-food commodities will remain dependent on large numbers of producers for the production base and which will be dominated by large-scale, industrialised agriculture? Which is the rationale and incentive behind investing in inclusive markets?

Answering these questions served as an introduction to selected fact sheets on horticulture, cocoa, coffee, dairy, and fishery chains, highlighting efforts made so far to set up inclusive business models and to scale them up.

The study builds on a review of successful experiences in the literature, on case studies received by SoC partners and on insights emerged from ongoing interviews with experts and key players in the sector (IDH,  IIED, SFL, Unilever, Sara Lee, Technoserve, Eosta, Africa Juice, CGIAR, Cargill, Armajaro, Rabo Bank, Rabo foundation, Oxfam Novib, Nestlé, Ahold, etc.).