Twelve parallel roundtables addressed a core set of factors that are considered to be major drivers of agro-industrial competitiveness. Each roundtable table concentrated on a key proposition about one of the major drivers. The discussions was led by a moderator who introduced the proposition and related questions. Four panellists were invited to examine the proposition and questions, drawing on their experiences and activities. After the panellists presented their views on the main propositions, the moderator invited participants in the audience to present their views and comments.

1. Understanding markets: market research and intelligence  Understanding how markets work is critical to the success of farms and firms. This roundtable pointed out experiences in building capacity at the farm and firm level for improving market intelligence, as well as commercial services to improve market appraisal and planning by farms and firms. [More]
10 April - 9:00

2. Meeting consumer requirements: quality, safety, emerging concerns:
Addressing the proposition that priority attention must be given to meeting consumer requirements regarding quality, safety, health concerns, origin and other attributes.
This roundtable commented on the technical and managerial means for meeting consumer requirements, particularly for quality and safety, in cost efficient ways. Related regulatory and institutional issues have been considered as well as the firm level strategies, requirements and technologies. [More]
10 april - 9:00

3. Improving productivity: technology acquisition and utilisation:
Addressing the proposition that systematic attention is needed to building capacity for acquiring and utilising productivity enhancing technologies. The roundtable has drawn attention to requirements at the firm level and for technology development and transfer service providers. [More]
10 April - 9:00

4. Strengthening business linkages: value chain development:
Addressing the proposition that programmes are needed to strengthen business linkages and support the upgrading of agricultural value chains, the roundtable reviewed the experiences, strategies and lessons learned in strengthening business linkages and upgrading agricultural value chains in the developing world. [More]
10 April - 11:00

5. Differentiating products: branding and certification:
Addressing the proposition that access to higher-valued markets requires capacity to develop, distinguish and certify specific product traits, this roundtable discussed approaches and experiences relating to GAP, GMP, organic and fair trade products, as well as brand labels associated with specific firms and countries.
The panel discussed some of the key issues and challenges relating to capacity building, compliance and certification; as well as development and harmonization of institutional frameworks. [More]
10 April 11:00

6. Attracting investment: agro-industry and agro-enterprise finance :
This roundtable addressed the proposition that financial services and products which fit the environment and specific agro-industry conditions of producers, processors, marketing companies and others in the supply chain are critical for agro-industry competitiveness and for achieving social objectives relating to economic growth and rural development.
The changing needs of farmers, SMEs and agribusiness firms for financial services as well as emerging lessons and innovations for agribusiness finance have beeb discussed in this roundtable as well as the requisites for an enabling environment. [More]
10 April - 11:00

7. Staying competitive: innovation, product development, adaptation
This roundtable addressed the proposition that constant innovation is the only guarantee of competitive advantage. It examined successful examples of innovation within the food industry, and analysed the accompanying costs, risks and benefits. [More]
10 april - 14:00

8. Improving efficiency: agro-industries operations management
This roundtable addressed the proposition that capacity to introduce and apply advanced techniques for supply chain management and logistics will increasingly become a requirement for competitiveness of agro-industries targeting global and regional markets. It highlighted the potential offered by modern logistics, supply chain management and ICT in promoting the streamlining of agro-industrial operations, and debated relevance, potential applicability and implications of these concepts and techniques for developing countries. [More]
10 april - 14:00

9. Organizing smallholders: producer organizations and co-operatives
This roundtable addressed the proposition that concerted efforts are needed to organize smallholders and farmers for engagement in national, regional and global markets. It  characterized requirements, approaches and practical experiences in organizing smallholders and building their capacity for engagement in agro-industry activities and supply of products to agro-processing enterprises, retailers and exporters. [More]
10 April - 14:00

10. Establishing clusters: agro-industrial clusters and food parks
This roundtable addressed the proposition that attention should be given to development and strengthening of agro-clusters and food parks. It characterized some of the experiences and approaches used to support firm clustering and networking, comment on the role of the public sector in facilitating clustering and cluster services, and identify some of the specific challenges that need to be address in development of agro-industrial clusters. [More]
10 April - 16:00

11. Reducing costs: infrastructure development
This roundtable addressed the proposition that infrastructure must be improved, particularly rural infrastructure, in order for agro-industries to be competitive. It has drawn attention to the potential of a better integration between the private and public sectors for enhanced planning, financing, implementing and maintenance of productive infrastructure. [More]
10 April - 16:00

12. Human resources development
This roundtable addressed the proposition that development of agro-industries requires attention to human resources development at many levels. It characterized the challenges faced in human resources development needed for development of competitive agro-industries, identify and assess approaches and experiences, and point to potential strategies and priorities. [More]
10 April - 16:00