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Abstract
The rise of a western-style middle class in many successful emerging economies
like China currently is inducing deep structural changes on agricultural world
markets and within the global agri-food business. As a result of both higher incomes
and concerns over product safety and quality the global demand for high-quality
and safe food products is increasing significantly. In order to meet the new required
quality, globally minimum quality standards are rising and private standards emerging.
All over the world these developments cause adjustments at the enterprise,
chain and market levels. At the same time, the tremendously increasing demand
for renewable energy has led to the emergence of a highly promising market for
biomass production. This has far-reaching consequences for resource allocation
in the agri-food business, for the environment, for the poor in developing countries
and for agricultural policy reforms. The challenges increase with ongoing liberalisation,
globalisation and standardisation, all of which change trade patterns for
agricultural and food commodities, and influence production costs and commodity
prices.
The objective of the IAMO Forum is to show opportunities as well as risks for
all participants of the food economy in the ongoing globalisation process: for
small peasants in developing countries, farmers in Europe and globally active food
enterprises and retailers. The success of enterprises depends on the ability to find
innovative solutions with regard to the organisation of enterprises, chains, and
markets, as well as future policy design. Concerning bio-energy strategies has to be
identified to combat global warming most efficiently and concurrently attenuate the
competition between "tank and table" on farmland.
IAMO Forum 2008, as well as this book, would not have been possible without the
engagement of many people and institutions. We thank the authors of the papers, as
well as the referees. Furthermore we are highly indebted to MARLIES LOHR,
NADINE GIEMSA and RONNY RECKE who in an outstanding way contributed to
the organisation of the Forum. This is true as well for the IAMO administration,
whose work we gratefully acknowledge.
Many sponsors has funded the IAMO Forum 2008. We are very grateful to the
German Research Foundation (DFG), The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Consumer Production in Germany, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the
Federal State Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and last but not least the City of Halle.
Further Conference sponsors are the BIONADE Corporation, Gaensefurther Mineral Water, The Wine Growers Association of the Region Saale-Unstrut,
Germany, Obsthof am Süßen See GmbH, Monsanto Company, KWS Saat AG,
Sachsen-Anhalt-Tours, Baumkuchen Salzwedel and the Hallesches Brauhaus.