Being able to access European fresh food markets brings benefits to African farmers and helps the economy generally, but consumers and retail buyers require proof that the food is safe and has been grown in a way that neither harms the environment nor causes ethical issues during production. Private standards furnish this proof, but in order to comply with a private standard, growers often need to adapt their production practices quite significantly, and this can be a particular challenge for small-scale farmers. Examples are given of how compliance can be achieved and ways are described of bringing together representatives from different African countries, to help to address these market requirements. The focus of the article is the most commonly used private standard, GLOBALGAP, for which costs and benefits of compliance are discussed, based on the authors' own experiences in Africa.

Cooper, J. and Graffham, A. Implications of (GLOBALGAP) version III [website], <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf≯ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf

GLOBALGAP (2010) GLOBALGAP Annual Report [website] <http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf

Graffham, A. and MacGregor, J. (2006) Impact of EUREPGAP on Small-Scale Vegetable Growers in Zambia, Fresh Insights, No. 5 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia

Graffham, A., Cooper, J., Wainwright, H. and MacGregor, J. (2007) ‘Small-Scale Farmers Who Withdraw from GlobalGAP: Results from a Survey in Kenya’, Fresh Insights, no. 15 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110

Manson, K. (2009) ‘Kenya's Flying Vegetables and Flowers: Booming export trade in horticulture earns more than tourism and telecommunication’, GlobalPost, 8 September 2009 [website] <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables

Mbithi, S. (2009) ‘Strengthening agricultural trade strategies: Experiences from Kenya horticulture’, CTA-ECDPM workshop on Strengthening Agricultural Trade Strategies: Towards a Caribbean Agenda, Report of a Workshop held in Belize City 6-8 November 2008.

Owuor, A. (2009) ‘The Kenya Horticulture Exporters Ltd experience of private voluntary standards’, Fresh Perspectives 6, in A. Borot de Battisti, J. MacGregor and A. Graffham(eds), Standard Bearers: Horticultural Exports and Private Standards in Africa, IIED, London.

Cooper, J. and Graffham, A. Implications of (GLOBALGAP) version III [website], <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf≯ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf

GLOBALGAP (2010) GLOBALGAP Annual Report [website] <http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf

Graffham, A. and MacGregor, J. (2006) Impact of EUREPGAP on Small-Scale Vegetable Growers in Zambia, Fresh Insights, No. 5 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia

Graffham, A., Cooper, J., Wainwright, H. and MacGregor, J. (2007) ‘Small-Scale Farmers Who Withdraw from GlobalGAP: Results from a Survey in Kenya’, Fresh Insights, no. 15 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110

Manson, K. (2009) ‘Kenya's Flying Vegetables and Flowers: Booming export trade in horticulture earns more than tourism and telecommunication’, GlobalPost, 8 September 2009 [website] <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables

Mbithi, S. (2009) ‘Strengthening agricultural trade strategies: Experiences from Kenya horticulture’, CTA-ECDPM workshop on Strengthening Agricultural Trade Strategies: Towards a Caribbean Agenda, Report of a Workshop held in Belize City 6-8 November 2008.

Owuor, A. (2009) ‘The Kenya Horticulture Exporters Ltd experience of private voluntary standards’, Fresh Perspectives 6, in A. Borot de Battisti, J. MacGregor and A. Graffham(eds), Standard Bearers: Horticultural Exports and Private Standards in Africa, IIED, London.

Cooper, J. and Graffham, A. Implications of (GLOBALGAP) version III [website], <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf≯ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf

GLOBALGAP (2010) GLOBALGAP Annual Report [website] <http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf

Graffham, A. and MacGregor, J. (2006) Impact of EUREPGAP on Small-Scale Vegetable Growers in Zambia, Fresh Insights, No. 5 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia

Graffham, A., Cooper, J., Wainwright, H. and MacGregor, J. (2007) ‘Small-Scale Farmers Who Withdraw from GlobalGAP: Results from a Survey in Kenya’, Fresh Insights, no. 15 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110

Manson, K. (2009) ‘Kenya's Flying Vegetables and Flowers: Booming export trade in horticulture earns more than tourism and telecommunication’, GlobalPost, 8 September 2009 [website] <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables

Mbithi, S. (2009) ‘Strengthening agricultural trade strategies: Experiences from Kenya horticulture’, CTA-ECDPM workshop on Strengthening Agricultural Trade Strategies: Towards a Caribbean Agenda, Report of a Workshop held in Belize City 6-8 November 2008.

Owuor, A. (2009) ‘The Kenya Horticulture Exporters Ltd experience of private voluntary standards’, Fresh Perspectives 6, in A. Borot de Battisti, J. MacGregor and A. Graffham(eds), Standard Bearers: Horticultural Exports and Private Standards in Africa, IIED, London.

Cooper, J. and Graffham, A. Implications of (GLOBALGAP) version III [website], <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf≯ http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/EcoDev/60506-fp10.pdf

GLOBALGAP (2010) GLOBALGAP Annual Report [website] <http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalgap.org/cms/upload/Resources/Publications/Newsletter/101005_AR10_web_doublepages-low.pdf

Graffham, A. and MacGregor, J. (2006) Impact of EUREPGAP on Small-Scale Vegetable Growers in Zambia, Fresh Insights, No. 5 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/resources/global/fresh_insights_5_impact_of_eurepgap_on_small_scale_vegetable_growers_in_zambia

Graffham, A., Cooper, J., Wainwright, H. and MacGregor, J. (2007) ‘Small-Scale Farmers Who Withdraw from GlobalGAP: Results from a Survey in Kenya’, Fresh Insights, no. 15 [website], IIED, London <http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.agrifoodstandards.net/en/filemanager/active?fid=110

Manson, K. (2009) ‘Kenya's Flying Vegetables and Flowers: Booming export trade in horticulture earns more than tourism and telecommunication’, GlobalPost, 8 September 2009 [website] <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables≯ [accessed 24 April 2012]. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/090902/kenyas-eco-friendly-flying-vegetables

Mbithi, S. (2009) ‘Strengthening agricultural trade strategies: Experiences from Kenya horticulture’, CTA-ECDPM workshop on Strengthening Agricultural Trade Strategies: Towards a Caribbean Agenda, Report of a Workshop held in Belize City 6-8 November 2008.

Owuor, A. (2009) ‘The Kenya Horticulture Exporters Ltd experience of private voluntary standards’, Fresh Perspectives 6, in A. Borot de Battisti, J. MacGregor and A. Graffham(eds), Standard Bearers: Horticultural Exports and Private Standards in Africa, IIED, London.