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The use of intellectual property protection by micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises: a case study of Ghana
01.03.2010
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of most national economies and are often the driving force behind innovation. Intellectual property (IP) rights provide legal protection for MSMEs against unauthorized exploitation of their innovations by others. As part of Ghana's trade policy reforms, Ghana and Switzerland recently signed an agreement to strengthen IP rights administration in Ghana, in order, inter alia, to improve the business environment and encourage innovation. However, little research exists on the use of IP protection by businesses, especially MSMEs, in developing countries such as Ghana. Will a strengthened IP regime benefit MSMEs? Using qualitative procedures, this study examines the use of IP, especially trademarks and industrial designs by MSMEs in Ghana. The evidence indicates that MSMEs do not use formal IP protection as a competitive strategy, and adapt to the threat of imitation by using informal methods such as trade secrets, maintaining product quality and constant innovation. The study concludes that promoting IP as a tool for enhancing MSME competitiveness requires an integrated approach involving awareness creation on the benefits of IP, increasing MSME access to appropriate and affordable IP services and ensuring effective enforcement of IP rights together with promotion of other competitive strategies such as improving product quality and customer service, protection of cultural artefacts and promotion of national trademarks. -
Sourcing strategies in the Italian coffee industry
01.05.2011
While the socio-economics of the coffee industry has received much attention, this article presents a novel analysis of B2B relationships in order to understand what determines coffee roasters' sourcing strategies. The theoretical framework is based on new institutional economics and relational contracting. The methodology is qualitative and uses a multiple-case approach. The evidence shows that different modes of transactions are devised in order to cope with the business uncertainty and to guarantee supplies of the coffee with the desired quality attributes. Traders offer to roasters guarantees that growers and exporters cannot provide. Relational components in transactions are essential to reduce uncertainty and transaction costs, and are important coordination mechanisms in trader-roaster linkages and even more so in the exporter-roaster interface. Roasters devise stronger coordination mechanisms with suppliers when the quality reputation of the core product is critical in their business strategy. -
Reviews
01.05.2011
A review of 'WTO Negotiations on Agriculture and Developing Countries' by A. Hoda and A. Gulati. The books are recommended for entrepreneurs entering food processing, for all those supporting entrepreneurs and for all students to ensure they understand what’s involved in the use of the science and technology they learn! -
Reviews
01.10.2013
A review of the literature on value chains, including but not restricted to Markets and Rural Poverty: Upgrading in Value Chains, edited by J. Coles and C. Mitchell, and Value Chains, Social Inclusion and Economic Development: Contrasting Theories and Realities, edited by A.H.J. Helmsing and S. Vellema, all reviewed by Nigel Poole. Competition and Efficiency in International Food Supply Chains: Improving Food Security, by John Williams, is reviewed by Ulrich Kleih. Finally, Contract Farming Handbook: A Practical Guide for Linking Small-scale Producers and Buyers through Business Model Innovation by Margret Will, is reviewed by Andrew W. Shepherd. -
Partnerships in Fairtrade coffee: a close-up look at how buyers and NGOs build supply capacity in Nicaragua
01.02.2014
This paper examines efforts by buyers and NGOs to build the supply of Fairtrade coffee from the Nicaragua-based cooperative Soppexcca following the coffee crisis. Support was aimed at transforming Soppexcca into a viable business, able to respond to the needs of its coffee-farming members. Results show that Soppexcca made significant gains, including expansion of infrastructure, growth in membership, and increased financial stability. However, important issues remained, related to democratic governance, future growth and stability, and the provision of services. Results suggest that advances in building cooperatives do not easily translate into increased capacities at the household level. While some important gains were detected, in general, producers struggled to intensify coffee production and take full advantage of their access to preferential markets. This paper makes a plea for deeper discussions about how buyers and NGOs can more effectively contribute to building the supply of high-quality Fairtrade coffee, and the need for increased coordination and mutual learning as part of the process. -
Facilitating entry into shea processing: a study of two interventions in northern Ghana
01.10.2014
There is considerable potential for the shea industry (Vitellaria paradoxa) to contribute to the economic empowerment of women in the Sahel Region of sub-Saharan Africa. This article examines interventions in Ghana's Upper West Region at two different processing stages of the value chain, intended to facilitate women's participation in, and enhance the benefits accruing from, shea harvesting and processing. We use the responses of the nut pickers and butter processors to qualitative and quantitative field research undertaken in 2010 to explore the constraints facing women's market participation. Results showed that mechanisms to link butter producers to markets and to sources of credit were key for the development of the shea value chain in a way that retains value locally and benefits rural producers. Complementary services also facilitated participation in the butter chains. For women to benefit, the ability to negotiate and influence the terms of trade between producers and buyers is important. Such market initiatives and interventions must be considered in the context of time management of diverse livelihood strategies. Also, how financial management and benefit sharing occur within households is sure to interact with the willingness of women to participate in new shea opportunities. -
Book review
01.10.2014
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Being realistic about the contribution of private businesses to public nutrition objectives
01.06.2020
This article concerns the role of the state and the private sector in addressing Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. We critique the ‘food environment’ focusing on the strategies and policies of the public and private sectors which shape agri-food production and consumption. We use evidence from studies in South Asia to suggest more realism about the contribution of major businesses to public nutrition objectives. We conclude that business policies are dynamic, and for most firms and in many markets, there are genuine challenges in reaching the ‘bottom of the pyramid’ of consumers with nutritious foods. For policy-makers there should be no assumption that public and private sector objectives are aligned. Policy recommendations include stronger direct intervention such as through taxation, subsidies, regulatory incentives, and controls on advertising and distribution with appropriate monitoring and sanction mechanisms, and indirect interventions to facilitate the pro-nutrition operations of small and medium size enterprises.