EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 The Food Chain Approach – Policy Implications for the Way into the EU? Roundtable 4: “Integration of Western Balkan agricultural markets into EU markets”

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Overview The Food Chain Approach (FC) FAOs interventions in the FC Institutional Regulation of the FC Policy Implications Lessons Learnt – The Way into the EU

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 The Food Chain Approach Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 FAOs interventions in the FC Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management FAO intervention: input use (pesticides, fertilizers, varieties, etc.) input use (pesticides, fertilizers, varieties, etc.) improved technologies improved technologies institution building (e.g. advisory services) institution building (e.g. advisory services) association building association building contract farming contract farming etc. etc. Examples: Examples: Albania Albania Macedonia Macedonia RITA (S&M) RITA (S&M) Sandzak (S&M) Sandzak (S&M)

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Institutional Regulation in FC Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management Technical advise on: Regulations: Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management Regulations: EU Water Directive EU Water Directive prohibited production methods prohibited production methods hygiene and food safety regulations hygiene and food safety regulations procedures / technologies procedures / technologies traceability traceability waste management waste management voluntary, e.g. EUREPGAP voluntary, e.g. EUREPGAP etc. etc.

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Field level  Institutional Level Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management Technical advise on: Regulations: Inputs Production / Farming Collection / Sorting / Grading / Packing Processing Wholesale / Retail Consumer Waste Management Regulations: EU Water Directive EU Water Directive prohibited production methods prohibited production methods hygiene and food safety regulations hygiene and food safety regulations procedures / technologies procedures / technologies traceability traceability waste management waste management voluntary, e.g. EUREPGAP voluntary, e.g. EUREPGAP etc. etc. FAO intervention: input use (pesticides, fertilizers, varieties, etc.) input use (pesticides, fertilizers, varieties, etc.) improved technologies improved technologies institution building (e.g. advisory services) institution building (e.g. advisory services) association building association building contract farming contract farming etc. etc. Examples: Examples: Albania Albania Macedonia Macedonia RITA (S&M) RITA (S&M) Sandzak (S&M) Sandzak (S&M)

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Policy Implications 2 Levels: – Field Level (improvements in food chain) – Institutional Level (enabling environment for entering markets) => Bottom-up Approach in Policy Advice – Upwards => feedback to existing policies => need for adaptation or creation of new policies – Upwards & Downwards => testing & demonstration of policies – Downwards => implementation & enforcement Integration into Rural Development Awareness raising and confidence building

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Lessons Learnt – the Way into the EU Integrate field projects with policy making – Include policy component in field projects (and vice-versa) If national standards not yet up-to-date – Focus on niche markets (e.g. high quality domestic, organic, local specialties) – Enter into voluntary standards (EUREPGAP) – Prepare as far as possible to adapt to coming regulations without loosing competitiveness Pressure on policy level by lobby-groups, e.g. farmers or processors association, etc.

EastAgri 2006 Annual Meeting, Berlin, 4-5 May 2006 Questions and discussion Thank you for your attention