While in general, it is well known that agriculture can drive development in low income countries, and help reduce poverty more effectively than almost any other sector; the finer questions of how precisely to stimulate agricultural growth in specific circumstances are demanding.
Our work on in this area focuses on a better understanding of types of policy processes central for rural development in general and agriculture which policy frameworks are most likely to contribute to pro-poor outcomes. Increasingly, issues of governance gain importance in international cooperation, particularly focusing on rules under which power is exercised in the management of a country’s resources and the relationships between state and citizens, civil society and the private sector.
We work within the Future Agricultures Consortium to address such questions in parts of Africa. When the opportunity arises, broader investigation has allowed a comparison of the agricultural and general economic development of Bolivia and New Zealand to be undertaken.
Our staff also engage with matters of high public interest in this field, as applied in the cases of rising food prices in 2008, the impacts of biofuels, and the issues arising from foreign governments and large corporations seeking to obtain land in Africa and other parts of the developing world for direct production of food and biofuels feedstock.
