D2.1 Reviewing of Agro-Food Value Chain Tools
Creators: name: Yercan, Murat
name: Günden, Cihat
name: Salalı, H.Ece
name: Akyüz, Yarkın
name: Atakan, Pelin
name: Mattas, Konstadinos
name: Lazaridou, Dimitra
name: Panagiota, Sergaki
name: Knez, Marija
name: Lamprinakis, Lampros
name: Kaarstad, Signe
name: Halland, Hilde
name: Solovyeva, Irina
name: Kasperczyk, Nadja
name: Yener, Gizem
name: Alayidi, Ahmed
name: Kunchulia, Ilia
name: Basilidze, Lado
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: WP-2 assesses the current framework of agri-food value chain tools by analyzing the existing  instruments for policy application, simulation, optimization, database and modelling tools for  value chain management. WP-2 has four different tasks which are; Task 2.1. Review of agri-food  value chain tools, and Task 2.2.  Review of agent-based modelling tools and Task 2.3. Review of  biodiversity in the value chain and the last task is Task 2.4. Selection of agent-based modelling  tools suitable for agri-food value chain.  

Task 2.1 is the literature review which are concentrated on the topics given as follows; 



To review conceptual and analytical framework of value chains, 

To generalize up-stream and down-stream of value chains, 

To review value chain modelling tools for production process, investment planning, quality control, price transmission and product delivery channels,

To review of the causes and conditions that the consumption and cultivation of numerous crops (legumes, vegetables) were altered or completely eliminated,

To review the cultivation and consumption patterns of foods of interest with an assessment of consumers’ needs; healthy and environmentally friendly foods.

To review the causes of biodiversity declined and factors that could be relevant for increasing biodiversity in the future.

To prepare the Milestone which is selected and tested modelling tool 


According to these objected topics, the deliverable 2.1 which consists of twelve different parts  which cover all mentioned areas of interests given above including policy recommendations,  market related and practical recommendations and reference list. Each part is investigated and  written by different partners of the BioValue Project. Task 2.1 initiated with the literature review  on theoretical framework of value chain analysis. In section 2, the main and supportive activities  clarify into the entire value chain and Porter’s model has been discussed. And the main different  pillars of value chain analysis are investigated such as Institutional/Functional analysis,  Economic/Financial analysis, Social analysis and Environmental analysis. These different pillars  have some value chain modelling tools (topic a).  Agro-food value chain and interaction with  biodiversity is included and the causes of biodiversity and the relevant factors for promoting  biodiversity in future are reviewed in section 3 (topic f). It is underlined that climate change is the  most important deriver for biodiversity loss. And some technical and sosio-economic solutions are presented for promoting biodiversity. These are solutions on “Land management”,  “water&waste management”, “forest management and agroforestry”, “pest management”,  “livestock management/balance with wildlife”, green energy”, “targeting women”, “traditional  crops, livestock”, certification”, “engaging young”, etc.

Review process continues the causes and conditions that the cultivation and consumption of numerous crops (legumes, vegetables-BıoValue crops) were altered or completely eliminated in  section 4 (topic d).  Consequently, in this section It is recognized benefits in reducing the risks in  agricultural production systems and potential benefits to human nutrition and health should be  the main drivers that will motivate farmers, researchers, breeders, nutritionists, agronomists, and  policymakers to bring neglected species back to cultivation.   The context of deliverable includes an evaluation of consumption patterns of healthy and  environmentally friendly foods in section 5 (topic e). It is explained that the increasing consumers’ demand for organics augment the rate of organic farming implementation and decrease the level of farmers' risk. From the farmers’ point of view, it is important to receive information on  consumer demand for organics to support farming decisions. Consumers’ attitude is the most  important predictor of intention to buy organic food. 

The value chain modelling tools and the VC tools on up-streams and down-streams, modelling  tools of the production processes, investment planning, quality control, price transmission and  product delivery channels are investigated in section 6 and 7 (topic b and c). The study is initiated  with the review of the Guidelines for the value chain analysis in section 6 and synthesized in  section 7. It was found that 14 different guidelines are well known and generally used for the value  chain analysis. Each one has some specific tools and indicators because of their specific objectives  such as regional development, rural development, product development or product replacement,  decent work analysis in a sector, etc. These are ILO; Value chain development for decent work,  VCA4D; value chain analysis for development, FAO; Developing sustainable food value chain, FAO;  value chain analysis for policy making, M4P; making value chain work better for poor, GFU;  Promoting value chains of neglected and underutilized species, UNIDO; pro-poor value chain  development and some others. Each guideline has concentrated on value chain analysis with the  different modelling tools. FAO (2013) uses value chain modelling tools such as MAPPING,  DEMAND and SUPPLY CONDITIONS, END MARKET ANALYSIS (Market research), VALUE ADDED  ANALYSIS, FINANCIAL and PAM ANALYSIS. FAO (2014) uses ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.  M4P (2008) uses MAPPING, DEMAND and SUPPLY CONDITIONS, VALUE ADDED ANALYSIS,  FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, EMPLOYMENT CREATION, GENDER ANALYSIS. GIS/GTZ (2015), FAO  (2014) and VCA4D (2018) use HOT SPOT ANALYSIS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT as follows. These are given more detail into the section 6. These tools are collected into the four different dimensions which are Institutional/Functional analysis,  Economic/Financial analysis, Social analysis and Environmental analysis. Some guidelines have  full range of interest with the four dimensions, but some of them have less concentration of  interest. Each dimension and tool has many outcomes.

In the section 8 (topic g), the research team perform a case study survey on agri-food value chains  and their related tools used, in practice. This section is done in order to assist the realization of  MS on testing and selection of agent-based modelling tools suitable for bioValue project. The aim of the case study review is to examine the case studies related value chain analysis in the agri-food  sector and to determine which tools and outcomes are mostly used in these case studies. For this purpose, more than 200 cases have been surveyed according to Value Chain tools and their related  indicators. As a result of survey, the value chain analysis has been done mostly in African and east  Asian countries for cereals, fruits/permanent crops and vegetables. According to survey results, researchers have mainly surveyed the Institutional/Functional analysis which is the first step of  Value Chain analysis. This stage focuses on the core process and agents for Mapping of the value chain which produce data on product delivery channels, up-mid-down-streams, quality standards and controls and governance of value chains, etc. The other most studied area of interest is Economic/Financial analysis of Value Chain. This is mainly done for the value-added creations, price transmission and investment planning to be foreseen, etc. The Social and Environmental side of the Value Chain have been neglected so far as parts of the Value Chain analysis. The Social side of the analysis can identify the degree of social inclusiveness in the community, women and youth participation into the economy or sector. Environmental analysis can produce data related to value chain that explain the environmental impacts on Biodiversity, Resource depletion, Human health and Ecosystem quality.    

 Section 9 (topic g) gives many outcomes, but they are inputs for the other WPs as well, such as WP3, 4, 5 and 8. An overview of value chain modelling tools and their data produced are given table below. More detailed information can be found in the text. 

According to the information given in table, 5 different tools were depicted for the  functional/institutional analysis of value chain but 3 of them can be selectable according to project objectives. These are MAPPING, GOVERNANCE ANALYSIS and DEMAND and SUPPLY Conditions.  4 different tools can be applicable for the economic/financial analysis but 3 of the are  appropriated for the bioValue project. For social analysis of the value chain can be selected  EMPLOYMENT CREATION and GENDER ANALYSIS as the tools of bioValue project. And the last one is the environmental analysis. For this side of analysis can be selected HOT SPOT ANALYSIS and ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. It is underlined that environmental effects of value chain were neglected in the case studies surveyed. This is the main gap the analysts should studied on. Biovalue project will provide data not only on economic-financial-social sustainable value chain but also on environmental sustainable value chain which augments biodiversity.  

Section 10 and 11 contains some recommendations for policy makers and marketing practitioners. The recommendations are listed for farmers, wholesalers-retailers-logistic and consumers. The most of the recommendations based on some policy interventions, regulations, project based developments which should be launched, by EU, Central government, local municipalities and international organizations. These are all for creating a sustainable agro-food value chains enhancing biodiversity. It is recommended some special support for underutilized crops, local seeds should be implemented by input subsidies and deficiency payments. These provide reduced cost of production and increased production income for farmers. On consumer base it is very important to address existing negative connotations and educate people and increase awareness of the nutritional benefits of underutilized foods and products. It would be recommended also to establish a short supply chain for entire value chain with an appropriate way such as community supported agriculture, cooperative enterprises and on-line platforms.