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<p>Objective 1. To contribute to the understanding of the benefits and constraints facing U.S. food system, particularly as it related to small-farm, and/or "locally grown" farm specialty-crops and related value-added products.This will be particularly accomplished through studies which:Objective 1a. Consideration of the benefits and challenges, and identify potential solutions to the challenges of small farm and/or local foods marketing; Objective 1b. Explore the economic development potential and impacts of local food systems;Objective 1c. Assess policies, regulations, and tools which affect the efficiency and capacity of the food system - particularly for specialty crops. (i.e. food system processing and transportation infrastructure programs, local foods procurement programs, food certifications)</p><p>Objective 2. To identify and assess the impacts of food safety failures and preventative actions on food consumers, individual agribusinesses, and the food industry more broadly. The following topics will be included in addressing this objective: Objective 2a. Assess the cost(s) of cases of foodborne illness on agribusinessesObjective 2b. Identify and assess the net benefits and costs to farmers from adopting the proposed food safety strategies. (I.e. Strategies to reduce the transmission of norovirus in school settings, strategies to limit the persistence of specific soil pathogens in vegetable production systems.)Objective 2c. Evaluate the industrial organization of the market for private and public standards, certifications and labelling schemes</p><p>Objective 3. To assess the manner and to what extent agreements, policies, and programs affect the international trade of food products. In addressing this objective, the following issues will be specifically considered:Objective 3a. Explore the extent and mechanisms through which trade policies (multilateral agreements, domestic policy etc.) are successful at facilitating international trade;Objective 3b. Assess the extent to which, and mechanisms through which, private and public standards, certifications, and labeling schemes facilitate or impede international trade.</p>
A variety of research approaches will be used to accomplish these research objectives. Several of the firm and farm level studies (Obj. 1, 2) will require primary data collection from business owners, buyers, and other industry stakeholders. This data will typically be gathered using a two-stage process. Qualitative research methods (i.e. in-depth interviews, focus groups), will be used to get a general understanding of the issue in question. Information collected through this first research phase will be used as an input into qualitative research instruments (i.e. surveys) which will be used to gather information from a broader number of participants.Studies which consider the impact of policies, regulations, standards, certifications and labelling schemes (Obj. 1c, 2c, 3b), will make use of databases specifically developed for the project in question. For example, a study will be conducted which explores the industrial organization of the food safety certification system (Objective 2c). The basis for this this work will be a unique dataset which will be developed in conjunction with collaborators and which will inventory information about certification bodies that provide accreditation to food safety standards around the world. Over 150 national and international firms which certify to one or more food safety standards have been preliminary identified. The dataset will include the characteristics of each of these organizations, including their annual revenue, scope and location(s) of their business activities, and their legal organizational structure. In all cases, data will be assessed using appropriate analytical techniques to address specific research questions.