RTG 1666: Transformation of Global Agri-Food Systems

Summary Article

Summary Article on GlobalFood in the DFG magazine “Forschung”

Welcome to the Research Training Group (RTG) “GlobalFood”

Transformation of Global Agri-Food Systems:
Trends, Driving Forces, and Implications for Developing Countries

Global agricultural and food markets are currently undergoing a rapid transformation. Recent trends include:

• Trade in high-value food products is growing
• Consumers are increasingly aware of food quality and food safety issues
• “Westernization” of diets and lifestyles in developing countries
• Supermarkets are increasingly dominating supply chains from farm to fork
• The role of food labels, standards, and certification systems is growing
• Contract agriculture is gaining in importance, including in the small farm sector of developing countries

The ramifications for industry structure, competitiveness, and social welfare will be far-reaching but are not yet well understood. GlobalFood combines excellent research on these issues with an innovative training program for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. The RTG was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from 2011 until 2020.