Norsk
aaa
To change the font size:
Hold down the ctrl key (cmd on a mac) and press + to enlarge or - to decrease.
Research Project

Traders in the food value chain - firm size and international food distribution

2014 - 2019 (Ongoing) Project number: 233836

The project focuses on patterns of distribution in Norway's seafood exports and agricultural trade (exports and imports).

The project focuses on patterns of distribution in Norway's seafood exports and agricultural trade (exports and imports).

The project is interdisciplinary, using different approaches and methods, but is organised around three common themes:

  1. how distribution differs between small and large firms - e.g. whether small firms more often sell via middlemen;
  2. whether distribution and market entry costs are larger for more differentiated products; and
  3. how the patterns of logistics and distribution affect income along the value chains.

The project has four work packages focusing on

  1. patterns of distribution in seafood exports - how these depend on firm characteristics and vary across products and markets;
  2. case studies of Norwegian agricultural exports – mapping challenges for the exports of differentiated goods;
  3. how food distribution is affected by standards and trade regulations - covering e.g. meat exports from Latin America and Norway’s fruit imports; and
  4. case studies tracking trade and mapping middlemen - undertaken in direct cooperation with Norwegian customs authorities, covering flower imports from Africa and other cases.

While the project focuses mainly on Norway's trade, some papers also address the issues from an international perspective; e.g. on evolving patterns of distribution in emerging markets (India).

The project will result in 15 academic papers to be submitted for publication in international journals. In addition to popular dissemination of these results, the project also aims at institutional innovation through direct cooperation with customs authorities; developing methods for using research-based data and methods directly in the practice of government trade regulation.

Funders

Research Council of Norway

Funding program

BIONÆR

Publications