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Perceptions on the demand side and realities on the supply side: a study of the South African table grape export industry

Abstract
This article reports on the mechanisms of business-to-business regulation as governance
approach in an agricultural supply chain. The article explores the activities of NGOs, government
and business in promoting sustainable production. It focuses on the requirements
set for producers in agro-food chains and the effects of NGO perceptions on these issues.
The subsequent business standards set by retailers and other market role-players and the
responses of producers are reported and the responsibility for achieving desired outputs
is discussed. The research methodology included open interviews with various stakeholders
in the chain, as well as structured questionnaires to determine practices on farms. From
the fi ndings it is clear that perceptions of European stakeholders differ substantially from
the reality found in South Africa. This has consequences for producers, from both a social
and a fi nancial perspective. Understanding the role and function of NGOs, market roleplayers
and national government in the governance of sustainable development in the
South African–European table grape supply chain contributes to identifying barriers and
opportunities to achieving sustainable practices in global supply chains. Copyright © 2009
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1001261
Date28 September 2009
CreatorsMüller, C, Vermeulen, WJW, Glasbergen, P
PublisherSustainable Development
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
FormatPdf
Rights© 2009 John Wiley & Sons,

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