Local and international valorization of Mediterranean agri-food products through quality certifications. The case of Dates sector – VALUETEAM

The main objective of this research project is to explore ways of improving the creation of value in the dates value chains in three countries of the southern Mediterranean, namely Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. France is also involved in this research proposed by a consortium of sixinstitutions. The key components of the project fit together around the analysis of constraints and opportunities of the market organization at national and international level and agricultural policies in each country. Indeed, the project aims to identify and evaluate, from an analysis of the interactions between the public and private strategies and modes of professional organizations, the effectiveness of value creation dynamics for a local Mediterranean products: dates. To reach this goal, the project starts from the idea that the behavior of local value chains stakeholders are strategic responses to government actions, on one hand, and to the situation of the professional organization, on the other hand. In addition, the project takes into account the fact that the development strategies of quality labels for local products are one component of a broader strategy to create a portfolio of products and market segmentation developed by sectors.

We will analyze these complex interactions, identifying their effects on the formation of prices in domestic markets and access to domestic and international markets through two research work packages:
i) Consumer perceptions, expectations and attitudes towards local products,
ii) Market opportunities and supply chain organization for local agri-food products in domestic markets,
iii) International food Supply-chains: structure, strategies and value sharing.

Moreover, an additional WP is devoted to the coordination of research and dissemination of results. VALUETEAM will address the issues raised above through new methodological approaches, including value chain approach with focus on quantitative analysis, models of industrial organization and models of operational research applied on data collected from field surveys. The mechanisms of coordination and management of professional organizations will be analyzed as well to assess their capacity to promote the emergence of dynamic valuable supply of local products along with fair distribution of value throughout the selected supply chains in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

Keywords: Mediterranean local products, Competitive and sustainable value chains, Domestic and international markets, Professional organization.