SouthSouth Cooperation SSC the effects of EMBRAPA projects

South-South Cooperation (SSC): the effects of EMBRAPA projects on Mozambique and Ghana producers Roberta Souza Piao (University of São Paulo, Brazil); Diego Vazquez-Brust (University of Portsmouth, UK), and Natalia Yakovleva (University of Newcastle, UK)

Objective and context. This paper aims to analyse the effects of projects developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation – EMBRAPA on agricultural producers in Mozambique and Ghana from a perspective of economic and sustainable upgrading literature. The paper examines dimensions of economic and sustainable upgrading in the case of Brazil-Ghana-Mozambique agricultural projects. Although previous research highlights some capacity building effects of South-South projects of Brazil, India, China in African countries such as Mozambique (De Bruyin, 2019; Huyse et al. , 2012), there is little understanding about the effects of SSC projects on African producers, especially how these projects change economic and sustainable aspects of products and processes. EMBRAPA – Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation.

Literature Review. Global Value Chain approach (Humphrey and Schmitz, 2002; Gereffi, 1999) In general, upgrading concept is analysed from the perspective of the relation between developed and developing countries. However, the participation of developing countries in the international trade has been increasing (WTO-World Trade Organization). Economic upgrading (Gereffi and Fernandez-Stark, 2016) Environmental upgrading (De Marchi and Di Maria, 2019; Achabou et al. , 2017; Piao et al, 2019) Social upgrading (Rossi, 2013; Fayet and Vermeulen, 2014; Barrientos et al. , 2011; Posthuma and Rossi, 2017)

Concepts, dimensions and references Main concepts Dimensions Economic upgrading - Product Premium price (Humphrey and Schmitz, 2002); revenue (Scialabba, 2013) - Process Productivity (Hayes, 2008); quality (Nelson et al. , 2018); property management (Piao et al. , 2019) - Functional Market access; financing, and loan (Fayet and Vermeulen, 2014) Sustainable upgrading - Water management (Achabou et al. , 2017); no tillage system (Scialabba, 2013); crop-livestock-tree Environmental system – integrated crop management (Scialabba, 2013); better management of agrochemicals (Piao et al. , 2019) - Social Labour; safety; health (Barrientos et al. , 2011; Posthuma and Rossi, 2017); organize farmer organizations (Fayet and Vermeulen, 2014 [1] Financing: refers to increase in the access to credit and access to working capital for production investment. [2] Loan: refers to increase in the access to financial institutions loans (Piao et al. , 2019). Sources: Piao et al. (2019), Fayet and Vermeulen (2014), and Schialabba (2013).

Method The study is based on qualitative coding of interviews with key informants in three countries conducted in 2019 and 2020. A total of 38 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in Brazil (May 2019), Mozambique (July 2019) and Ghana (February 2020). The respondents were selected using the snowballing techniques, starting with Embrapa, then going to governmental, non-governmental organisations, international cooperation agencies, agricultural producers and research organisations. Concepts and coding for interviews. Concepts Codes Economic upgrading - Product Ec. Up_product - Process Ec. Up_process - Functional Ec. Up_functional Sustainable upgrading - Environmental Sus. Up_Env - Social Sus. Up_Soc

Trilateral Project of Technical Support to the Program of Nutrition and Food Security (PSAL) From 2011 to 2015 The PSAL project was a collaboration between Institute for Agricultural Research of Mozambique (IARM), EMBRAPA, and two Universities from United States. The objectives of the project are focused in three areas: (1) socio-economic, (2) production system, and (3) post-harvest and agro-processing technologies for increasing the horticultural production and productivity.

Preliminary Results. Economic Upgrading technic of building greenhouses Environmental Upgrading Social Upgrading Pest management plan knowledge transfer from students to their parents who are farmers Agroecological production for avoiding the contamination of soil and water farmers are more receptive to receive knowledge from their children, as trusted agents of change

Conceptual Framework for South-South Cooperation There are different levels of interactions in South-South cooperation effecting upgrading in Mozambique and Ghana. The first level of interaction is between institutions. The second level is between project leaders. Embrapa is a research company and its interaction is with institutions in Ghana and Mozambique. However, in order to promote upgrading is important the engagement of project leaders from both countries. In the case presented, project leaders from Mozambique are development rural extension through students. This action was essential for promoting social upgrading changing the mindset of traditional farmers.

Further Development. These are the initial findings using the analysis of interviews from Mozambique, which were analysed using few conceptual themes from a wider scheme. The team will conduct further analysis on interviews from Ghana and Brazil.

Thank you very much and feel free to contact authors if you have any enquiries and comments. Roberta Souza Piao (robertacsouza@usp. br) Diego Vazquez-Brust (diego. vazquez-brust@port. ac. uk) Natalia Yakovleva (natalia. yakovleva@ncl. ac. uk)