Workpackage 3 (WP 3)

Objectives

To collect representative quantitative data describing the role (prevalence, necessity and significance) of economic relationships and communication from the perspective of the main actors in the food chain – the primary producer, the processor, and the retailers.

Description of work

In WP3, a cross-country, multi-commodity survey of farmers, processors and retailers will be conducted. The questionnaire will be highly specific with regard to relationships and communication within the food chain from a farmers', processors' and retailers' point of view. That is, the questions will deal with the role and importance of relationships and communication from different chain participants' point of view, in different countries and for different commodities. However, questions will also be included aiming at identifying which (economic, social and cultural) factors influence these relationships and communication.

While the questionnaire will be standardised enough to allow for a cross-country, multi-commodity use, country-specific questions will still be possible. In addition, the questionnaire will contain actor-specific questions. The design of a suitable questionnaire to be used in different EU countries will certainly be a main challenge of the project and will take considerable time and consensus-building. The way the survey will be conducted would involve face-to-face, telephone or mail interviews, or, where feasible, it may be conducted via the internet (electronic questionnaire). While (almost) the same questionnaire will be used in all countries, the method of data collection may vary across countries according to local survey conditions.

The final number of interviews to be conducted per commodity in each country will be decided on according to two criteria. First, statistical criteria – i.e., the requirements for a minimum sample size for meaningful statistical inference and the representativeness of the sample depending on the size and structure of the underlying national food sectors. Second, practicability criteria, such as the feasibility of the surveys and the cost limitations of the project. However, a minimum respondent number per commodity will be 75 farmers, 25 processors and up to 20 retailers to include multiple retailers and a selection of other types of retailers (including franchised, independent, co-ops, etc.) in the smaller countries Ireland and Finland; 100 farmers, 35 processors and up to 25 retailers in the medium-sized countries Spain, Poland and UK; and 150 farmers, 50 processors and up to 40 retailers in Germany.

Deliverables

Report 3, (D4), will describe the questionnaire(s) and report the technicalities of the survey(s) in the participating countries. WP3 will provide the data for the analysis in WP4.

[ top ]