Agrifood grades and standards in the extended mercosur: Their role in the changing agrifood system

Abstract

Agrifood quality and safety standards (G&S) have been changing rapidly in the countries of the "extended" Mercosur. These changes are affecting major agrifood systems in the area. This paper presents emerging case study evidence of the changes, their determinants, and their effects. The paper proceeds as follows. Section 2 presents definitions and theoretical hypotheses. Section 3 discusses policy and market determinants of changes in G&S, and highlights the importance of the emergence of privatized G&S. Section 4 hypothesizes that the changes in G&S are adding fuel to the forces of agrifood system concentration in the area. Section 5 concludes.