Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
6
The agri-food system refers to the entire range of consumers, enterprises, institutions, and
activities involved in the production, processing, marketing, and consumption, originating from
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, including the inputs needed and outputs generated at each
of these steps.5 This definition is very wide. In any consideration of the role of trade, it is
necessary to limit the analysis to particular products as defined using standard international
trade classifications. Section 1 discusses the methodology used to develop product groups for
this report, and Annex 1 sets out the classification of products used for the analysis. At the most
aggregate level, the entire group of products is referred to jointly as “agricultural products”, so
trade in those goods is referred to as “agricultural trade”. There are then three titles that we use
for analysis by aggregate sector: agri-food products, fish products, and agricultural raw
materials. Each of those aggregate sectors, or titles, is then divided up further into sections and
divisions, which are used as appropriate in the analysis. The selection of products and the
definitions used are based on the characteristics of agricultural trade in OIC countries, and are
designed to capture a wide range of goods under a single analytical approach.
The study combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies to produce a detailed analysis
of trade networks in agricultural products as they involve OIC member countries. The next
section presents the conceptual framework in detail, and discusses methodology. Section 2 then
provides an overview and analysis of global trade in agricultural products focusing on recent
trends, the direction of trade in intra- and cross-regional terms, and then looks at emerging
networks in agricultural trade using newly developed techniques. Finally, Section 2 introduces
key data on policies affecting agricultural trade.
Section 3 provides a more detailed analysis of agricultural trade within the OIC. It first looks at
the composition and patterns of trade among OICmember countries, focusing on the most highly
traded goods at a disaggregate level. It then moves to look at intra- and inter-regional trade
networks within the OIC group itself. Finally, it addresses the role of policy by looking at the
importance of regional trade agreements and tariffs as determinants of bilateral trade flows.
Section 4 moves to a detailed consideration of three OIC member countries: Bangladesh,
Cameroon, and Tunisia. Each country represents one of the three OIC regional groups, and is
used to show the key dynamics at work in understanding trade integration at a highly specific
and disaggregated level. The case studies are based on detailed quantitative analysis,
supplemented by qualitative interview with key informants. Based on the views expressed by
stakeholders during interviews, it is possible to identify key policy priorities, which vary
substantially across the three cases.
Finally, Section 5 draws the study together and proposes key messages and recommendations
for OIC member countries.
5 FAO. 2013. The State of Food and Agriculture—Food Systems for Better Nutrition. Rome: FAO.