Ecological food distribution chain presented at the Biofach- 2018 Fair: an analysis from the STAKEHOLDERS

Identificación de los stakeholders y la cadena de valor agregado para alimentos ecológicos certificados comercializados en la Feria Biofach- 2018

Understanding agricultural production systems from a sustainability approach implies structuring a sustainable agribusiness scheme as an alternative to improve and focus national agricultural production, as proposed by the UN. A country like Colombia has not yet oriented its productive systems with this approach; therefore, in this investigation the structure already existing in Germany was taken as a reference for this purpose, framed in a commercial event such as the BIOFACH 2018 international fair developed in Nuremberg Germany. The Fair specializes in relevant and specific economic transactions related to the marketing and marketing of food from certified organic farming. This analysis is based on the identification and interpretation of the structure of the fair and the stakeholders (Stakeholders); where the value chain established to market food with added value is researched and structured, such as certified organic products. The methodology used was based on an empirical field investigation, with a sample of 14 respondents (in Spanish and German) that represent the different interest groups participating in BIOFACH 2018, which were outlined according to the role they played in the fair. A questionnaire with open questions was used, with a scale of value to facilitate the answers and give a wide range, which allowed quantitative and qualitative interpretation of the answers. With the interviews, the actors and their roles in the Fair were identified as: Bioland producer organizations, marketers, Biomorga transformers, IFOAM as umbrella guilds internationally, BOWL national umbrella guild, ECOCERT as certification bodies, FiBL research centers, PROCOLOMBIA Colombian government institutions, but also the German Ministry of Agriculture among others. It was found that 100% of respondents consider it very important that the food sold is 100% certified organic; In addition, 53% of the interviewees consider it important for food to integrate three categories: Ecological, regional and fairtrade. Other trends were recorded as important in the products offered there; for example, 20% for vegan and 13% for functional foods. Finally, it is highlighted that the consumer in European countries gives importance to economic and social environmental sustainability, guaranteed through the certification of products and compliance with the standards established by the state and producer organizations; Likewise, marketing strategies become mechanisms for organic products to be recognized in the market and at the same time producers can demand their rights from the state, in this case from the European Union.