Agroindustrialization of the global agrifood economy: bridging developmenteconomics and agribusiness research

This paper examines the agroindustrialization process from two supposedly d isparate views: development economics and agribusiness research. The evolut ion of conceptual and methodological approaches emanating from these fields is explored and general observations are made concerning farm economic int erdependence, institutional and organizational change, differing scopes of interest, the causes of agroindustrialization, orientation, and the choice of microanalytic tools, terminology, and unit of analysis. Despite an impre ssive list of hurdles, disincentives, and disconnects, complementarities be tween the two fields are identified. The paper concludes by exploring the p otential of bridging development economics and agribusiness research to inf orm the future agroindustrialization research agenda. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.