1. Policy & institutional factors
influencing innovation and value-
addition in Malawian legume sector
Domenico Dentoni
Management Studies, School of Social Sciences
Wageningen University
21/08/2014
Slides complementing GCFSI Megatrend 3
Evolution in Skills in the Food System

2. Introduction
How does Wageningen University action in Year 2 complement GCFSI partners’ action
for food systems innovation in Malawian legume sector?
Figure displays
multiple levels of
legume systems
innovation
Wageningen University
focus in Year 2 is across
ORANGE boxes.
GCFSI Partners’ focus in
Year 2 is across
BLUE boxes.
Wageningen University action examines and provides recommendations for action on
policy and institutional factors constraining innovations and value-added activities that would
benefit disadvantaged legume (soy, groundnut, pigeon pea & cowpea) farm communities.

3. Methods
Which activities have we designed? Why? At which stage of implementation are we?
April 2014: Research concept and seeking complementarity with GCFSI partners
May 2014: Malawi legume sector literature review; stakeholder engagement in Malawi
June 2014: Sample selection and interview protocols with LUANAR and MSU teams
July-August 2014: Field interviews and production of transcripts/notes
August-September 2014: Data analysis: Net-Mapping
Net-Maps are visual tools to assess networks of influences among key actors. Thus, Net-
Maps help identifying viable forms of collaboration among multiple actors to stimulate
innovations of benefit for the weakest actors in the legume system.
September 2014: Action points for GCFSI; other policy and managerial implications

4. Partial Results: Net-Mapping based on three in-depth interviews
(1 processing & trading company; 2 farmers’ associations)
out of 24 completed
2. National policies
are more influential
in terms of regulation
than in terms of
public investments.
Regulation on export
bans, seed
certification and
cooperative &
business licences
create constraints to
innovation in legume
sector.
1. Knowledge
provision to legume
farmers has shifted
from public extension
services to processors
and input suppliers.
Knowledge sharing
across universities,
farm associations and
NGOs without
Government funding
is still weak.
3. Processors are strong actors in the supply chain but face raw product supply and processing
constraints because of public regulation and infrastructure (road & electricity) limitations.

5. Action Points (tentative):
Net-Mapping based on three in-depth interviews
(1 processing & trading company; 2 farmers’ associations)
out of 24 completed
1. SHORT-RUN action
(Year 3-4 of GCFSI):
develop a GCFSI hub
that connects
LUANAR, farmers’
associations, civil
society, farmers and
input suppliers with
commodty-specific
platforms for
knowledge sharing
(as a complement to
public extension
services).
2. MEDIUM-RUN
action (Year 4-5 of
GCFSI): expand the
GCFSI hub role in
commodity-specific
platforms role from
knowledge-transfer
at farm level to
advocacy at
institutional and
policy level.

6. Thank you!
For questions please contact email below.
We look forward to receiving your feedback.
Dr. Domenico Dentoni, Assistant Professor & GCFSI Principal Investigator
Prof. Onno Omta, Full Professor in Management Studies
Mr. Felix Krussmann, MSc student and GCFSI Research Assistant
Management Studies, School of Social Sciences
Wageningen University
Email: domenico.dentoni@wur.nl