Composition and measurement of agro-food governance

This paper offers a holistic framework for an adequate understanding of the concept and components of agri-food governance and for assessing its quality. Agri-food governance is defined as a complex system with five components: (1) agri-food and related agents, (2) means (rules, forms, and mechanisms) that govern agents’ behavior, activities, and relationships, (3) processes and activities related to making diverse managerial decisions, (4) specific social order resulting from the governing process, and (5) outcomes of the functioning of the system in terms of the realization of sustainable development goals. For a holistic assessment of the quality of agri-food governance, a multidimensional hierarchical system with good governance 11 principles, 21 criteria, and 36 indicators and reference values is presented. The assessment of the farming component of agri-food governance system in Bulgaria, based on statistical and expert data, showed that its overall quality is at a moderate European Union level. In terms of sustainability, the quality of governance is at a good level, while for process, means, and order components, it is at a satisfactory level. The quality of agrarian governance is highest in terms of equity and solidarity and the good functioning public sector. The quality of agrarian governance is lowest in terms of stakeholder involvement and the Good Working Private Sector. In the future, in the latter two areas, combined actions of public, private, and collective agents are needed to improve the country’s agri-food governance. This study showed that particular attention is needed to improve currently inferior decision-making transparency, unacceptable lobbying, and high transaction costs for dealing with other agents, mitigate agricultural contribution to climate change, increase the significance of agriculture, match management decisions to public expectations, increase the competency and expertise of agrarian agents, and improve farm access to public support. The suggested framework for agri-food governance analysis and assessment is to be further adapted to the specificity of different agri-food systems and applied more broadly in diverse agri-food systems in a particular country and region, and international comparisons between (different EU) countries. The widespread application of the GAMPOS framework requires the systematic collection of new types of micro and macro data about the characteristics of governance agents, means, processes, order, and sustainability in different agri-food systems, including through official national, EU, and international statistical systems as well as the cooperation of all participating and interested parties in good governance.