The World’s population is expected to increase by 3 billion people between now and 2050, and this 50% increase over current levels will exacerbate an already difficult situation with regard to the world’s food supply and the volatility of its price. Agricultural growth and an improved allocation system for the world’s food resources will therefore be crucial to maintaining international security and spurring economic growth throughout the 21st century. Integra provides food security and agricultural and rural development solutions in two key areas: value chain analytics and rural information and communications technology solutions.
Value Chain Analysis and Development
Integra’s work on agricultural value chains supports national development programs with policy formulation assistance and program implementation capacity designed to grow productive sectors. We have deep experience in using a binding constraints approach to analyze constraints to value chain development, and our principals have recently engaged in such studies in Mali and Zambia, among others. On the implementation side, our specialty is strengthening the service sector links within value chains, to include investment, post harvest handling, business services, market identification and outreach, and transport and logistics. Integra consultants have twenty-five years of experience in agricultural value chain work, and provide clients with invaluable advice and project support.
Rural Information and Communications Technology Solutions
The potential of ICTs and the value-added services they carry offer a huge potential to increase agricultural output and facilitate the movement of food from surplus to deficit areas. As the sole implementer of USAID’s only global ICT contract, Global Broadband and Innovations, Integra has a key role in facilitating Missions’ use of ICT in all parts of the agricultural value chain. We maintain a vast inventory of possible ICT solutions for agriculture, and are able to assist Missions in identifying technology needs and sourcing technology solutions – either through networks of local developers, our unique access to Silicon Valley, or from other development organizations involved in similar work. We are currently assisting two Missions in Africa on sharing important information with beneficiary farmers and strengthening their programming under Feed the Future.
