Bern University of Applied Sciences School of Agricultural, Forest an Food Sciences HAFL

List of Masters Thesis Proposal

Management of Value Chains in Agriculture and Forestry and rural development VCR
Topics and further information Crop production, International
Impact study of a community-based seed program for basic food crops (maize, cowpeas) in Northern Mozambique Starting out from seed banks in a sample of communities, the flows of seed from the bank to farmers and onwards to other farmers are to be quantified over three generations of seed. Outcomes and impacts (yield stability, economic benefits, food security, resilience of seed supply, community ownership and finally effects on livelihood) are to be measured. Information is to be disaggregated by social strata, gender, crop and variety type (local or improved) and access to markets. Study of farmer-to-farmer seed flows (quality and volumes) triggered by the Mongolian Potato Project The Mongolian Potato Project has triggered an extensive dissemination of new varieties from farmer to farmer. The scope of these informal seed flows is to be quantified and the health of respective seed along the flows characterized (Evaluation of symptoms of seed-borne diseases). Factors for success and risks are to be identified. Land tenure issues relevant for conversion of slash-and-burn to slash-and-char farming Study of the present situation and ex-ante analysis of policy interventions regarding land tenure. Land tenure could play a crucial role in farmers decisions to adopt slash-and-char Biochar. Precision agriculture for small-scale rice farmers: Rice nutrient manager via mobile phone In a contract growing setting run by RMG (a commercial enterprise linked to Syngenta Foundation), the IRRI nutrient manager is to be integrated into the mobile phone app the contract farmers already use (FarmForce). Mozambique Urs Scheidegger

Geography Contact person

Mongolia

Urs Scheidegger

Cameroon or Benin

Urs Scheidegger

Burkina Faso

Urs Scheidegger

Rural economics, Switzerland

Swiss Farm households coping with low income or poverty To analyze the social and economic condition of low income and poor Swiss farm households in the French speaking part of Switzerland and comparing the evidences with results from the project Farm households below the poverty line (Bauernhaushalte unter dem Existenzminimum). Sans Papiers: Invisible agricultural wage workers They do not appear in any statistics on agricultural wage workers and no discussion about agricultural wage workers excludes them. However, Sans Papiers, illegal immigrants, are welcome on Swiss farms as wage workers. This thesis aims at better understanding the working and living conditions of this group as well as the situation of the employers, the farmers, who as well are engaged in illegal practices. Economic appraisal of Agri-tourism Agri-tourism is an option for farmers to diversify their services. However, in many cases this means a lot of work for little income. Currently, no data is available about Swiss farmers revenue from agri-tourism. This information, together with the characteristics of each agri-touristic offer, is a key to help farmers to professionalize in agritourism and make it economically viable. Within the project a sub-topic is to be studied in the frame of a Master Thesis. Switzerland Sandra Contzen

Switzerland

Sandra Contzen

Switzerland

Therese Haller

Rural economics, International

A roadmap through the label jungle: Cocoa and coffee in Ecuador Swisscontact supports several organic farmer groups. They have to deal with several organic and fair trade labels and with internal company standards. To optimize administration, the possibility of multi-standard certification shall be studied. Analysis of certification systems in the Rwandan coffee sector There are about 400,000 small-scale coffee farmers in Rwanda. Coffee from Rwanda has the potential to grow high-quality coffee because of its excellent agro-ecological conditions: good rainfall, altitude, climate and volcanic soils. The thesis shall analyse which certifications schemes are more favourable for small-scale coffee farmers. Market analysis for the cocoa butter/powder production in Honduras This thesis will be jointly done with the support of Chocolats Halba. This research will determine the market potential for cocoa butter/powder production in Honduras The topic can be modified. The student will join two other Swiss students already conducting research in Honduras with Chocolats Halba. The economics of the Malaysian cocoa value chain Malaysia is one of the main cocoa producing countries worldwide. Despite the increase in production over the last decades, Malaysia is trying to position itself as one of the leading grinding country. This thesis will look in detail at all the changes in the value chain, the changes currently taking place and analyse the economic situation as the country moves from being a producer to a processor. Analysis of Fairtrade certification In 2011-12, a big evaluation study on Fairtrade was conducted with the aim to measure the development impact of the certification in several production countries. The study was carried out by a renowned evaluation centre and looked into 6 cases: flowers (in Kenya), cocoa (in Ghana), coffee and banana (in Peru), and tea and cotton (in India). However, the data collected has not been analysed in its completeness so far. The focus of the students work would therefore be to carry out thorough (statistical) analysis with one or several of the named products/study cases, and thus independently contribute to the very pertinent discussion on the impact of sustainability labelling. Ecuador, Northern Peru Urs Scheidegger

Rwanda

Ingrid Fromm

Honduras

Ingrid Fromm

Malaysia

Ingrid Fromm

Mainly Switzerland, perhaps short travel abroad

Ingrid Fromm

Forestry, Switzerland
The significance of Non-Timber Products in Swiss Forests through the ages The work would be done in tandem with an MSc student of a tropical country who would use a similar methodology to assess the significance of NTFPs and the change in their importance for nutrition, human health and other uses. Swiss Urban NeighbourWoods SUNWoods The objective is to bring together city authorities, forest managers and concerned population (stakeholders) in a new institutional framework to achieve a tailored forest management to user requirements Switzerland (and Togo or Ghana) Switzerland Jrgen Blaser

Urs Mhlethaler

Forestry, International
Agroforestry production systems with enhanced carbon sequestration potential in the high-forest zone of Ghana Analyze from a biophysical perspective the potential to optimize crop and carbon production of agroforestry systems (cocoa and other crops) of small farmers. (Thesis in the framework of the preparation of Ghanas national REDD+ strategy, supported by World Bank and SECCO.) Rangeland production systems with enhanced carbon potential in the transitional zone of Ghana The thesis shall analyze from a biophysical perspective the potential to optimize silvo-pastoral production systems (agroforestry and rangeland systems) in the transitional zone of Ghana. (Thesis in the framework of the preparation of Ghanas national REDD+ strategy, supported by World Bank and SECCO.) Cost Benefit Analysis along the value chain of different (wood) products The thesis shall focus on the analysis of viable production options under consideration of potential carbon saving benefits in the woodlands of the (forest-savanna) transition zone of Ghana. Ghana Jrgen Blaser

Ghana

Jrgen Blaser

Ghana

Jrgen Blaser

Multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting questions, Switzerland

Improving market access through farmer's organisations in Bnin Analysis of existing farmer's organisation, their strengths and weaknesses. The aim of the study is to inform the SDC programme in Bnin about the viability of working with farmer's organizations for the improvement of small farmer's livelihoods through improved market access. Bnin Karin Zbinden

Food systems, Switzerland

Does a (partial) market liberalization of Swiss red meat market reduce shopping tourism? Red meat markets in Switzerland are still highly protected. The big price differences to the EU are drivers for shopping in neighbour countries. In this context the following questions are to be studied: Which are the beneficiaries of liberalization? What are costs and benefits for Swiss agriculture and tax payers? Less Swiss Honey due to Free Trade Agreements? This thesis aim is to analyse the impact of different tax levels in different FTAs on Swiss honey producers, as well as the consequences in the Swiss Honey market under special consideration of the market structure (Migros, Coop) Consumers food waste in Switzerland Food waste is an old phenomenon that lately has been rediscovered. It is estimated that 45% of all food loss/waste is caused by consumers. However, only little research has been done to investigate and understand consumer behavior in regard of food waste. In this master thesis you will close this gap by conducting a paper-and-pencil survey representative for Switzerland. Thereby, you will identify the drivers of food waste. Knowing the drivers you will be able to suggest measures that help to prevent consumers food waste. Switzerland Urs Egger

Switzerland

Urs Egger

Switzerland

Thomas Brunner

Food systems, International

From producers to consumers: Improving the transparency of the cocoa chain This thesis could be done jointly with Food science. The idea is to analyze how the retail sector is increasingly working together with the small-scale producers in developing countries in order to cut out middlemen, improving the incomes of these farmers while communicating these values (that they know exactly where they source from) to consumers in Switzerland. Improving value chains of community small scale fish farming (aquaculture) Assist the World Fish Center (www.worldfishcenter.org) value chain scientists in a project on value chain analysis of fish farming to increase livelihoods and food security of local communities. The work implies field work in one of the indicated countries, with data collection using participatory methods. Improving Egypts aquaculture sector to increase food security and provide employment, in particular for women and youth The work will be in the framework of a project conducted by the World Fish Center (www.worldfishcenter.org) in collaboration with CARE in one of these subjects: Developing pro-poor aquaculture technologies; Women friendly aquaculture systems investigating needs, attitudes, capacities Measuring impacts of farmer training carried out by IEIDEAS project Impacts of support for Producer Organisations Market analysis and development of new aquaculture-based food products Biodiversity for improved nutrition, health and income generation in the Andean Countries: promoting pro-poor food security policy, based on safe and nutritious consumption of local food products The work will be in the framework of the project ISSANDES (www.cipotato.org/issandes) on nutrition, food security and income generation in the Andes, conducted by the International Potato Centre (CIP) , based on the development of food products derived by local biodiversity, also contributing to improve public perceptions of local foods from the Andean territories. Ex-post Analysis of Switzerlands Free Trade Agreements The thesis shall answer following questions: Coverage of products? Extension of preferential margins? Development of agricultural trade with e.g. Morocco, Mexico, Chile etc. Which concessions were made by Switzerland? Switzerland, West Africa Ingrid Fromm

Zambia, Bangladesh, Solomon Islands

Alessandra Giuliani

Egypt

Alessandra Giuliani

Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

Alessandra Giuliani

Switzerland

Urs Egger

Free Trade Agreement Switzerland India: A Potential for Swiss agricultural exports? By analysing trade statistics and conducting interviews with export companies, the actual bilateral trade flows shall be described, the Indian market analysed and the future demand of growing cities in India elaborated. The outcome of the thesis describes the potential for Swiss agricultural and food products on the Indian market.

Switzerland

Urs Egger

Last updated: 18.12.2013 (grm)