conducted a number of diagnostic assessments of grain marketing systems in less

developed countries using a broad food chain conceptual approach. Physical hand-

ling at all stages in the farm-to-consumer chain has been examined and recom-

mendations for improvement programs have been presented to government agencies.

Pricing, storage and regulatory policies have also been an important part of the

country studies (21).

 A group of Michigan State Unviersity researchers have developed a "food

system" approach to conducting diagnostic studies of agriculture and food market-

ing systems linking large urban centers in selected Latin American countries with

their rural supply areas. Field studies in Northeast Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia,

and Costa Rica were carried out collaboratively with local professionals repre-

senting universities and governmental agencies (22). The diagnostic studies

were the basis for the development of broad-based market improvement programs

with specific project recommendations. A modified market structure-conduct-

performance framework of analysis generally guided the organization of these

diagnostic investigations. Such a framework is oriented towards the evaluation

of system performance when judged against broad economic and social goals.

 The basic thrust of the MSU research was towards the use of a descriptive-

diagnostic procedure for identifying constraints and unexploited opportunities

as perceived by marketing system participants, local political leaders and

as identified through the use of a wide array of standard economic analysis

tools. The approach is pragmatic and eclectic, and emphasizes the need to

identify managerial, technological and institutional innovations which are

unprofitable or unavailable to individuals within existing marketing channels,

but if adopted across all stages of these interrelated production/marketing

processes, could lead to substantial, channel-wide improvements.