sector agencies and enterprises within a more global food system development

strategy.


 Concluding Comments

 This chapter has outlined a conceptual view of the development process

within which the economic organization of market relationships in the food

system can play a dynamic and critical role in achieving national development

goals. A general approach to the development of a marketing research program

within less developed countries has been proposed. Priority has been directed

toward applied research carried out within a descriptive-diagnostic-prescriptive

framework that is relevant to policy and program development needs in the de-

veloping countries. These procedures seem appropriate for use in a wide range

of political economic systems although the specific forms of public sector

participation in the food system will vary among countries.

 U. S. agricultural economists, as well as those from other developed

countries, will have continuing opportunities to assist in the development

of agricultural marketing research programs in the less developed countries.

Past experience indicates that their most important contributions will be in

the development of young professionals who become the indigenous professional

cadre that actually carries out research, teaching, administrative and entre-

preneural roles within their own countries. But effective professional develop-

ment requires a combination of formal training combined with long-term in-

volvement in applied, problem-solving research and related activities. This

pattern of professional development can be facilitated by developed country

Ph.D. level training programs with supervised thesis research back in the

student's own country or region and through assistance in the development

of master's level training programs in LDC institutions with emphasis on

relevant field research experience dealing with marketing problems.