Creating new markets for cassava.

This case study is about changing attitudes and approaches to food research in Ghana. Over a period of about 10 years a series of research projects tried to find ways of developing new markets for cassava, a crop mainly grown by poor farm households. Central to this research was an attempt to drive market creation through the development of novel cassava-based products. The case study describes the way, particularly in the early stages, the incentives and structures of the research organisation and funding mechanism caused scientists to approach this research theme in certain ways. However as the true nature of the research task revealed itself – it was actually as much about developing market networks as it was about developing novel products – the research approach and the role of those involved changed substantially.