include a strong dose of service provision – usually by the intermediary organization or
specialized providers in order to balance the needs of small farmers and SMEs with the realities of emerging modern
markets, in terms of quality and volume. Other key aspects of intermediation models include increased knowledge
management (to improve chain coordination and quality), closer links to buyers, and incentives for product and process
upgrading. This can be an important new role for NGOs, though there also is a growing appreciation that intermediation
can be a commercial business service. There are examples of producer organizations adding their own commercial
intermediary in the form of consolidation and marketing units.