The increasing demand for natural resources spurs the worldwide growth of the agricultural, mining, oil & gas, fishery and forestry sectors. This trend on the one hand threatens the environment, biodiversity and local communities, but on the other hand offers opportunities for development for the less developed countries. 

Civil society organisations, governments and companies that want to operate in these resource chains in a sustainable manner therefore need a clear insight in the dynamics of commodity chains: which are the opportunities and threats, and which actors and factors can influence them?