March 2021 agricultural “platforms” in a digital era

“product and service marketplaces”
will be used interchangeably with
“agricultural marketplaces.”
21

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Figure 9: Taxonomy of Digital Platforms 
Over the last couple of years, two additional specific 
Platform references have emerged: 
• “Super-Platforms”
refer to Platform models that reach 
a certain scale (e.g., more than one million farmers
12
) 
or breadth of services.
13
While this term has gained 
traction in certain parts of the industry, we believe it 
should be revisited in light of the clarity and taxonomy 
presented in this research.
• “Government Platforms”
refer to large digital 
programs run by government institutions. Early 
examples—including KALRO, ATA, and the Cellulant-
run network in Nigeria—aim to provide data, inputs, 
and services directly to farmers. While digitally 
enabled, these so-called “platforms” more closely 
resemble a pipeline business model; in the context of 
this report, we would consider these digital solutions 
rather than Digital Platforms.
CLARIFYING DISTINCTIONS: “SUPER-PLATFORMS” AND “GOVERNMENT PLATFORMS”
12
Shrader, L., O Morawczynski, A Karlyn (2018). “Super Platforms: Connecting Farmers to Markets in Africa.” CGAP blog. 
cgap.org/blog/
super-platforms-connecting-farmers-markets-africa
. 
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Tsan, M., S Totapally, M Hailu, B K Addom (2019). The digitalization of African agriculture 2018-2019. CTA. 
cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/
handle/10568/101498/CTA-Digitalisation-report.pdf
.
Sources: Cusumano, M., Gawer, A. and Yoffie, D. (2019). The Business Of Platforms. Harper Business; Fernandez Vidal, M. (2019).
Platform business models. CGAP; ISF Advisors and RAF Learning Lab analysis