This publication describes the formation and evolution of rural agribusiness (RA) in the southern hemisphere as a precondition for improving the lives of families in rural communities, and focuses on RA endeavors created by development projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. After a short introduction, the first section of this study examines what is at stake in RA in Latin America and the Caribbean, exploring the philosophy behind and reality of RA, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of RA in the region. The second section provides three case studies of RA which concern: (1) rural cheese dairies in Salinas, Ecuador; (2) the promotion of RA in Nigeria; and (3) production of traditional nonalcoholic beverages in Dakar, Senegal. The third section discusses factors involved in producing and promoting products, and the fourth describes technical resources necessary for RA. The fifth section examines the implementation and management of RA projects. The 10 appendixes include a "socioeconomic grid" for analysis of projects, a list of abbreviations, the addresses of relevant organizations and individuals, and eight tables giving basic information about the cottage industry production of various food products. Contains 61 references. (MDM)