Search

A profound transformation of the entire food system is necessary to achieve sustainable development in the agricultural sector. This pertains to the production, distribution, and consumption of food. In the case of distribution, this transformation involves changes both at the beginning of the chain, namely, in the agricultural structure, and at the final stage, in consumer behaviour. By analysing the existing literature, we identify key areas where the principles of short supply chains can be harmonised with smart village initiatives. The concept of smart villages itself is based on using modern technologies and innovative practices to improve the quality of life in rural areas and support sustainable development. Consequently, as mentioned, one of the critical elements of this concept is the cooperation of farmers for sustainable short supply chain management. This study analysed statistical data from the Central Statistical Office of Poland and unpublished data from the General Veterinary Inspectorate, complemented by desk research on relevant reports, scientific literature, and legal documents concerning local food systems. The study investigates local food systems in the Mazowieckie region, where 9% of Polish entities operating within local food systems are registered. Activity within this framework is characterised by significant spatial diversity across the region. The spatial distribution is mainly related to the location of the raw material base, e.g., the concentration of specialised agricultural production, distance to the sales market (proximity to consumers), and other broadly understood conditions for conducting business activity. The paper highlights the need to transform food systems to support sustainable agricultural development, focusing on short supply chains and smart village initiatives. By examining local food systems in Poland's Mazowieckie region, it identifies how spatial and resource factors impact local food distribution and rural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to identify the factors characteristic of Generation Z that favor and limit their decisions to purchase products straight from the farm, to identify their preferences regarding the choice of shopping destinations, barriers related to packaging and preferred forms of payment. The survey was conducted on a group of 246 representatives of Generation Z. This generation is an important and attractive group in the context of direct sales, as it is characterised by a greater openness to market novelties, represents considerable purchasing power, as well as decision-making power within their families and peer groups. The research showed that Generation Z consumers are interested in buying food products straight from the farm mainly fruits and vegetables, honey, fish and eggs. A motivating factor for buying straight from the farm turned out to be the local origin of the product, while a limiting factor was the lack of readily available pick-up points. In addition, the need to organize packaging before making purchases and limited options for cashless transitions proved to be much of a barrier. It would therefore be advisable for farmers interested in direct selling to make an effort to self-organise and use digital solutions such as mobile apps.

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Messages clés: L'accessibilité aux systèmes alimentaires alternatifs varie chez les populations à faible revenu selon le contexte géographique, notamment en fonction de la taille des villes et de la composition de la population.Le prix des SAA est influencé par des facteurs propres à chaque territoire tels que la temporalité, les rapports aux aliments et à l'agriculture et la proximité des producteur·rice·s, du moins en contexte québécois.Nous proposons de miser sur les avantages qu'apportent les relations sociales dans les SAA et de prendre en compte des particularités géographiques et démographiques des villes dans les politiques alimentaires. Alternative food systems (AFS), which are known for their reduced food supply chain and have positive benefits for health, the environment, and local communities, offer an alternative to the conventional (industrialized) system of quality food. However, several studies question the accessibility to these food systems, especially when food insecurity remains a significant issue for many communities in North America. This article examines the accessibility of AFS among lower‐income populations by taking into account the urban context, including the food environment and proximity to production areas. Using the case of a borough of Montreal and the medium‐sized city of Victoriaville (Quebec), we carried out a mixed methodology combining mapping and observation of the food environment and semi‐structured interviews. We show that the price of AFS (economic dimension of its access) is moderated by factors specific to each territory such as temporality, relationships to food and agriculture, and proximity to producers. The Montreal borough and the medium‐sized city also stand out for their way of (re)connecting to agricultural producers. These results could help optimize public policies that focus on access to quality food and thus make AFS more accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental is the property of Universitat Rovira I Virgili and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Przeglad Prawa Rolnego is the property of Adam Mickiewicz University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to its dependence on natural resources and weather conditions, agriculture is widely acknowledged as one of the most vulnerable sectors when talking about climate change. Lower yields and productivity, droughts, and water shortages have had an impact on food security globally. The food system using agrochemicals, cattle breeding, processing storage, transportation, and trade contributes even more to global emissions. Incorporating sustainability in the production of diverse and healthy food as a systematic approach to the concept of food security is challenging for the future capacity reduction of ecological systems due to the degradation of natural resources and the rise in social and economic inequality. Regenerative agricultural production that ensures long-term food security and nutrition, as well as processing and trade are therefore essential currently to secure the cooperation of social and economic systems. The main goal of the presented scientific paper is to point out the serious challenge of today related to environmental food losses and food waste in the world and the Slovak Republic in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using fungus‐resistant grapevine varieties can reduce pesticide use substantially, while maintaining production quantity and quality. Using survey data from 775 producers in Switzerland, we investigate the adoption of fungus‐resistant varieties and especially analyze the relevance of marketing channels and short supply chains. We find that 20.1% of respondents use fungus‐resistant varieties but the acreage is only 1.2%. Our results narrow down to a simple conclusion: the less distant the producer is from the final consumer, the more likely they use fungus‐resistant varieties. For example, producers selling their wine mainly via direct marketing have a higher (8%–38%) uptake of fungus‐resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are one of the most direct approaches to more directly connecting consumers with producers. The scaling-up of SFSCs is often challenged by critical issues which can be overcome with identification of the most sustainable, replicable schemes. This paper presents the results of a participatory analysis conducted within the agroBRIDGES H2020 project, with the aim of defining a list of economic, social, and environmental attributes and indicators to assess the sustainability of SFSCs and set up a decision-making tool to support producers in self-assessing their sustainability level and choosing the most appropriate business model (BM) from those identified within the project. The proposed framework was based on a literature review and validated using co-creation exercises (Delphi rounds and focus groups) with relevant European stakeholders. A final set of 47 indicators was identified, and their potential for use in assessing the sustainability level of various BMs was also validated. Early results highlighted three main issues: indicator calculation feasibility, business model categorization, and the simplicity of the framework for sustainability self-assessment. Some recommendations are made, including the importance of using a participatory process in building an evaluation framework on SFSC sustainability and the necessity of its adaptation to territorial contexts and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of participation in short supply chains (SSCs) on technical efficiency (TE) and technological change (TC) in cucumber production in China, using data for the period 2011–2016. The meta‐frontier model and the two‐stage residual inclusion approach are utilized to examine the association between SSC participation, comparable TE, and TC. Accounting for selection bias, we show that SSC participation significantly decreased the comparable TE of cucumber production but accelerated TC. The disaggregated analysis reveals that the comparable TE for SSC participants was generally smaller than that for nonparticipants. Furthermore, comparable TE for nonparticipants consistently increased year‐over‐year, whereas, for SSC participants, it increased during some years and decreased during others. Last but not least, TC for both SSC participants and nonparticipants increased over time. [EconLit Citations: Q12, D24]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Socijalna Ekologija is the property of Croatian Sociological Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the 1950s, the Limousin Mountain region was characterized by mixed crop and livestock farming, produced mainly for local consumption. Over the past 70 years, however, this small area of the Massif Central has since specialized in breeding cattle for export, breaking the link between agriculture and the local food system. At the same time, physical labor productivity has continued to grow, leading to the massive abandonment of the moors and peat bogs, the region’s pastoral ecosystems. In contrast to these dynamics, for nearly ten years a small group of farmers has been developing agroecological systems, putting native vegetation at the center of feeding their herds. While these systems address agroecological and food transition concerns, they are affected by the industry’s normal standards, which are not adapted to their products. The farmers have therefore had to turn to short supply chains and more local outlets. Local markets nevertheless have their limits and encourage a closer collaboration between breeders and butchers as well as reflection on the stakes of food equity in declining rural areas like the Limousin Mountains.

In the 1950s, the Limousin Mountain region was characterized by mixed crop and livestock farming, produced mainly for local consumption. Over the past 70 years, however, this small area of the Massif Central has since specialized in breeding cattle for export, breaking the link between agriculture and the local food system. At the same time, physical labor productivity has continued to grow, leading to the massive abandonment of the moors and peat bogs, the region’s pastoral ecosystems. In contrast to these dynamics, for nearly ten years a small group of farmers has been developing agroecological systems, putting native vegetation at the center of feeding their herds. While these systems address agroecological and food transition concerns, they are affected by the industry’s normal standards, which are not adapted to their products. The farmers have therefore had to turn to short supply chains and more local outlets. Local markets nevertheless have their limits and encourage a closer collaboration between breeders and butchers as well as reflection on the stakes of food equity in declining rural areas like the Limousin Mountains.

Over the past decades, short food supply chains attracted government and public support owing to their potential to mitigate some of the sustainability issues associated with the conventional globalized food supply system. The recent event of the coronavirus disease pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on food supply systems worldwide, and it constitutes a unique opportunity to evaluate the performance of food chains. Through a scoping review of the academic literature, this study provides a critical assessment of the implications of the pandemic on short food supply chains in multiple economies. Following the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA-ScR framework, the SCOPUS and ISI Web of Science databases were searched for the academic literature on the topic. The results of the review indicate that, besides the direct effects of the pandemic, the indirect effects resulting from public policies implemented to contain the spread of the virus affected all relevant dimensions of sustainability. Moreover, the consequences of the pandemic were more disruptive in the short food chains of low-income countries than in those of high-income countries. The main challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of short food supply chains are identified, and recommendations for future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are increasingly interested in buying locally produced food but often cannot recognise it on the market. As the European Union has not introduced a local food labelling scheme, the study examines how selected countries defined and labelled local food and whether the implemented brands are suitable for fulfilling their functions of identifying, promoting and guaranteeing local products, avoiding misleading consumers. The question of to what extent geographical indications can be used as a tool to identify locally produced food is also considered. The analysis shows that there is a variety of local or regional, public and private brands that are the result of bottom-up initiatives and local self-governance, but their proliferation, differences in legal nature and the meaning of the messages conveyed adversely affect their function. Therefore, a harmonised labelling should be introduced at the UE level, otherwise at a national level, as a ready-made tool for promoting and distinguishing local products on the market, ensuring a uniform understanding of the label for all participants in the food chain, preventing fraud and unfair competition, and giving consumers confidence in its message. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maraichine breed of cattle originates from the Loire region of France and has been under a conservation programme since 1986. This programme links the conservation of the breed with the conservation of its traditional environment of wet grasslands. In this case report, we describe the different steps of this programme, each of which had its own successes and challenges. We also describe how, throughout this process, researchers have been involved in the generation and dissemination of information covering areas such as stakeholder perspectives, animal performance, and socio-economics. Under the conservation programme, the Maraichine population has expanded in both size and scale. Simultaneously, stakeholder perspectives have also developed, continually shifting the balance between the productivity, conservation, and maintenance of heritage traits. The conservation programme also provided the opportunity to utilise the breed's desirable traits, such as easy calving and disease resistance. Whilst the carcasses are not necessarily as valuable as those of other breeds, farmers have implemented novel economic practices to capitalise on market opportunities. Today, Maraichine cattle and Maraichine breeders offer researchers the opportunity to deepen and enrich our knowledge on sustainable ruminant livestock farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of life quality in rural areas is an overall goal of all development strategies in the Western Balkans countries. Rural tourism represents the quality option for diversification of income and employment opportunities in Tropolje region (Canton 10 in Bosnia and Herzegovina). Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify strategic advantages and disadvantages for tourism development in Tropolje region of Dinaric Alps and provide guidelines for its development. The SWOT analysis combined with AHP method was used. In seven domains, 29 strengths, 31 weakness, 25 opportunities and 24 threats were determined, with total intensity 154, 202, 140 and 144 and average rating of influence intensity 5.3, 6.5, 5.6, 5.8, respectively. A significant advantage for tourism development were linked to short supply chains based on natural and cultural heritage of the region.

Agricultural techniques and orchard management play an important role in food production sustainability and there is an increasing number of research papers that focus on food cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment. In addition, there is also an emerging body of research on short food supply chains and on whether or not proximity can be a proxy for sustainability in the agri-food system. The objective of this analysis is to consider the most relevant social and environmental impacts of the Environmental Footprint and Social Life Cycle Assessment in the citrus fruit sector and identify crucial hotspots. We will explore the relevance of the length of citrus fruit supply chains on maps of social and environmental impacts in order to reach more wiser sustainability-based decisions. The results obtained show mixed conclusions regarding the relevance and implications of choosing short food supply chains to achieve more sustainable food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to healthy food is a topic that has been largely discussed in the literature for about 20–30 years. In many studies, it has been emphasised that the connections between the urban and rural areas should be continuous and strong. The Covid-19 pandemic has shed light on the importance of the issue of feeding the cities and has also revealed the problems in the way the existing system functions. Based on this, the aim of this article is to understand how the food system of Istanbul was affected by the Covid-19 global epidemic and also discuss what should be done to create a resilient and sustainable food system in cities. Within the scope of this research, a strength, weakness, opportunity, threat (SWOT) analysis was conducted to determine the factors affecting the resilience of the food system in Istanbul. Then, the SWOT criteria were weighted using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method. The weighted criteria were matched in a TOWS matrix, and strategies to increase the resilience of the food system in Istanbul against shocks and risks were developed. The analysis is based on interviews conducted with industry experts and actors. As a result, it is observed that the long supply chain is dominant in Istanbul and there is a need to strengthen the direct and spatial relations between the producer and consumer. Therefore, it is vital to address the food system while considering the spatial dimension, to strengthen the link between urban and rural areas, to increase the resilience of the food system against shocks as well as to ensure the accessibility of food products within shorter distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the political discussion, the promotion of local food systems and short supply chains is sometimes presented as a means to increase the resilience of the food system, e.g. in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is also suggested as a means to improve the environmental footprint of the food system. Differentiating between local food systems and short supply chains, a review of the literature on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability is carried out. "Local food" cannot simply be equated with "sustainable food"; in most cases, it neither can ensure food security nor does it necessarily have a lower carbon footprint. For the environmental sustainability of food systems, many more factors matter than just transportation, not least consumers' dietary choices. In terms of social sustainability, local food systems are not necessarily more resilient, but they can contribute to rural development and a sense of community. In terms of economic sustainability, selling via short supply chains into local markets can benefit certain farmers, while for other producers it can be more profitable to supply international markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are one of the most direct approaches to more directly connecting consumers with producers. The scaling-up of SFSCs is often challenged by critical issues which can be overcome with identification of the most sustainable, replicable schemes. This paper presents the results of a participatory analysis conducted within the agroBRIDGES H2020 project, with the aim of defining a list of economic, social, and environmental attributes and indicators to assess the sustainability of SFSCs and set up a decision-making tool to support producers in self-assessing their sustainability level and choosing the most appropriate business model (BM) from those identified within the project. The proposed framework was based on a literature review and validated using co-creation exercises (Delphi rounds and focus groups) with relevant European stakeholders. A final set of 47 indicators was identified, and their potential for use in assessing the sustainability level of various BMs was also validated. Early results highlighted three main issues: indicator calculation feasibility, business model categorization, and the simplicity of the framework for sustainability self-assessment. Some recommendations are made, including the importance of using a participatory process in building an evaluation framework on SFSC sustainability and the necessity of its adaptation to territorial contexts and needs.

Copyright of Przeglad Prawa Rolnego is the property of Adam Mickiewicz University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Microfarms are very small-scale diversified organic market gardens, which are emblematic of growing dynamics of new-peasant farms creation in France. Interviews carried out on 20 microfarms in Northern France show that they are the materialisation of global life projects oriented toward the search for meaning, commitment, quality of life and autonomy rather than profit maximisation. They seek to “take care” of the earth and intensify their production ecologically thanks to a rehabilitation of manual labour. They develop a holistic design approach of “edible landscapes” rather than exploitation zones. Beyond relocalising food through short supply chains, they recreate social links in rural areas through job creation, cultural and community activities. They thus contribute to a renewal of farming practices and of the vision of farmer’s role in territories out of step with modernisation. The role that microfarms could play in a wider agricultural transition is discussed.

The goal of this paper is to recognize the desired prospective role of small farms in local food systems as well as identify the directions of future-oriented activity for its implementation. The empirical data for the study was provided as a result of workshops hosted in the Rzeszowski subregion in 2019, attended by the stakeholders of the local food system. The methodology of the studies was based on the concept of foresight research, using the backcasting technique. For the purpose of formulating the visions of the desired prospective role of small farms in local food systems, the workshops participants determined their potential future roles in the subsystem of production, processing and consumption of food in the subregion, while, above all, recognizing them in reference to production, processing and providing the consumer with food of the highest quality. The aforementioned roles have been determined as being under-implemented. The recommended areas of activities for increasing the share of small farms in local food systems were identified as: legislation, institutional conditions, consultancy, financial support and farm cooperation, food quality and safety control, promotion of local food products and consumer education.

Il dibattito sull’impatto che la pandemia da COVID-19 ha avuto sul sistema agroalimentare è animato da posizioni molto contrastanti. Mentre alcuni autori tendono a sottolineare la grande capacità di resilienza mostrata dalle catene del cibo a livello globale, altri sostengono che la pandemia stia acuendo le contraddizioni che caratterizzano il sistema agroalimentare industriale. L'articolo intende contribuire a questo dibattito analizzando gli effetti della pandemia sul sistema agroalimentare italiano. Gli autori analizzano il modo in cui la crisi pandemica ha colpito le diverse filiere agroalimentari, concentrandosi in particolare sulle filiere corte. Queste ultime vengono solitamente descritte come una valida alternativa al modello agro-industriale dominante, ma vi sono ancora posizioni molto divergenti riguardo a quelli che sono i loro effettivi punti di forza e di debolezza. La pandemia rappresenta un'opportunità per testare se le filiere corte sono in grado di reagire a uno shock di portata globale e per far luce sui fattori che ne possono influenzare, sia positivamente che negativamente, le potenzialità e la loro capacita di rispondere ai bisogni sociali che emergono nell’attuale fase di trasformazione del regime alimentare “ambientale e delle corporation”. Partendo da questo assunto, l’articolo presenta i risultati di una ricerca qualitativa volta ad esplorare le risposte che le filiere corte hanno adottato per far fronte alle problematiche emerse all'indomani dell'esplosione dell’emergenza sanitaria. Come viene mostrato, la crisi pandemica ha messo in luce una serie di criticità delle filiere corte, ma ne ha anche evidenziato delle notevoli capacità di resilienza e di innovazione, fornendo delle importanti indicazioni al livello delle politche pubbliche.

Organic food production and quality and their impact on consumer’s attitude toward ‘organic’ have been a hot topic of discussion in scientific literature as well as in general publications. The positive effect of the use of production practices typical of organic productions on the environment has been proven and used as reasoning for the social support and development of the sector. At the same time the consumption of organic food has a positive effect on consumer’s health and a larger portion of consumers internationally are increasing the demand for such products. The production and consumption of organic food are not necessarily related on local markets, particularly in Bulgaria. Discrepancies may be found and studied in order to better understand producer and consumer behavior and their incentives. The goal of this study is to analyze the impact that the development of local production of organic honey in Bulgaria has on local consumption of the product, in order to test and improve on the methodology developed by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura is the property of Revista Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, Canada has witnessed a rapid growth in short food supply chains. As in other countries, such marketing channels have emerged in Canada in response to a growing demand among consumers for fresh, local products. However, a unique feature of Canadian agriculture is that dairy, egg, and poultry production are under supply management. The government requirement for producers in these sectors to purchase a quota ensures that output matches domestic demand. Until recently, though, little attention had been paid to how this system affects the development of short food supply chains in the country. The pur­pose of our study is to examine this emerging issue. The results of our policy analysis suggest that small farmers in Canada face multiple challenges when seek­ing to produce and market specialty products that are under supply management. Furthermore, the cost of entering supply-managed sectors for producers varies as each province is responsible for establishing its own quota exemption limits, mini­mum quotas, and new entrant programs. Our study indicates that supply management policies have important implications for local and regional food system development and for food diversity in Canada.

The aim of the study is to identify legal instruments, implemented in France, supporting short food supply chains and, more generally, local food systems. The research has identified these tools from a variety of domains and levels, including national laws, government policies, and local government initiatives, and analysed them in relation to various forms of short supply chains present in French territory, which are the key components of local food systems, such as direct marketing, producers’ stores, basket systems, urban agriculture, and deliveries to public catering. Overall, the French instruments are multiple, diverse, mostly innovative, take into account social, environmental, and solidarity values, and can be good examples to follow. Most of them are established at the local level, being thus an expression of new models of local food governance, corresponding to the values of a participative economy and food democracy.

The current study discusses the role and the importance of alternative food networks, farmers’ markets in particular, for sustainable rural development through the example of Bulgaria. Farmers’ markets are considered as a sustainable business model of networking which encourages production and consumption of local food of healthy origin adhering to high standards for quality and safety, building society and trust and encouraging development of rural regions. The case of Bulgaria is scrutinized in the context of the support for local food and short supply chains anticipated under the national rural development programme for the period 2014–2020 and the current state-of-art and capacities of available farmers’ markets. Some good practices are analyzed and presented establishing a new type of relationships between producers and consumers of farm products proving that farmers’ markets could be efficient incubators of local businesses and new relationships with end-users. Conclusions are made on nature, objectives and functioning of farmers’ markets, challenges and problems in their promotion, support and encouragement.

Copyright of Revista Retratos de Assentamentos is the property of Revista Retratos de Assentamentos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, Canada has witnessed a rapid growth in short food supply chains. As in other countries, such marketing channels have emerged in Canada in response to a growing demand among consumers for fresh, local products. However, a unique feature of Canadian agriculture is that dairy, egg, and poultry production are under supply management. The government requirement for producers in these sectors to purchase a quota ensures that output matches domestic demand. Until recently, though, little attention had been paid to how this system affects the development of short food supply chains in the country. The purpose of our study is to examine this emerging issue. The results of our policy analysis suggest that small farmers in Canada face multiple challenges when seeking to produce and market specialty products that are under supply management. Furthermore, the cost of entering supply-managed sectors for producers varies as each province is responsible for establishing its own quota exemption limits, minimum quotas, and new entrant programs. Our study indicates that supply management policies have important implications for local and regional food system development and for food diversity in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea witnessed an increase in the average size of dairy farms over the past decade, probably because of high production costs especially relevant for farms with less than 40 heads. Korean dairy farms have production costs that are 63.9% higher than the international milk price, and the producer support by the Korean government is 2.5 times higher than the average of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Considering a possible reduction of public support, and the increasing market openings, one of the objectives for farmers would be to try retaining on farm a higher added value for their dairy products such as cheese and fermented milk. Out of this perspective, and on the basis of a questionnaire that involved the great part of the farmers that produce cheese, this paper describes three possible tools for the valorization of dairy products: short supply chains and direct marketing, dedicated supply chains with certification and labels and the approach values based supply chains.

The paper describes a research-action experience promoted, by a Research centre belonging to Lombard Solidarity economy network, in two towns of Abbiatense, an agricultural area nearby Milan, to the purpose of testing the chances of building a new ‘social formation’ beginning with the definition of a collective goal, i.e. the defence of land/food as a common good. The project aimed on one hand at rebuilding sustainable agro-food supply chains in a context dominated by two agro-industrial crops, i.e. rice and corn for animal feed, on the other at implementing a hatchery for networked social enterprises connected to such newly built chains; taking, as the main (but not the sole) referents/users of the process, actors belonging to ‘needy’ social sectors, like migrants, returning families or the ‘new poor’. The first results show that, when the pivot actors – like innovating farmers, responsible citizens-consumers and ‘sensitive’ local governments – do not implement a transformation strategy working at the social and cultural level besides the economic one, single practices, even though pioneering, risk to fail in triggering processes pointed at freeing local economy from the dominant market’s ‘long chains’, or at a genuine reconstruction of territorial communities. In this view, the chance of implementing a ‘solidarity interchange system’, borrowed from a model by Euclides Mance, is proposed as a solution.

Production and distribution of local food contributes to responds to the needs of consumers in terms of desire to support the local economies and responsibility for the environment. In local food resources, food production and processing, trading this food and its consumption occur in a relatively small geographical area. Benefits resulting from the functioning of local food systems are not only related to satisfying food demand, but also bringing specific social benefits. They allow to maintain the vitality of rural areas, especially in peripheral locations. In addition, locally produced food is not anonymous, it is also characterised by higher quality than mass-produced food. The purpose of the work is to identify the determinants and preferences of consumers regarding the places of purchase of local dairy products. The study was carried-out in 2019 using an interview questionnaire on a randomly selected group of respondents. The survey involved 308 respondents from the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, of which 298 consumed dairy products, and 255 respondents bought local dairy products (85.6% of respondents consuming dairy products). It was discovered the interest in buying local dairy products is quite high - 85.6% of respondents consuming dairy products bought them. A significant percentage of respondents (91.4%) indicated the availability of local dairy products in retail trade. Whereby, in the case of units located near the place of residence, 7.5% of respondents faced significant restrictions on access to these products, while 33.7% pointed to frequent shortages in the product range. This indicates the need to improve the flow of these products in distribution channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ekonomika APK is the property of Economy of Argo-Industrial Complex and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to identify the importance of farmers' markets for family farmers. The survey carried out in 201 municipalities of the Brazilian state of Goiás reveals that 88% of the studied municipalities have regular farmers' markets. 67.16% of these markets have effective participation of family farmers. Clusters of municipalities with greater presence of farmers' markets were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the study is to determine the place and the role of marketing in the circular economy of beekeeping from the Strandzha region. In accordance with this purpose, the tasks include: 1. Forestry in the Strandzha region as a basis for establishing unique bee products; 2. Marketing and design of the bee products from the Strandzha region; 3. Local and online markets, short supply chains for bee products and apitourism. Marketing has a key role in the circular economy of beekeeping from the Strandzha region because it defines the bee products that are produced in the unique forestry of Strandzha, their design and production, and the markets for which they will achieve competitiveness. It can develop the potential of bee products from the Strandzha region, and significantly increase their sales. The relationship between the forestry in the Strandzha region, that includes both natural and human factors, and the unique characteristics of the bee products produced there, allows beekeepers from Strandzha to establish a protected designation of origin (PDO) "Strandzhanski manov med" (Strandzha Honeydew), as well as to apply for other geographical indications. Branding using geographical indications and domain name increases the competitiveness of beekeeping farms from the Strandzha region and allows realization at local and online markets, formation of short supply chains, rural and apitourism. The domain name and the online markets are important for the digitalization and the development of the beekeeping of Strandzha Region because they represent it at global, national and regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply chain management of foods is commonly associated with modernistic large-scale production. This involves long transport distances of foods to reach consumers. In the case of local foods, supply chains are shorter. Based on a case study of five local foods producer's supply of their products to a common retailer, the supply chain of local foods is modelled conceptually and modes of development are pointed out based on contingency theory and supply chain management literature. Findings reveal that since these chains are transparent, reciprocal interdependency is abundant mainly because human perception creates a sufficient understanding of the operations management issues pertinent within this simple inter-organisational structure. Local foods supply chains are similar to service supply chains. This includes that both are short in nature and associated with bi-directional interaction between the customer and supplier. Developing short supply chains in local foods supply is associated with improving the exchange economy found in short supply chains. This also implies that development of local foods supply is associated with two paths which may be complementary. First, the use of improved intensive technology associated with reciprocal interdependency to develop efficiencies in the bi-directional and somewhat complex interaction. Alternatively local foods suppliers may seek to reduce this form of reciprocal interdependency thereby increasing the impact of pooled interdependencies and enabling using mediating technology involving standardising interaction such as through increased standardised products and packaging as well as automation of information connectivity.

The purpose of this paper was to depict a concept of local food systems and short supply chains as well as to determine how local food is perceived and to identify local food attributes of relevance for the marketing communication targeted at young people. This paper consists of two parts. The first one presents the concepts of local food systems and short supply chains based on the analysis of literature data. The sec- ond part describes the results of a quantitative study on the young consumers’ perception of and willingness to buy local food. Based on an indirect technique, the study was carried out with a group of 155 Polish students. The questionnaire survey demonstrated that when characterizing local food, young consumers invoked the socioeconomic benefits relat- ed to its production. They paid less attention to the specific attributes of food products and to environmental benefits of their production and distribution, which might suggest that the initiatives undertaken to promote those products were poor- ly effective. The research results provide a useful source of knowledge for small local food businesses and policymakers engaged in supporting local food systems (especially public sector bodies and researchers).