Short food supply chains as innovations to share quality

food : evidence and recommendations from case

studiesYuna CHIFFOLEAU

Agronomist, Researcher in Sociology and Leader of the group « Agriculture and Food » of the French Rural Network

« The development of a sustainable food supply chain as a factor in the integrated development of urban and rural area », Inowroclaw, Poland, 13

September, 2010

• Traditional forms of direct selling (open air market, selling on farm) little considered for a long time in agriculture and by public policies

• Renewal or innovations (box schemes…) due to food scares, new societal requirements and producers’ initiatives pushed institutions and economic actors to take them into account

• From a participative process, official definition of the Minister of Agriculture in April 2009 : « SFC » = 0 or 1 intermediary between producer and consumers, whatever the distance

• But a regional/territorial approach has been promoted for 2-3 years (Grenelle) :

- through a development programme in 4 axes, followed by a multi-actor committee : production and diffusion of knowledge about SFC, training of producers to sell through SFC, support to establishment of farms in SFC, support to organisation and promotion of SFC

- through the French Rural Network : SFC are one of the main topics of capitalisation and federation as tools for territorial development, implying 80 organizations

- through the Regional committees in charge to favour « a secure, diversified and sustainable food supply »

Short food supply chains (SFC) : context in France

• More than 20 modalities to sell to consumers directly or through 1 intermediary, implying new partnerships within territories

• Large expectations around SFC, consistent with sustainable development issues :

for example, extracts from the « Plan Barnier » (Minister of Agriculture in April 2009)

« SFC enable some producers to diversify their activity. Above all, they permit to answer to a strong demand of consumers. Indeed, they give an answer to a increasing requirement of terroir products, of tradition, of authenticity restauring the social link between producers and consumers, promoting qualities of freshness, innovation and nutritional quality as well as the knowledge of products and production practices.

SFC permit to support local production.

In terms of potential, challenges are described as significant because, besides the captation of value by the producer, they permit to make economy on transports and transactions, and the creation of value on immaterial assets : label, territorial anchorage, authenticity, social link »

SFC : context and issues

Scope of case studies, examples and indicators

Within the French Rural Network, collective focus on territorial innovations and issues around SFC

• Territorial devices to favour establishment in SFC : business incubators, access to land through support from citizens…

• SFC in food procurement of catering : platforms, land reservation in periurban areas…

• Partnerships between producers and territorial economic actors : butchers, bakers, proximity shops, restaurants

• SFC in social cohesion : access to quality food for poor families, agricultural cooperation…

• SFC in local food governance and policy : public/private cooperation, multi-level coordination, skills issues… ; observatories

capitalisation of about 100 case studies in process, results in December 2010

collective assessment of configurations and dynamics : along a SWOT and sustainable development perspective, highlighting conditions of emergence, success/failure, reproductibility…

Expertise of farms’ “performances” in SFC (MAAP/INRA-AgroSupDijon)

From case studies to main policy and practical recommendations

Reports Recommendations

Open-air and wholesale markets = key outlet for producers but problems of access or visibility

Privileged (at least equal) access for producers, signalisation of producers in markets (“producers’ square”), transparency of products origins within stands (new labelling code ?), support to new markets by public authorities

Proximity artisanal processing tools (esp. abattoir) = essential but subject to the same sanitary rules as industrial ones closing

Adaptation (or equalisation in Europe) of sanitary rules to the real activity and risks and/or support of local authorities to the collective tools to fulfil requirements as “general interest tools”

Collective catering = promising outlet but “proximity products” not allowed in public bids and logistics problems, supply not always sufficient nor adapted

Change in markets code to acknowledge “local food contracts”, support to territorial platforms empowering producers, support to products diversification though a specific subsidy in monoculture areas, land reservation for establishment

From case studies to main policy and practical recommendations

Concurrence between producers, between producers and proximity shops, between Long and Short FC and/or territories

Poor and low budget families often excluded from SFC and fresh products, for economical and cultural reasons

Change in the food help device (food stamps for SFC?), SFC for canteens, food education

Industry-wide agreements, regional observatories and Websites to share information about saturated areas vs. “food deserts”, promotion of cooperatives or SCIC as mixed tools

SFC still considered as marginal, anti-establishment by some people

Promotion of SFC as exemplary cases to enlarge indicators of assessment along participatory processes in European research bids

Reports Recommendations

Opportunistic economic strategies taking advantage of SFC image

More control of frauds, education of consumers, towards a label or voluntary charter for SFC ?…

Conclusion

The high potential of SFC along a sustainable territorial development perspective is to be confirmed and conditions are to be highlighted

But despite the interest and development programmes around SFC

- limited resources to implement the actions,

- many brakes,

- contradictory policies or measures at global and local levels, differences between countries or regions, concurrences… call for harmonization

Beyond new measures or rules adaptation, need for more collective actions around and by SFC

but much voluntary work, associative tools and mediators little supported call for specific resources and acknowledgement of new tasks and jobs