Short Food Supply Chains and Their Contributions to Sustainability: Participants’ Views and Perceptions from 12 European Cases

Gunnar Vittersø, Hanne Torjusen, Kirsi Laitala, Barbara Tocco, Beatrice Biasini, Peter Csillag, Matthieu Duboys de Labarre, Jean-Loup Lecoeur, Agnieszka Maj, Edward Majewski, Agata Malak-Rawlikowska, Davide Menozzi, Aron Torok and Pierre Wavresky
Additional contact information
Gunnar Vittersø: SIFO Consumption Research Norway, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Hanne Torjusen: SIFO Consumption Research Norway, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Kirsi Laitala: SIFO Consumption Research Norway, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Beatrice Biasini: Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Peter Csillag: ECO-SENSUS Research and Communication Non-profit Ltd., 7100 Szekszárd, Hungary
Matthieu Duboys de Labarre: CESAER, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
Jean-Loup Lecoeur: CESAER, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France
Agnieszka Maj: Faculty of Social Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Edward Majewski: Faculty of Economic Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Agata Malak-Rawlikowska: Faculty of Economic Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Davide Menozzi: Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Pierre Wavresky: CESAER, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, F-21000 Dijon, France

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 17, 1-33

Abstract: The present food system faces major challenges in terms of sustainable development along social, economic and environmental dimensions. These challenges are often associated with industrialised production processes and longer and less transparent distribution chains. Thus, closer distribution systems through Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) may be considered as a sustainable alternative. This study explores the role of different types of SFSCs and their contribution to sustainability through participants’ (consumers, retailers and producers) views and perceptions. As part of the European H2020 project “Strength2Food” we conducted a cross-case analysis and examined 12 European SFSC cases from six countries: France, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland and the UK. We applied a mixed method approach including primary data collection, via in-depth interviews and customer surveys, as well as desk research. The findings suggest that, irrespective of the type of SFSC, a strong agreement among the participants were found on the contribution of SFSCs to social sustainability. However, participants’ views considerably differ regarding the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. These differences relate to the way the SFSCs were organised and to some degrees to regional differences attributed to the significance of SFSC in different parts of Europe. The article concludes that the spatial heterogeneity of SFSCs, including supply chain actor differences, different types and organisational forms of SFSCs as well as regional and territorial characteristics, must be taken into account and further emphasised in future policies aimed at strengthening European food chain sustainability.

Keywords: short food supply chain (SFSCs); sustainability; case study; Europe; food systems; local development; alternative food networks (AFN); farmers’ markets; box schemes; solidarity purchasing groups; local fish (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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