LF-NA-25911-EN-N European Commission As the Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre's mission is to provide EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. Working in close cooperation with policy Directorates-General, the JRC addresses key societal challenges while stimulating innovation through developing new standards, methods and tools, and sharing and transferring its know-how to the Member States and international community. Key policy areas include: environment and climate change; energy and transport; agriculture and food security; health and consumer protection; information society and digital agenda; safety and security including nuclear; all supported through a cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary approach. Short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems in the EU. A State of Play of their Socio-Economic Characteristics. Authors: Moya Kneafsey, Laura Venn, Ulrich Schmutz, Bálint Balázs, Liz Trenchard, Trish Eyden-Wood, Elizabeth ate of Play their Socio-Economic Characteristics. Bos, Gemma Sutton, Matthew Blackett Editors: Fabien Santini, Sergio Gomez y Paloma 2013 Short Food Supply Chains and Local Systems in the EU. A St Report EUR 25911 EN JRC 80420 ONLINE.indd 1 24/05/13 16:38 European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Prospective Technological Studies Contact information European Commission Address: Edificio Expo. c/ Inca Garcilaso, 3. E-41092 Seville (Spain) EUR 25911 - Joint Research Centre - Institute for Prospective Technological Studies E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +34 954488318 Title: Short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems in the EU. A State of Play of their Socio-Economic Characteristics. Fax: +34 954488300 Author(s): Moya Kneafsey, Laura Venn, Ulrich Schmutz, Bálint Balázs, Liz Trenchard, Trish Eyden-Wood , Elizabeth Bos, http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu Gemma Sutton, Matthew Blackett http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu Editor(s): Fabien Santini, Sergio Gómez y Paloma Legal Notice Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union is responsible for the use which might be made of this publication. 2013 - 154 pp. - 21.0 x 29.7 cm Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 EUR - Scientific and Technical Research series - ISSN1831-9424 (online) (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. ISBN 978-92-79-29288-0 (pdf) A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa serve http://europa.eu/. doi:10.2791/88784 JRC 80420 Abstract The present study aims at describing the state-of-play of short food supply chains (SFSC) in the EU understood as being EUR 25911 EN the chains in which foods involved are identified by, and traceable to a farmer and for which the number of intermediaries between farmer and consumer should be minimal or ideally nil. Several types of SFSCs can be identified, for example CSAs ISBN 978-92-79-29288- 0 (pdf) (Community-Supported Agriculture), on-farm sales, off-farm schemes (farmers markets, delivery schemes), collective sales in particular towards public institutions, being mostly local / proximity sales and in some cases distance sales. Such type ISSN 1831-9424 (online) of food chain has specific social impacts, economic impacts at regional and farm level as well as environmental impacts translating themselves into a clear interest of consumers. SFSCs are present throughout the EU, although there are some doi:10.2791/88784 differences in the different MS in terms of dominating types of SFSCs. In general, they are dominantly small or micro- enterprises, composed of small-scale producers, often coupled to organic farming practices. Social values (quality products Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 to consumers and direct contact with the producer) are the values usually highlighted by SFSCs before environmental or economic values. In terms of policy tools, there are pros and cons in developing a specific EU labelling scheme which could © European Union, 2013 bring more recognition, clarity, protection and value added to SFSCs, while potential costs might be an obstacle. Anyhow, a possible labelling scheme should take into account the current different stages and situations of development of SFSCs in Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. the EU and be flexible enough accommodate these differences. Other policy tools, in particular training and knowledge exchange in marketing and communication, are considered important and should continue to be funded by Rural Development Printed in Spain programmes, as well as possibly other EU funds in view of the positive social and not specifically rural impacts. JRC 80420 ONLINE.indd 2 24/05/13 16:38 JRC SCIENTIFIC AND POLICY REPORTS Short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems in the EU. A State of Play of their Socio-Economic Characteristics. Authors: Moya Kneafsey1, Laura Venn2, Ulrich Schmutz1, Bálint Balázs3, Liz Trenchard1, Trish Eyden-Wood1, Elizabeth Bos4, Gemma Sutton1, Matthew Blackett5 Editors: Fabien Santini6, Sergio Gomez y Paloma6 1 Centre for Agroecology and Food Security, Coventry University, United Kingdom 2 Innovative Futures Research, Warwick, United Kingdom 3 Social Science Research Group, Institute of Environmental and Landscape Management, Department of Environmental Economics, St István University, Hungary 4 Centre for Sustainable Regeneration, Coventry University, United Kingdom 5 Department of Geography, Environment and Disaster Management, Coventry University, United Kingdom 6 European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Sevilla, Spain 2013 Joint Research Centre IPTS JRC 80420.indd 1 14/05/13 17:38 IPTS JRC 80420.indd 2 14/05/13 17:38 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The authors and editors would like to thank the following Special thanks go to placement students at Coventry people who participated in the research and gave generously University who provided additional research assistance: of their time and expertise: Julien Buffard, Blanca Casares and Jordon Lazell Nathalie Bertone, Yuna Chiffoleau, Carine Dieudonné, Marjorie The authors and editors would also like to thank Branka Esprit, Giulio Cardini, Carolina Gario, Laurent Gomez, Sylvère Tome, Michael Erhart and Jean-Michel Courades in DG Gonzalvez, Nabil Hasnaoui Amri, Anton and Margit Heritzer, Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Sally Jackson, Christian Jochum, Susanne Linecker, Martina Commission for their advice and support, as well as Maria Ortner, Juliette Peres, Bruno and Menou Planiol, Laurent Espinosa in the European Commission’s JRC-IPTS, Seville, for Senet, Karin Steinkellner, Laure Tezenas du Montcel valuable comments to previous versions of this report, and Carla Martins in Eurostat for providing relevant data. The following colleagues at Coventry University provided research and administrative support to the project: Sian Pictures credits are with authors if not stated otherwise. Conway, Julie Horbury and Donna Udall 3 IPTS JRC 80420.indd 3 14/05/13 17:38 IPTS JRC 80420.indd 4 14/05/13 17:38 Biographies Biographies Dr Moya Kneafsey – Principal Investigator Dr Liz Trenchard – Senior Researcher Moya is a Reader in Human Geography at Coventry University. Liz has inter-disciplinary research expertise in environmental Since 1997 her research has examined the ‘reconnection’ of science and outdoor pedagogy. She has experience of working consumers, producers and food through ‘alternative’, local with overseas partners on sustainable agriculture projects, and short food supply chains. Her focus has been on quality including ongoing research to develop a network for capacity products, rural development and community participation, building in organic agriculture. She is a member of Coventry but more recently she has begun research on planning University’s Centre for Agroecology and Food Security, and and innovation for sustainable urban agriculture. She leads leads the working group on Fair Routes to Market. the working group on ‘Food and Communities’ at Coventry University’s Centre for Agroecology and Food Security. Dr Matthew Blackett - Senior Researcher Dr Laura Venn – Senior Researcher Matthew is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography and Natural Hazards at Coventry University. His research interests Laura has over 13 years research experience in the public commenced with the monitoring, mapping and modeling of and private sectors. She specialises in social policy research volcanic and seismic phenomena and he continues to pursue with a particular interest in food-related topics; namely research in this field. Matthew has more recently started short food supply chains, food governance and sustainable work on monitoring and mapping the physical environment consumption. In 2011 Laura co-founded Innovative Futures to examine social phenomena, including agricultural land Research, an independent social and economic research use change in Africa. agency. She is an associate member of Coventry University’s Centre for Agroecology and Food Security. Ms Gemma Sutton – Research Support Officer Dr Ulrich Schmutz – Senior Researcher Gemma has extensive research experience in agriculture and horticulture and has delivered