In recent years, as global food chains have expanded, a large range of terms have been used to illustrate innovative re-organisation of food supply chains aiming at re-connecting producers and consumers, and re-localising agricultural food production. These include short supply chains, among others.
Short food supply chains involve by definition “a limited number of operators committed to cooperation, local economic development, and close geographical and social relations between food producers, processors and consumers”. They represent an alternative to conventional longer food chains where small farmers or cooperatives often have little bargaining power and the consumer cannot trace the food to a known producer or local area. Their advantages include reducing carbon footprint, contributing to food security at home, giving consumers access to a healthy diet, and sustaining small farms and business. more
