Innovative coordination and support actions to promote and strengthen the Short Food Supply Chain at European level
"New start for the Horizon2020 "SKIN" project"
The project titled "Short supply chain Knowledge and Innovation Network - SKIN", coordinated by the Prof. Francesco Contò, is aimed at the agri-food sector, particularly in the short chain, with the aim of bridging the gap between the world of research, practitioners and policy makers. The specific objectives aim to promote an effective exchange of knowledge between practice and research in the broad field of the organization of the supply chain, and in particular the short chain, in order to stimulate innovation in this area of vital importance for the future agriculture and our rural economies.
On 14-15 December 2016, a meeting was held at the Department of Economics called the SKIN kick-off meeting. It involved representatives of the 20 project partners from 14 European countries (Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and Hungary).
The SKIN group
The two day meeting was a fruitful occasion for all partners. Many networking opportunities and different working tables were available to discuss project activities and future plannings to be pursued in the coming months. In particular, discussions were focused on techniques for the involvement of food chain players and tools to be used according to their needs. The involvement of all operators will be one of the first steps of the project in order to create thematic working groups at both regional and European level, addressed to different topics such as: fresh produce, quality management, innovation transfer, logistics, consumer analysis, regulations, marketing and other subjects that will be identified during the first year of project operations.
SKIN round table
SKIN aims at supporting the short chain and at coordinating important initiatives, throughout a strong dissemination activity and organization of events for the identification and exchange of best practices, transfer of skills to the actors of the food chain, in cooperation with Operational Groups at regional level and providing policy inputs to the PEI-AGRI.
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During the coming three years of SKIN activities, the European experts involved into the project will contribute with their experience and expertise to work on a common path, strengthening and promoting the short supply chain, with the ultimate goal of establishing a permanent association, at European level, which supports the development and growth of the operators.
For information: francesco.conto@unifg.it