The development of short supply chains could eliminate intermediaries and facilitate a much fairer and more decent remuneration for growers and livestock farmers in the European Union, as well as an improvement in the quality of foods at the local level.
This was explained to EURACTIV.com, partner of EFE, by many key players in the process of agricultural production in Europe.
In recent years, short supply chains and local markets, in which growers and producers sell directly to the consumer, have proliferated, notably, in both rural and urban areas of the EU.
Short-term food supply chains are a way for growers and producers to sell directly to consumers without (or with fewer) intermediaries, according to a recent study by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). In 2015, 15% of EU growers sold half of their products through these short supply chains.
The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2014-2020 focuses for the first time on short supply chains, and producers can benefit from numerous measures that have been co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Small-scale European producers often find themselves in a difficult bargaining position with other, more powerful producers in the food chain, including food processors, traders, wholesalers and retailers. In some cases, working with "big players" is the only way for small producers to gain access to the market, which leads to unfair commercial practices.
All this was reflected in a resolution of the European Parliament, in which MEPs urged the European Commission to take action. Small producers in the EU also have consumers on their side. In a recent European (Eurobarometer) survey in 2016, it became clear that four out of five European citizens believe that "strengthening the role of growers in the food chain" is fair or very important.
Source: efeagro.com
