Open AccessShort Chain Food Supply in Flanders (Belgium): Direct Sales of Farm Made Products
Author(s) -
Didier Huygens,
Dirk Lips,
Stef Aerts
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
bulletin of university of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine cluj-napoca. agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1843-5386
pISSN - 1843-5246
DOI - 10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:5026
Subject(s) - agribusiness , business , supply chain , government (linguistics) , distribution (mathematics) , variety (cybernetics) , marketing , food systems , agricultural economics , commerce , economics , agriculture , geography , food security , mathematical analysis , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , archaeology , artificial intelligence , computer science
During the last decennia, the distance between the producer and the consumer has increased strongly. This enlarged distance manifests in different areas. Firstly, the distance has become larger geographically. Food products are transported around the world and have become common goods. Secondly, the producer and the consumer are driven apart on a social level. Many consumers have never visited a farm and have no idea how their food is produced. Thirdly, the food industry, distribution and the entire agribusiness complex have settled in between producer and consumer, thus enlarging the economical distance.
This system is being criticised from many points of view and opportunities are brought forward that strive towards a more durable process on an ecological level (food kilometres, food transport); an economical level (fair price for both the producer and the consumer, regional economy) and a social level (local contacts, cooperation). A variety of initiatives, both supported by the government and unsupported, are started. It seems that especially in the peri-urban area, being close to both producer and consumer, opportunities exist for short chain initiatives.