Short supply chains in Family Farming: A tool for the inclusion of Family Farming in markets

17/11/2021

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The Course “Short supply chains in Family Farming” is part of the Regional Technical Platform for Family Farming (https://www.fao.org/americas/daf/plataforma/es/) in alliance with the Projects "Sembrando Oportunidades" (ABC, MAPA Brazil, MADR Colombia and FAO ) and the Farmers Organizations for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries - FO4ACP (FIDA, EU, OACPS, PROCASUR and FAO). This platform promotes institutional and technical innovations that strengthen family farmers and small producers around the world by mobilizing existing knowledge, experience, best practices, fostering dialogue, learning and collaboration among a diversity of partners from inside and outside of FAO.

Marketing continues to be one of the main challenges for family farming, which is why schemes are required that promote quality, the reduction of the carbon footprint, a fairer distribution of value in the chain, reduction of intermediation and reduction of food loss and waste.

Short supply chains are schemes in which farmers sell directly to consumers, or with minimal intermediation, and are based on a growing demand from buyers who are looking for local, fresh, authentic, healthy and seasonal products. Short chains such as through farmers’ markets, regional fairs, food basket schemes and own stores, among others, represent a market opportunity for family farming.

The course addresses the strengthening of social capital and trust through associative and solidarity processes, as well as the production of sustainable food through agroecological practices, which are identified as key elements for the promotion of these chains and to take advantage of opportunities in markets that value social and environmental attributes.

Some experiences of short chains in Brazil, Colombia and other countries in the region are presented, showing the progress made to date, as well as the opportunities and challenges to promote these schemes in which family farming plays an important role.

Course details

Name: Short supply chains in Family Farming: A tool for the inclusion of Family Farming in markets

Code: AGEN202111

Language: English

Course type: salfe-paced course

Duration of the course: 20 chronological hours

Start of course: 17 November 2021

Intended audience:

• Public managers and professionals who work in the implementation of programmes and actions linked to rural development mechanisms and programmes.
• Representatives of Family Farming organizations.
• Professionals who participate in different initiatives within the framework of South-South cooperation.
• Leaders of civil society, representatives of the private sector and academia, and students who have an interest in the course's agenda.
• Technicians and coordinators participating in projects managed by FAO in the region.

General objective:

Present concepts and experiences related to short supply chains that allow them to be recognized as necessary and important schemes to strengthen family farming and its linkages with markets."

Specific objectives:

• Generate basic skills to interpret the concept of short supply chains, including their different types and modalities.
• Identify how short supply chains represent an alternative for intervention in territorial food systems, helping to promote efficiency, the inclusion of family farming, environmental sustainability, fair trade and territorial development.
• Recognize associativity as a strategy in family farming to promote access to different markets and generate commercial, technical, administrative and financial capacities.

Contents: 

• Concepts related to short supply chains.
• Short supply chains: an alternative to promote food systems that are more efficient, inclusive, sustainable and fair.
• Public food procurement: a public space to boost local family farming.
• Family farming associations: a way to increase the competitiveness of family farmers in marketing their products.
  

Better to which it belongs: BP4: Small scale producers equitable access to resources

Supervising Officer: Luiz Beduschi

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