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BENEFITS OF SHORT FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN ROMANIA AS EMERGENT COUNTRY DURING CRISIS

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The current paper analyses the way the short food supply chain can positively influence the development of the rural tourism, with economic, social and environment benefits, as well as the harmonious and sustainable development of the rural communities. Numerous examples offered by the developed countries prove that, for the well-known rural tourism destinations, the key of success can be ensured by the natural and cultural landscape of the area, by the existence of a local gastronomic identity, by the collective involvement of rural communities and of local authorities. Another important success factor is the development of local short supply chains. The innovating character of these chains, as it is proved by numerous researchers in the field, can bring a new flavor to the gastronomic activities within consecrated tourism areas. The presented case study (Viscri village) is an example of sustainable development of rural tourism and of local patrimony preservation, and at the same time a lesson to be learned by all the dwellers of traditional Romanian houses.
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AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Year XI 2014 No 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Alexandru STRATAN, Opportunities and Risks of the Integration Options
of the Republic of Moldova in the Moldavian Trade with Agri-Food
Products ................................................................................................... 111
Simion CERTAN, Ion CERTAN, Agri-Food Trade Flows and Economic
Integration in the European Union........................................................... 129
Nicoleta MATEOC-SÎRB, Păun Ion OTIMAN, Vasile GOŞA, Gabriel
Adrian ŞUSTER, Analysis of the Impact of the Implementation of
Projects Dedicated to the Rural Areas From the Western Region of
Romania................................................................................................... 147
Ioan Sebastian BRUMĂ, The Evolution of Organic Agricultural
Land Areas in the Emerging Countries of the European Union ..... 167
Lucian TANASĂ, Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains for the
Development of Rural Tourism in Romania as Emergent Country
During Crisis.......................................................................................... 181
Mihaela KRUZSLICIKA, Food Security Through Sustainable Agriculture ... 195
Lucian LUCA, Romanian Land Market Regulatory Framework: the Legislative
Corrections in 2014............................................................................. 203
Claudiu NICOLAU, Food Security – Risk, Corrective Actions, Monitoring..... 213
Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, New Series, Year XI, no. 2, p. 109–224, 2014
Lucian TANASĂ
Post-doctoral fellowship, IDSRC Project, POSDRU/159/1.5/133675,
Beneficiary: Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch
lucitan2662@yahoo.com
BENEFITS OF SHORT FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM
IN ROMANIA AS EMERGENT COUNTRY DURING CRISIS
ABSTRACT
The current paper analyses the way the short food supply chain can positively influence the
development of the rural tourism, with economic, social and environment benefits, as well as the
harmonious and sustainable development of the rural communities.
Numerous examples offered by the developed countries prove that, for the well-known rural
tourism destinations, the key of success can be ensured by the natural and cultural landscape of the
area, by the existence of a local gastronomic identity, by the collective involvement of rural
communities and of local authorities. Another important success factor is the development of local
short supply chains. The innovating character of these chains, as it is proved by numerous researchers
in the field, can bring a new flavor to the gastronomic activities within consecrated tourism areas.
The presented case study (Viscri village) is an example of sustainable development of rural
tourism and of local patrimony preservation, and at the same time a lesson to be learned by all the
dwellers of traditional Romanian houses.
Key words: rural tourism, short food supply chain, gastronomy, agri-food sector.
JEL classification: L83, L66, O13, D71.
1. INTRODUCTION
The analysis of short food supply chains (SFSC) in the field of rural tourism
has an interdisciplinary character, due to the fact that it approaches fields of
interest, such as agriculture, tourism, culture, gastronomy, ecology, environment
protection, which are interdependent and under a continuous change and innovation
process. Such a mobilization of competences and methodologies offers the opportunity
to approach the inter-relationship between these fields from a new perspective.
Food, agriculture and tourism are three variables that are subject to fast and
simultaneous changes, which generate connections and combinations into innovative
forms, mainly at rural area level (Visentin, 2011).
The new tendencies in rural tourism target independent trips, accessible
holiday destinations (not far from home), in a relaxed manner, with the opportunity
of experiencing local traditions, emphasizing its unicity and environment sustain-
ability. Nowadays, such a way of living is no longer a common one, but it can be
Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, New Series, Year XI, no. 2, p. 181–193, 2014
Lucian Tanasă 2
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rediscovered during holidays, when tourists have the opportunity to escape and get
detached from the everyday life. Recently, an increase of the tourism demand for
such vacations throughout Europe has been identified. Furthermore, such getaways
benefit from the advantage provided by the natural environment in those specific
areas, and also from the specific cultural heritage. These types of holidays represent a
genuine advantage for the promotion of the local agri-food products and for the
development of small farmers in the rural area implicitly.
The cultural heritage represents an important source for the regional and local
enhancement, the symbolic capital being essential for identifying the cultural
identity represented by values, customs and occupations, beliefs and symbols
shared by the local community. The expression of the cultural identity, of traditions
and customs is influenced by the region, which represents more than a geogra-
phical location. Rural heritage protection is extremely important from the perspective
of rural tourism development, as modality to promote the traditional village, with a
positive effect on attracting tourists and with economic benefits for the local
population.
2. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE
At global level, the consecrated tourism regions started to increasingly focus
on the development of tourism promotional strategies based on local gastronomy.
The extension of networks based on local agri-food products and cuisine, the
development of new gastronomy routes, as well as on the revitalization of the
peasant markets are obvious elements that prove the importance of local systems in
the context of globalization.
In Romania, the agri-food sector has had a relatively similar evolution to that
in the other emergent countries of the European Union, in the sense that the
certified organic products became present on the agri-food market, with quite a
timid start (in the 1990s). After about 10 years of explorations, the certified
traditional products appeared on the Romanian agri-food market. In a first stage,
these products were manufactured by the small producers and they were well
received by the final consumers; then the large agri-food producers (mainly those
from the livestock sector) began to produce them. In Romania, it was noticed that
the traditional products have been better received by the consumers compared to
the ecological products, as the former have a better quality/price ratio, and also
because there is a more permissive legislation as regards certification. Thus, by the
year 2012, over 3,000 Romanian traditional products had been certified (the second
place in the European Union, after Spain). Starting with the year 2014, the products
certified PDO, PGI, TSG, according to the European norms and standards, began to
appear on the market, and the local producers, mainly from the oenology sector,
made important steps in this respect.
At the same time, the rural tourism started to take shape in the emergent
countries of the European Union after the fall of the communist regime. In Romania,
3 Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains for the Development of Rural Tourism
183
an important role was played by the creation of the National Association for Rural,
Ecologic and Cultural Tourism (ANTREC) in 1994, which brought together over
3,000 members by the year 2014. The most well-known Romanian tourism
destinations are those in Braşov, Bucovina, Maramureş and Sibiu areas, which
have the advantage of being also promoted on the international market.
Source: own data processing.
Figure 1. The certification of ecological, traditional and local products in Romania.
The local agri-food products and brands, distributed through SFSCs, have an
important role in developing the local rural tourism, their promotion implicitly
contributing to the improvement of the local image among tourists. Practically,
nowadays it is difficult to talk about sustainable rural tourism without enhancing
local agri-food products and brands, an interdependency relation existing between them.
In the economic crisis context, at the level of the European Union, each
member state tries to emphasize its national specificity. Thus, there is a tendency
among many EU member states (mainly in France, Germany, Italy, Spain or
Poland) to promote the consumption of products manufactured in their own
countries and thus to stimulate the national economy. In the agri-food sector, this
approach is even stronger, going deeper into the local specificity of products. In the
tourism sector, for instance, the local gastronomy can make the difference between
the tourism packages within the same destination.
3. MATERIAL AND METHOD
The current paper highlights the interdisciplinary character of the approached
theme (short food supply chains and rural tourism), emphasizing the interdepen-
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184
dence between three fields of interest (agriculture, local gastronomy and rural
tourism) that are under a continuous process of change and innovation. The
rationale of the study starts with the analysis of the specialty literature on the
origins and definition of short food supply chains, it continues with the presentation of
the economic, social and environmental benefits for the rural communities, ending
up with a case study Viscri village, a Romanian example of sustainable rural
tourism. This presents the modality in which the members of the local community,
assisted by Mihai Eminescu Foundation, succeeded in reviving the local
economy by: the restoration and promotion of the main cultural objectives in the
area, the entrepreneurship development (by training the community members), the
setting up of an accommodation infrastructure in traditional restored Transylvanian
Saxon houses, the enhancing of small agricultural farms and the creation of short
food supply chains.
The methodology used in the first part of the paper (the theoretical ground-
work) is based on the study of the articles and papers published in specialized
journals, as well as on the analysis of the intermediary/final results within the FP5
(“SUS-CHAIN) or FP7 (FOODLINKS”) research projects. The case study is the
result of a field research in Viscri village, being supplemented with the study of
several documentary materials concerning the tourism promotion of the area.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1. Short food supply chains and rural tourism
Worldwide, it is estimated that about 80% of the total amount of agri-food
products available on the market are produced and commercialized at local level
especially by means of short food supply chains. In the European Union, this
percentage amounts to only 15% (Committee of the Regions, 2011). The local agri-
food system represents a key issue, to which no sufficient attention has been paid
so far. Therefore, a better approach from the socio-economic and juridical
standpoint is needed, in order to improve the profile of the local agri-food system
at professional and structural level and also from the perspective of its innovating
character (Kneafsey et al., 2013).
In the opinion of the French authors Fleury and Moustier, the short food
supply chains represent an important component of the peri-urban agriculture,
which appeared long before the setting up of the globalized agricultural systems,
specific to the 20th century. Therefore, SFSCs represent a distribution form mentioned
since old times, although the presence of intermediaries between agricultural
producers and final consumers was noticed even before the intensification of trade
flows (Aubry and Chiffoleau, 2009).
In the strongly-industrialized countries from Western and Central Europe, the
function of supply with agri-food products to towns has been assured by the local
agricultural producers, largely coming from the peri-urban areas, throughout the
years, mainly by means of direct sales on peasant agri-food markets. Nevertheless,
5 Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains for the Development of Rural Tourism
185
this direct form of supply to the urban area experienced a considerable decline in
the 20th century, due to the development of the railway and maritime transports and
later on of the road transport systems. Another factor was represented by the
development of the international agri-food markets and the expansion of industrial
supply structures, of super/hypermarkets respectively, as representatives of the
globalized agri-food systems.
The tourism products, which should be mostly attractive and amusing for
tourists, represent an important element in the competition for new clients, the local
culture playing a central role next to gastronomy, mainly the traditional gastronomy,
not only because food and beverages are vital in the tourism experience but also
because gastronomy became a primordial source of local identity. The dis-
tinctiveness of a destination mainly comes from food, which became increasingly
important in making decisions when choosing a destination. The Romanians also
translated it in the local reality, and the expression we are what we eat is
considered that we are, both physically and culturally, the result of what we eat, in
the sense that the gastronomic tradition represents a basic aspect of our culture
(Dobay et al., 2009). This is the reason for which food and beverages became
extremely important elements in promoting the rural tourism, as a result of the
strong connection between food and identity.
4.2. SFSC benefits for rural tourism
The analysis and the implications of SFSCs in the rural tourism present an
innovative character. In the last 20 years, the SFSC thematic has been approached
by numerous European and American researchers, being considered a viable, long
and short term solution for enhancing the local rural communities, with a
significant economic, social and environmental impact.
Source: Galli and Brunori, 2013.
Figure 2. The benefits of short food supply chains.
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According to UK’s Soil Association (2001), SFSC is defined as a
production, processing and trading system, primarily based on organic and
sustainable methods of agri-food production, where the physical and economic
activity is largely contained and controlled within the locality or region where it
was produced, which provides health, economic, environmental and social benefits
to the communities in those areas”.
The quantitative and qualitative assessment of SFSCs, carried out by the
researchers from Joint Research Center, emphasized numerous economic, social
and environmental benefits, as mentioned below (Kneafsey et al., 2013):
Human capital: Increased local employment opportunities providing for a
higher employment rate in rural areas; fostering the knowledge/information transfer;
Financial capital: Support to the local services and suppliers (small
agricultural producers, beneficiaries of accommodation units), as well as the
increase of the local money absorption;
Physical capital: Support to the local stores and markets, as well as the
promotion of the local rural tourism;
Social capital: Improving population’s wellness by assuring access to
healthier food, increase of social interaction and belonging spirit, a better
understanding of the connection between food, environment and health, increased
utilization of the cooperation opportunities between different types of businesses
(small local farmers and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector);
Natural capital: Encouraging the small farmers to adopt more environment-
friendly production systems, improving traditional agricultural and food systems
with positive environmental impact;
Economic benefits. The idea that SFSCs can generate economic gains for the
producers, consumers/tourists, as well as for the members of the local communities
is sustained. For example, FP5 SUS-CHAINS project drew the conclusion that
the regional and direct initiatives of commercializing local agro-food generate extra
incomes and provide for a certain employment rate in the rural regions, which
fluctuate from one area to another. Furthermore, these elements determine certain
synergies with other regional economic activities (including the rural tourism) and
most often increase the employees’ satisfaction and the community capacity of
internal management. It must also be mentioned that in this way the final consumers’
confidence is increased and the logistic chains and resulting wastes are reduced
(Roep and Wiskerke, 2006). In certain contexts, in specific areas respectively,
these advantages can represent elements to be used in the fight against the
phenomena of agricultural activity abandon, external migration and gentrification
(Roep, Wiskerke, 2006).
SFSCs create “new economic spaces” (Van der Ploeg et al., 2000; Marsden et
al., 2002; Renting et al., 2003) and can reverse the decline of rural communities
and the depletion of agri-food sources/stocks, as well as of the farm-specific
7 Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains for the Development of Rural Tourism
187
physical infrastructure (Pearson et al., 2011). Furthermore, Du Puis and Goodman
(2005) state that SFSCs can be “seen as new sources of value added which that be
retained locally and can act as a catalyst for rural economic regeneration and
dynamism”. They also stated that short chains present the advantage of putting into
value the local attributes and the socio-ecological individualities territory,
traditional knowledge/ information, different species, which can be sold at higher
prices (Du Puis and Goodman, 2005).
One of the most frequently invocated economic advantages, related to the
area of local agro-systems/SFSCs, is that of consistent incomes obtained by the
agri-food producers. It was emphasized that small producers have the possibility to
increase the selling prices for their products by using SFSCs (Pearson et al., 2011).
Moreover, the fact that the intermediaries are eliminated from the selling circuit
generates bigger profits for the producers (Sage, 2003). SFSCs offer them the
opportunity to diversify their activities and to add value to their products.
Numerous cases have been identified, in Romania inclusively, when the agricultural
producers extend their businesses horizontally, even in the tourism sector.
The local gastronomy, seen as a tourism resource, is appreciated not only as a
healthy resource, but also for its ability of generate rural development. The agri-
food tourism has the role to facilitate the sale of traditional products and to hire
labour force, women in particular.
Social benefits. In the scientific research, the suppositions regarding the
social impact of short food supply chains are often repetitive, apparently a lack of
consensus being noticed with regard to the identification of viable indicators,
capable to reflect the social benefits of SFSCs.
Numerous authors of literature relevant to this sector use a series of notions
and concepts (reputation and social belonging/social) instead, trying to illustrate
the importance of social interaction generated around these short chains. On the
basis of the consulted studies, the following types of social impact were identified,
which are mainly based on qualitative arguments:
Interaction between producer and consumer/tourist
Trust and social involvement;
The tourists’ feeling of belonging to the community;
Increased amount of knowledge/information or data, as determinant factor
for behavioral modifications in the consumers/tourists.
Moreover, SFSCs have the great quality of contributing to the health of final
consumers, as the products commercialized by means of short chains are considered to
be fresh and healthy (“good food”). The Slow Food Movement, set up by Carlo
Petrini even since 1986, as a direct reaction against fast-food and from the desire to
give access to a healthier food, brings together more and more followers in the
cities. Lately, mainly among the Western European and Scandinavian tourists, the
tendency to eat healthier in the holiday can be noticed. The important tour
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operators offer a large variety of active vacations and healthy diets in the natural
environment (for example, the Mediterranean summer destinations based on sun
bathing and Mediterranean diet).
Environmental benefits. The reasons and scientific opinions that sustain the
existence of environmental benefits, as identified in the specific literature, include:
the diminution of the distance within the supply chain, as well as of the pollution
volume in the process of obtaining the local foodstuffs; the positive impact upon
biodiversity, especially by diminishing the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used
in the traditional agriculture. Most scientific papers only briefly notice that SFSCs
represent genuine benefits for the environment, but no pertinent quantitative and
qualitative data and proofs are given to support the arguments and suppositions
(Kneafsey et al., 2013). Furthermore, it must be mentioned that the advantages
offered to nature by SFSCs are not concretely justified, but rather the benefits
specific to different categories of SFSCs.
Even though a big number of short supply chains target the comer-cialization
of ecological products, this distinct feature is not implicitly an intrinsic characteristic of
SFSCs. Moreover, the existence of a large amount of scientific research focused on
the environmental impact can be identified, generated by the traditional/ecological
means of agricultural production, compared to the conventional production practices.
For the rural tourism, the environmental benefits are obvious, as the
operation of the short food supply chains contributes to the improvement of the
cultural landscape, creating the image of the authentic traditional village for
tourists through: the traditional agricultural methods used on the small farms, the
tasting of local products, the organization of gastronomic markets/events and of
traditional peasant markets.
4.3. Case study
Viscri village represents an example of sustainable tourism development and
of the local heritage preservation and at the same time a lesson to be learned by all
the dwellers of traditional Romanian houses. Viscri was registered on the world
map of traditional villages, with a Transylvanian Saxon fortified church dating
back from the 13th century that is included on the UNESCO Heritage list. The
Transylvanian Saxon house dating back from 1875 and recently renovated (that
belongs to His Royal Highness Prince Charles) represents a good example of
sustainable tourism to be promoted by the Romanian communities.The Key of
success for good living in a village and not to have to leave abroad for work is the
community spirit and the respect for what we already have”, considers Caroline
Fernolend (“Mihai Eminescu” Foundation). For almost each and every person a job
was found in the community. Numerous craftsmen were trained by the foundation.
Out of the total number of 300 gypsies in the village, only three receive social aid.
Thanks to a European Project, 1,200 people from the Transylvanian villages visited
9 Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains for the Development of Rural Tourism
189
Viscri to “steal” its story of success. The largest part of Viscri community under-
stood that getting involved in promoting and developing a sustainable tourism form
can build up their future and their children’s future (ProTV Channel News, 2014).
The members of the local community understood that it is their responsibility
to try to preserve the heritage of their predecessors for the future generations. Due
to the fact that the traditional Transylvanian Saxon community from the village
(that preserved this heritage through its community spirit) still existed in a low
number, there was an immediate need for intervention. The “new” communities
needed support and empowerment so that the cultural heritage from the Transylvanian
Saxons should not be lost. Viscri village being accepted on the list of the UNESCO
world heritage was an additional reason to support its cause, thus confirming the
value of the existing heritage.
Since His Royal Highness Prince of Wales accepted the patronage of MET
Foundation in the year 2000, the lobby that HRH has made throughout the years for
the foundation activity, for the special cultural and natural heritage in Transylvania,
contributed to the positive image of Romania worldwide (CSR Romania, 2011).
Source: Tuerk, 2014.
Figure 3. “Autonomous village” model for the revitalization of Transylvanian traditional villages
and the sustainable protection of the material and non-material heritage.
The main strengths of the local community, which made a success model out
of Viscri village (Braşov county) worth to be followed by other Romanian
communities are the following:
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190
Empowerment of the local community with regard to the preservation
of the cultural heritage (local architecture, gastronomy, local traditions and
customs etc.);
Awareness at local community level that the sustainable tourism
development in the area can contribute to local economy revitalization;
Introduction of Viscri village on the list of UNESCO World Heritage,
which confirms the value of the existing heritage;
Involvement of Mihai Eminescu Foundation in preserving the cultural
and natural heritage in the area. By the year 2014, over 1,200 projects had been
implemented in 49 Transylvanian villages, with a total amount of approx. 7.4 million
euro. Only Viscri village benefited from the implementation of 337 projects worth
over 900,000 euro (Tuerk, 2014);
Involvement of ADEPT Foundation in promoting small local farmers,
preservation of local foodstuffs, including traditional seeds, as well as of the traditional
agricultural practices;
“Collective” projects with Norwegian/European funding for local small
farmers, which have the role of working together (for example, milk collection and
canned fruit production);
The lobby that His Royal Highness Prince Charles has made along the
years (since 2000) for the Transylvanian cultural and natural heritage has
contributed to the positive image of Romania at international level;
Development of the local tourism infrastructure (new accommodation
structures in reconditioned Transylvanian Saxon houses, biking infrastructure and
so on);
Getting the small local producers involved in providing local products to
tourists (food products and handicraft products).
Thanks to the sustained efforts made both by Mihai Eminescu Foundation
and the local community, the results started to appear. Over 15,000 tourists, out of
which the most part are coming from foreign countries (especially from Great
Britain and France), visit this village each year. Some Transylvanian Saxon
Families returned home, more buildings have been restored and transformed into
accommodation units, the entrepreneurial spirit flourished in the area (several
businesses in stock raising, tourism, gastronomic and handcraft sectors have appeared),
and the local product brands are increasingly present at regional gastronomy events
(for example, the Viscri jam and confiture or “Casa de pe deal” spicy pickles).
Sustainable rural tourism has been practiced in Transylvanian Saxon houses,
which were restored withMihai EminescuFoundation support. Some of these
houses date even from the 18th century: Viscri no. 22, Viscri no. 44, Viscri
no. 125, Viscri no. 38, Viscri no. 63, Viscri no. 63b, Viscri no. 77, Viscri no. 129
or Viscri no. 195. Besides the quality tourism services, the hosts try to offer the
tourists traditional local food, prepared on their own household or by the small
producers in the area (dairy products, meat products, canned fruit and vegetables
and so on).
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191
At the same time, it is also worth mentioning Casa de pe deal (the House
on the Hill) in Saschiz (located at 8 km far from Viscri), where the administrators
of the boarding house, the members of Dalmasso family, succeeded in combining
the tourism and restaurant activity with the commercialization of local traditional
products (they have their own online store). Practically, it is a good example of
traditional household, where the rural tourism is also practiced and, lately, a short
food supply chain has been operating. The range of products are different
depending on the season and they are commercialized both online and on the
occasion of gastronomic and tourism events. The main products are: nut confiture,
rhubarb jam, cranberry jam/jelly, dogberry jam, apple jam with cinnamon, traditional
vegetable stew and spicy pickles.
5. CONCLUSIONS
Thinking globally and acting locally is the principle that should be considered as
often as possible, in the context of the world economic crisis. As consumers, we
should act patriotically consuming products obtained at local/regional/national
level, thus putting into practice the food patriotismconcept. Product differentiation
according to the unicity of its origin or of its production process represents, on the
long term, a competitive advantage to be used for the integrated promotion of local
agri-food products and rural tourism.
The short food supply chains generate economic, social, environment and
health benefits not only for the rural communities but also for tourists. As regards
the human capital, we can identify: new local job opportunities in the agricultural/
farming sector, fostering the knowledge/information transfer, a higher employment
rate in rural areas, increase of employees’ satisfaction and of the organizational
capacity at rural community level, counteracting the external migration and
gentrification phenomena. As for the financial benefits, SFSCs contribute to
sustaining the local services and suppliers, increase the local money absorption,
enhance the consumers’ confidence in LFS (local food system) and implicitly
increase the local incomes. SFSCs also contribute to the diminution in size of the
logistic chains and of the resulted waste, counteracting the abandon of farming
activities, and provide support to the small producers’ stores and to peasant agri-
food markets and last but not least to the promotion of local rural tourism.
The main social benefits of short circuits refer to: improvement of population’s
wellness by assuring access to healthier food, increase of social interaction between
small producers and final consumers/tourists, stimulation of tourists’ feeling of
belonging to the community, better understanding of the connection between food,
environment and health, increase of cooperation between different types of
businesses (such as those in the agricultural and tourism fields).
The environmental benefits are the following: encouraging farmers to adopt
more environment-friendly production systems, improving traditional agricultural
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192
and food systems with positive environmental impact, reducing the distance within
the supply chains which implies less pollution when producing local products,
positive impact on biodiversity, mainly by reducing the quantities of pesticides and
fertilizers used on the traditional agricultural holdings. From the tourism perspective,
the operation of short circuits in the rural space contributes to the improvement of
the local cultural landscape, creating the image of the authentic traditional village
for tourists.
Viscri village (presented in the case study) succeeded in becoming an
example of sustainable rural tourism for other Romanian rural communities, having
several main ingredients that favored the community development in the area: the
recognized value of the natural and cultural heritage, support of non-governmental
organizations in the field, the promotion offered by world-wide recognized
personalities, the development of the entrepreneurial spirit in the non-agricultural
sector in particular, the training of community members, development of the
accommodation infrastructure. After several years of collective involvement, the
positive results started to appear. In this village, we can find an authentic rural
Romania, old, clean, with its own functioning rules and full of life. We should all
become aware of the great opportunity to have all these places in our country and
we should fully enjoy them.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is supported by the Sectoral Operational Program Human
Resources Development (SOP HRD), financed from the European Social Fund and
by the Romanian Government under the contract number POSDRU/159/
1.5/133675, IDSRC Project.
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... For some of the authors approaching this issue, the short supply chains refer to the different ways of marketing in the case of agri-food products, able to limit the number of links in agri-food circuits and/ or the physical, geographical distance between the actual place of production and the final consumers [23]. In this respect, it must be observed that the decreasing of the number of interagents specific to this type of supply chain is not synonymous with the concept of direct delivery, case in which there is no intermediate [32,4,42]. Through its exclusion from the commercial chain, its role and function have to be passed on the producer, that uses different management and marketing strategies (direct sales at the farm gate, along the roads, manufacturer's shop, agri-food market, own online store, specialized online platforms, participation and sale at trade fairs and festivals etc.) or on the final consumer (travel to the farm gate, to the producer's store/ agri-food market, order online). Regulation no. ...
... Regulation no. 1305/2013, focusing on the plan of rural development policy in the period between 2014-2020, explicitly emphasises the implementation measures of organizing the food chain, with attention on the short supply one, defined as follows: a supply chain that implies a limited number of economic agents, being engaged in cooperation, local economic development and close geographical and social relationships between producers, processors and consumers [42]. Accordingly, following Michel-Villarreal et al., starting from the definition of Christopher, the short supply chains are seen as networks of actors that are connected and interdependent each other, that cooperate for controlling, managing and improving the flows of products, services, resources and information, from farm to fork, seeking a reduction in intermediaries and physical distance between producers and final consumers [9,33]. ...
... This approach has a relevant effect on reinterpreting the market and the performance standards, taking into consideration the role of member states in defining the flexible rules for the local markets, but also the different interpretation of the principle of free movement of goods, in front of the size of local market [6]. The literature insists on the fact that short supply chains provide economic, social, environmental, cultural, and health benefits to local communities, such as: new opportunities of employment at the local level [35,5,7], encouragement of the transfer of know-how and information, agro-biodiversity conservation [12,7], small farmers stimulation for adopting more eco-friendly production systems [38,42], increase in the case of producers' income [34], reduction of economic uncertainties [20], contribution to the support of local economy [16,39,7] sustaining the local services and suppliers through the support given to the small producers' shops and peasant agri-food markets, supporting synergies with other sectors [20], combating the phenomenon of external migration [12] and ageing of population, preservation of cultural heritage, including the promotion of tourism [3] and local gastronomy, improving the population health through a high access to more healthy food [26,1], improving the social interaction between the small producers and final consumers [17,40] and cooperation between local producers [8]. Several articles and specialized studies have highlighted the multifunctional and cultural capacity of short supply chains to promote social inclusion, pro-environmental behaviours, health and well-being in urban and rural communities [36,48,49,10,41]. ...
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Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development" https://managementjournal.usamv.ro/index.php/scientific-papers/2999-theoretical-approach-with-regard-to-the-main-benefits-of-short-supply-chains-focus-on-small-producers-and-local-communities
... Online distribution channels include sales using e-shops and social networks, and offline producer markets, direct sale shops, door-to-door shipping, and consumer groups (Ma et al., 2021). Short supply chains have several significant advantages:  They contribute to rural development,  Allow small farms to sell products at premium prices,  Transport costs are reduced,  Lower CO2 emissions,  Communication between producer and consumer improves, Higher food quality,  Greater transparency of the production process(Tanasa, 2014). ...
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Agricultural producers are entities that largely decide on the structure of the agri-food supply chain. Currently, the European Union is striving to shorten supply chains in agriculture, as short supply chains are ecologically, economically and socially more sustainable. The main objective of the paper is to examine the role of primary producers in the agri-food supply chains. The basic technique applied for data collection was questionnaire survey, which we carried out on family farms in Slovakia. Obtained data were statistically examined applying the statistical analysis using the Chi-square test. Based on the estimations, we could conclude that the choice of the main distribution channel depends on the size of the given company and also on the main type of production. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees prefer direct distribution channels that allow them to sell their products to final consumers. The identification of factors affecting the choice of the main distribution channel as well as a detailed analysis of the nature of dependence make it possible to formulate recommendations on what steps to take in order to increase the number of agricultural enterprises selling through short supply chains.
... The crisis situation fostered trusting relationships between local producers and end consumers, which will likely contribute in the future to food safety and security. Moreover, food produced and supplied by small local producers and marketed through these short chains is perceived as a healthier alternative [44,45]. Existing literature in this field reports and analyzes the success factors of short supply chains with all types of products, particularly dairy products [46]. ...
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Food security is one of the main concerns in the context of a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in people’s mobility determined changes in consumers’ behavior and underlined the need for the re-organization of the food supply chains. This paper aims to summarize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global, Romanian and mountain food markets, as well as to discuss the mountain agriculture potential and the food democracy model. The trend in the post-pandemic era is heading toward the digitalization of agriculture and food distribution, with great attention on product sustainability. People are more and more aware of healthy food and the environmental impact of this sector. Many studies revealed the need for specific policies to counteract the effects of the pandemic on food quality and security and on the economic welfare of people. In the post-pandemic period in mountain areas, there is a need for the valorization of food products that originate from here since they have great health and financial potential. Supporting mountain agriculture could ensure the production of high-value products, which are generally preferred by consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the re-orientation of consumers towards local and organic foods. Future research regarding the efficiency of the programs and policies implemented in some mountain areas after the pandemic is necessary.
... Akyol (2018) destinasyonların gastronomik değerlerinin farkına varması gerektiğini bu farkındalığı ise kırsal destekler ile yatırıma dönüştürmesi gerekliliğini vurgulanmaktadır. Tanasa (2014) gastronomik kimlik oluşumunun kırsal kalkınma alanında bölgeye sosyal, ekonomik ve çevresel pek çok fayda sağladığı ve özellikle kriz dönemlerinde fayda sunduğunu ifade etmektedir. Özetle gastronomik kimliğin doğrudan o yöreye has niteliklerden besleniyor oluşu, bu nedenle kolaylıkla taklit edilemez olması sebebi ile de rekabet avantajı sunması önemli özelliklerindendir. ...
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Araştırmada Söğüt ve çevresindeki gastronomi kültürünün incelenmesi, sorunlarının tespiti ve bu doğrultuda gastronomik kimliğin ortaya konulması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenolojik araştırma türü kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın katılımcılarını Söğüt ve çevresindeki köylerden mutfak kültürüne aşina olduğu saptanan yirmi kişi oluşturmaktadır. Katılımcıların belirlenmesinde olasılıklı olmayan örneklem yöntemlerinden benzeşik örneklem yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Veriler yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığı ile yüz yüze ve çevrim içi platformda elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizi ve betimsel yöntem ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda yörenin gastronomik kimliğini etkileyen sorunlar çevresel etkenler, değişim/dönüşüm, yokluk/kıtlık, yöresellik, geleneksel gıda, dini inanışta gıda, zamanla değişim, sosyal yaşam, ekonomi etkisi ve yabancı mutfak tehdidi olmak üzere on tema altında toplanmıştır. Ayrıca araştırma sonuçları yörenin mutfak kültürünün büyük değişim ve dönüşüm göstermekte olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.
... Other surveys link SFSCs to connected economic or social activities. For instance, Tanasă (2014) deliberates upon the way that SFSCs can benefit the development of rural tourism, or Haşdeu (2014), who acknowledges alternative food networks as instruments to preserve local and regional heritage. Tanasă and peers (2015) analyse the successful support of small farmers in the county of Harghita and credit it to the ambitions to strengthen and maintain local identity. ...
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... By providing high valueadded goods, these networks have managed to combine higher incomes for family businesses and consumer preferences oriented towards products that incorporate precise values (rural culture, traditions, respect for nature and the environment, etc.). Numerous contributions have underlined the important role of short value chains in various contexts: for instance, the complementarity between local food systems and tourism systems as a factor reinforcing local identities (Guarino and Doneddu 2011;Tanasă 2014), or enhancement of the connections between town and country through relocation of production-consumption circuits (Grando 2009;Preiss et al. 2017). In local systems, the success of short supply chains is a sign of a virtuous coalition between agricultural producers, small businesses, local administrations, consumer-citizens, associations and civil society; a constellation of horizontal relations that represents a real (and resilient) alternative to the vertical and hierarchical relations represented by long value chains. ...
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There is a growing realisation that agriculture is a central mechanism for delivering sustainable rural development in Europe. However, agro-industrial and postproductivist logics and dynamics have largely tended to marginalise its significance. In this paper we explore some of the conceptual parameters needed to develop the rural development dynamic. This is one which recentralises agriculture and farm-based activities and provides a basis for countering the growing crisis in rural and agricultural policymaking. In order to further embed the rural development dynamic, however, new alliances need to be attached to the struggles that are currently underway in rural areas. This will involve the state and social scientists playing a greater constructive role in developing the social infrastructure around which current exemplars of agrarian-based rural development can become more mainstream.
Short Food Supply Chains as drivers of sustainable development (Evidence Document), in: Document developed in the framework of the FP7 project, FOODLINKS, Laboratorio di studi rurali Sismondi
  • F Galli
  • G Brunori
Galli F., Brunori G. (Eds.), (2013), Short Food Supply Chains as drivers of sustainable development (Evidence Document), in: Document developed in the framework of the FP7 project, FOODLINKS, Laboratorio di studi rurali Sismondi, ISBN 978-88-90896-01-9, online source: http://www.foodlinkscommunity.net/fileadmin/documents_organicresearch/ foodlinks/ CoPs/evidence-document-sfsc-cop.pdf, last accessed: 20.01.2015.