European Commission Conference on local agriculture and short food supply chain today

Posted on 20/04/2012

The European Commission is holding today a full-day conference on "Local agriculture and short food supply chains" which will explore ways and means to mobilise and value the economic potential of local agriculture and short food supply chains.

The focus of the conference will be on the use of policy instruments, facilitating access to markets as well as reinforcing links between farmers and consumers, and improving the implementation of relevant hygiene legislation applying to short food supply chains.

In particular, the following issues will be addressed:

• the implementation of adequate CAP support
• opportunities in local food systems, short marketing chains (including direct sales) by increasing consumer awareness of local farm products
• the need to better use the existing provisions of relevant EU legislation adapted to small-scale food operators and direct sales; cooperation of farmers/small food business operators with competent authorities responsible for hygiene

Animal welfare issues should also be addressed, especially in the area of transport, as short supply chain concept has prospects in reducing long distant transport of food. Eurogroup will be tweeting throughout the event @EG4Atweets.

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