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Facilitating Alternative Agro-Food Networks (FAAN)

Project period: February 2008 to March 2010

Project summary: FAAN was a project, which engaged academics and civil society organisations in a cooperative research activity and in future research agenda-setting on ‘Alternative Agro-Food Networks’ (AAFNs). The main findings are based on qualitative empirical research of 10 case studies, two in each of the study countries, and it includes recommendations about policy changes that would be necessary to strengthen Local Food Systems in future. These changes include: support for setting up cooperative networks and infrastructure; greater knowledge exchange; more local sourcing in public procurement; more appropriate funding; and the more flexible adaptation of over-burdensome legal regulations (e.g. distinguishing rules for products for different markets); and ensuring that the Leader programme maintains its bottom-up character, along with a territorial approach linking urban consumers with rural producers. By recognising and valuing LFS and for their societal opportunities and benefits, authorities could take responsibility for improving and linking relevant policies.

Role and priorities/objectives in knowledge transfer & innovation:

1. To analyse how current policies (on the European, national and regional levels) facilitate or impede the development of alternative agro-food networks (AAFNs), and how policy frameworks could better facilitate them; and
2. identify further research needs relevant for AAFNs and thus to inform future research agendas.

Results and recommendations: Policy analysis and the development of the theoretical framework for the empirical studies on AAFNs; Comparative analysis of the context of AAFNs at the local, national and European level; Scenario-analysis workshops at local/national level; European workshop; Dissemination and Communication. A final paper entitled: Local Food Systems in Europe: Case studies from five countries and what they imply for policy and practice.

Language(s): DE, EN, FR, HU, PL

Funding source:  FP7

EAFRD priority area(s): Competitiveness of agriculture and forestry; Environment and sustainable resource management; Quality of life and economic diversification; Implementing the Leader approach; Horizontal aspects.

EAFRD themes and keywords: All themes related to the priority areas of ENRD.

Main target end users: Politicians and decision-makers, food producers at all levels

Project contractor / partners / countries:

Project study regions:

AT: Region Almenland in Styria; Lower Austria.

UK: Cumbria; Manchester

FR: Rennes Métropole; Pays du Centre Ouest Bretagne

HU: Tisza; Budapest

PL: Warminsko-Mazurska; Vistula Valley

Homepage: https://www.faanweb.eu/

Project contact:
Inter-University Research Centre on Technology, Work and Culture (IFZ), Graz
Sandra Karner, karner@ifz.tugraz.atw/