City of Ghent's Campfire Event on Short-Supply-Chain Procurement

The City of Ghent hosted a COACH project 'campfire' event from 17 to 24 September 2021, bringing together public procurement teams and market actors to assess online platforms connecting short-supply-chain producers with buyers. The event evaluated four platforms on product availability, delivery times, logistics, supplier participation, and capacity to handle public contract volumes. Findings show that direct engagement with producers and platforms improves procurement planning and enables more realistic, tailored tendering. The insights support the development of sustainable, local food procurement frameworks under the Belgian Public Procurement Act and are transferable to other public organisations. Part of the COACH Beacon initiative, the event demonstrates a collaborative model that enhances transparency, scalability, and resilience in local food systems. Results contribute to the COACH Living Library and inform future procurement strategies across Belgium and Europe.