Economics

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) can be pointed out as one of the most straightforward approaches for connecting consumers and producers in agri-food supply chains. They are identified as a more sustainable way of producing, processing, and/or selling food, which demonstrates a “turn to quality” in both agriculture and consumption. Traditionally, SFSCs allowed producers to have a strong position in the food chain, but their role decreased with Europe’s industrialisation and long-distance transportation, urbanisation, and technical advances. Nowadays, renewed consumer interest in direct purchasing, created by an interest in safe produce has boosted the resurgence of SFSCs. European legislation lays the foundations for their promotion through legal and policy incentives implemented in the framework of national Rural Development Programmes (RDP). The agroBRIDGES project aims at empowering farmers with practical knowledge, tools and support to rebalance their market position by setting up new business and marketing models based on Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs), with a focus on building bridges between producers and consumers. Along these lines, the project followed an integrated methodology by establishing regional multi-actor structures for demand-driven innovation, and delivering a combination of communication materials, training programmes, events, decision support and other digital tools packed in the agroBRIDGES Toolbox (www.agrobridges-toolbox.eu). More than 2,500 producers, consumers and other agri-food stakeholders have been involved in testing, validating and ultimately benefitting from the roll out of the agroBRIDGES Τoolbox and its practical support.

• Short Food Supply Chains
• communication materials
• decision support tool
• unique selling point
• food public procurement
• local events
• networking
• resource sharing
• innovation

A guide for thematic network coordinators and consortium members to design and implement thematic networks for maximising user engagement and impact.

• agriculture
• forestry
• advisory service
• EIP-AGRI
• Horizon 2020
• thematic network
• multi-actor approach
• guide
• co-creation

The EIP-AGRI Operational Group RENURE aims to share acquired knowledge and experience on the practical application of ammonium salts to farmers in Flanders and The Netherlands, eventually helping to prepare the agricultural and horticultural sector for the use of these fertilisers by making the transition from research-based field trials to a practical evaluation at the farmer's premises. Within the OG RENURE, a meta-analysis was done to evaluate the economic viability of implementing a stripper-scrubber unit to recover ammoniacal nitrogen from (fermented) manure, i.e. ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer substitute.

• processing technologies
• fertiliser production
• application
• stripping and scrubbing
• Meta-analysis

This innovation action will provide a unique and innovative way of evaluating health as a component of forest ecosystem services. The goal is to develop several scenarios for payments of those services, as well as empower future management of the protected area. It may also allow some programmes to be launched in cooperation with health institutions on activities related to human health and rehabilitation. In parallel, the case will raise public awareness about forest ecosystem services in order to increase uptake, and so that all stakeholders and park visitors recognise the benefits of forests for their health.

• peri-urban forests
• protected areas
• public forests
• ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem services
• recreation activities
• concession permits

This case study tested the use of reverse auctions for allocating incentive payments through a bidding process, thus engaging forest owners in cost-effective provision of biodiversity protection on their lands.

• biodiversity protection
• reverse auction
• public grant schemes
• private forests

This innovation case is strengthening the link between forests and water with the overall aim of diversifying financing sources for forest management by integrating ecosystem service provision into the economic balance sheet. Work includes integration in the Urban Masterplan for the Rialb Reservoir where different local stakeholders (economic, tourism, water and others) are already working together. The aim is for written recognition in a legal document of the role of forestry in water and landscape conservation, and the recognition of forestry as a potentially relevant economic activity in the area that can be promoted along with tourism. The innovation action also works with the public Segre-Rialb Consortium to assess the suitability of a payment for ecosystem services scheme in relation to water in the area.

• ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem services
• water regulation
• water quality
• water availability
• water provision
• forest-water planning
• joint strategic planning
• joint forest management
• participatory design
• forest and water fund

This factsheet explores how managing forests to be used as spiritual forests and forest kindergartens could benefit both the forest and the forest owner. The core impact of the case study is to raise awareness of the importance of cultural ecosystem services and to motivate forest actors to manage forests appropriately.

• cultural ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem services
• spiritual forests
• funeral forests
• private forests

The “Mushrooms of Borgotaro IGP” are produced in the woods of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The way the woods are managed has a great influence on the micro-climate of the undergrowth and consequently on fungal production. The Consorzio Comunalie Parmensi intends to improve the commercialisation of recreational permits for wild mushrooms collection in forest through an online platform. One of the main goals of this innovation case is to have a better distribution of mushroom pickers in the forest, avoiding their concentration in specific areas.

• recreational mushroom picking
• mushroom picking permits
• application-based tool
• online marketing
• online commercialisation

This case study is drafting new legislation that allows renting forestland for multiple purposes in order to increase economic efficiency and maintain a balance between all ecosystem services. This Russian case works on regulation mechanisms so that people renting forestland can use it for multiple purposes, and to include ecosystem services in the Forest Code.

• multi-purpose forest management
• ecosystem services
• payment for ecosystem
• forest lease
• forest tenant
• public forest
• forest policy

The final publication of OG Pocketboer II provides an overview of the most important findings during the OG Pocketboer (I) and OG Pocketboer II.

• processing technologies
• anaerobic digestion
• pocket digestion
• small-scale digestion
• biogas