Short Supply Chain Trades: Understanding Farmers’ Professional Evolution in Short Food Supply Chains

This paper reports on the MECICO project (2010–2013), which studied how short food supply chain practices transform the farming profession in France. Nineteen partners from agricultural development networks, vocational schools, and research institutions collaborated to analyze key professional situations and support methods. The study identified new competencies and shifts in professional norms required for short supply chains. Based on these findings, the project team designed and tested training modules, methodological tools, and educational resources to aid farmers and related actors. Outcomes include validated tools, guidelines for multi-actor collaboration, and frameworks for skill acquisition in short supply chains.