Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 22 ISSUE 3
Written by Lucian TANASĂ, Ioan-Sebastian BRUMĂ, Simona-Roxana ULMAN, Gabriel Vasile HOHA

Due to their characteristics, short food supply chains have an increasingly important role to play in local supply networks as a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional agri-food sector supply chains. They are considered innovative while providing many economic, social, environmental, health, and cultural benefits to small producers and, consequently, local communities. Basing on the specific scientific literature, these benefits are briefly presented in this paper. The contribution of short food supply chains to the improvement of food systems has become relevant in the context of sanitary crisis generated by COVID-19. More precisely, even if the global chains managed to overcome this unforeseen shock, the vulnerabilities appeared and were evident. Accordingly, in our opinion, the development philosophy of local agri-economy needs to change: the conventional agriculture has to coexist nearby the alternative agriculture, while not provoking damages each other. The chains interconnecting final producers and consumers have to be integrated into a socio-economic ecosystem with durable and sustainable basis, while the agri-food market needs to adapt to these new requirements.

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