scholarly journals Possible Actors in Local Foodscapes? LEADER Action Groups as Short Supply Chain Agents—A European Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2080
Author(s):  
Csaba Ruszkai ◽  
Ilona Pajtók Tari ◽  
Csaba Patkós

In recent decades, alongside industrialized agriculture and food-supply systems, an alternative, network-based framework has evolved supporting local development, social innovation and sustainability objectives. Short supply chains are in the focus of the new era. At the same time, from the 1990s a new, bottom-up, spatially bound rural development method, the Liaison Entre Actions pour le Development de l’Economie Rurale (LEADER) approach, has arisen. The purpose of this study is to examine the involvement of LEADER local action groups in the management of alternative food systems in Europe. After a literature-based, detailed theoretical review, a quantitative analysis concerning the content of the official websites of action groups was conducted. A local product promoting quantitative index was created from the qualitative characteristics of the sites. From the collected data, using basic statistical analysis and thematic mapping connections were searched between local action group general characteristics and their short supply chain support activities. The results indicate notable national differences between Western and Eastern European and Mediterranean LEADER groups, supporting previous literature. It may be concluded that local action groups as potential hubs of social innovation, can be crucial actors in local foodscapes, mainly in less developed areas where other non-profit or for-profit organizations are unable to manage supply chains.

Author(s):  
Francois Schutte ◽  
Wesley Niemann ◽  
Theuns Kotzé

Background: Global sourcing has impacted inventory levels, lead times and the availability of working capital, affecting the standard financial flow of a supply chain. Poorly managing the link between the financial and physical supply chains could therefore lead to unnecessarily high inventory investments or to a short supply of inventory, affecting cash flow, working capital, sales and, subsequently, a firm’s profitability.Objectives: The aim of this generic qualitative study was to explore how firms manage their financial supply chain alongside their physical supply chain.Method: Data were collected from 12 semi-structured interviews with senior managers across six small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) importing firms in various industries.Results: The research finds that the buyer is the driver of both upstream and downstream financial supply chain management (FSCM) as SME importers in Gauteng are proactively managing their financial alongside their physical supply chains. Through the continuous evaluation of sourcing strategies, exchange rate risk management strategies and inventory investment management strategies, firms can align their physical and financial supply chains.Conclusion: This study highlights the lead time and disruption risks and costs of global sourcing and identifies FSCM tools that can be used to alleviate the financial burden associated with long lead times.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Carter

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand why the quality markets are expanding in some areas of food production, while struggling in others. Across agricultural markets in advanced industrialized economies, there are movements toward quality production and consumption. The author argues that the quality turn in beer, coffee, wine and other transformed artisanal food production are fundamentally different from the quality movements in primary food products. The heart of that difference lies in the nature of the supply chain advantages of transformed versus primary agricultural products.Design/methodology/approachThe author applies convention theory to explain the dynamics within transformed agricultural quality markets. In these producer-dominant markets, networks of branded producers shape consumer notions of product quality, creating competitive quality feedback loops. The author contrasts this with the consumer-dominant markets for perishable foods such as produce, eggs, dairy and meat. Here, politically constructed short supply chains play a central role in building quality food systems.FindingsThe emergence of quality in primary food products is linked to the strength of local political organization, and consumers have a greater role in shaping quality in these markets.Originality/valueQuality beer, coffee, wine and other transformed products can emerge without active political intervention, whereas quality markets for perishable foods are the outcome of political action.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2020-0001.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Alexandru Olar ◽  
Mugurel-Ionel Jitea

Abstract Local Action Groups (LAGs) are responsible for promoting social and economic development in their territories, by creating local development strategies (LDSs) funded through LEADER Programme. They are area-based multisectoral partnerships, formed from public, private and social stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to study the governance and sustainability of Romanian LAGs, using evidence from the Nord-West Development Region from Romania. Structured interviews with LAGs managers were used as a primary method for collecting data. The results show that LAGs are struggling to remain active during the transition periods between two editions of the program, questioning their capacity to function without LEADER funding. However, they report fewer major changes compared to the last transition, mostly focusing on partnership and territorial structure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 5-5
Author(s):  
Ewa Nowak

Purpose. The study aims to diagnose the tourist attractiveness of the Świętokrzyskie voivodeship poviats based on features of the geographical and socio-economic environment. The recognition of local development problems regarding organisation in local action groups that affect the creation of the tourist function of a village and the creation of new tourist products are also assessed by residents. Method. Principal Component Analysis was used as the research method, in which the process of reducing multidimensionality, i.e. reducing the number of features, occurs. A smaller number of new variables explains and simplifies the interpretation of the phenomenon with little information loss. The components are the result of data reduction and a way to obtain a simplified image of the relationship based on the correlation structure between the observed features. Fourteen Świętokrzyskie poviats were analysed due to 10 features that express the multi-faceted nature of the local economy in the aspect of tourist attractiveness and entrepreneurship for 2018. Then, using the hierarchical Ward method, types of poviats with a similar structure of phenomena related to the tourist development of the area were presented. The obtained components can be treated as the main meta-features of the structural dimension of the attractiveness and entrepreneurship space of the Świętokrzyskie region. Findings. It has been shown is studies that tourism plays one of the key roles in the development of a region. It is an important element of activating the local economy. The 3 calculated main components explain 78.1% of the variation of the original features. The following names for the given factors may be suggested: "poviat entrepreneurship" (explained by the first component - containing 43% variability of the original features), "accommodation and transport availability" (second component - 19% variation of the original features), "EU funding" (third component -16% variation of original features). The classification indicates the similarity of poviats within the distinguished classes from the point of view of more than one factor measuring the level of urbanisation of the area. Four classes of poviats can be distinguished: the first class is the city of Kielce, the second – the buski and kielecki poviats, the third, which is very numerous – 10 poviats and the fourth – the kazimiersk poviat Research and conclusions limitations. The survey studies were conducted in 2018 on a small sample of 60 people, which does not allow to draw general conclusions, but their results may facilitate the diagnosis of tourism development. Gestors and local government officials involved in local action groups, who agreed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of tourism at their place of residence, were selected for the survey. Practical implications. The work may be of significance to various decision-making entities interested in the structure and position of their poviat in comparison to other poviats. The study is an assessment and diagnosis of the state of local development related to tourism. The actions implemented for the development of tourism infrastructure, the use of EU subsidies in poviats and the degree of implementation of the activities adopted in the tourism development strategy were identified. Originality.Detection of unknown dependencies and regularities in tourism economy among spatial systems using multidimensional methods. Comprehensive development using a quantitative and qualitative approach. Type of paper. A case study - counties of the Swiętokrzyskie voivodeship


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 125-129
Author(s):  
Carmen Simona Dumitrescu

The National Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-2020 through its priorities and interest domains refers to local products and short supply chains in order to increase the competitiveness of local primary producers and the added value of agro-alimentary and non-alimentary products, and to promote on local markets through short supply chains, producers groups and organizations. Local food can have many benefits for the actors involved in the short supply chain, more precisely producers, middlemen and  consumers, but also for the local economy in its all. The local market from Timisoara is provided by many local producers from rural area that are producing and selling a varied number of alimentary and non-alimentary products. The case study is oriented towards the brief analysis of alimentary local products’ consumers and its aim is to realise a profile of local food consumer through underlining the aspects regarding the reasons why they are buying such products, the place from where they buy, but also aspects regarding the implications and benefits the consume can have.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (48) ◽  
pp. 35-45
Author(s):  
Maria Kola-Bezka

AbstractThe article draws on research covering all local action groups (LAGs) operating in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship. The objectives include: determining what portion of local development activities implemented by LAGs are activities for social inclusion and what their expected effects are; and determining whether LAG activities for social inclusion are adequate to the scale of social exclusion in the areas where they operate. The research demonstrates that actions against social exclusion were provided for in the strategies of 26 out of 28 LAGs and they were usually not central, but only one of several categories of planned projects. The research also revealed that in the voivodship there is no relationship between the level of threat of social exclusion in the areas where LAGs operate and the level of social inclusiveness of their strategies. It is suggested that the scale and effects of the social inclusion projects planned by LAGs are not adequate to the problems actually occurring in the areas covered by their activity.


Author(s):  
Michelle Miller

The Biden Administration is reviewing supply chains as part of its response to recent supply chain failures during COVID-19, and anticipated disrup­tions associated with climate change. This policy analysis discusses supply chain management, that is, the monitoring and continual improvement of materials flow and information flow to better manage risk. We are in an era of proprietary big data and digitized applications to make sense of it. Healthy food systems require policy to address unequal access to food systems data and informa­tion that occurs between businesses as well as between private businesses and government. Managing risk to a nation’s overall food system is an important government function that includes setting fair market rules and ensuring open infor­mation exchange in food supply chains. In this way, our government ensures equitable food and market access as new technologies and disruptions arise. This paper reviews these concepts consider­ing current policy actions of the Biden Administration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Chmieliński ◽  
Nicola Faccilongo ◽  
Mariantonietta Fiore ◽  
Piermichele La Sala

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hoffmann ◽  
Natalia Hoffmann

Abstract The article aims to present the stages of the LEADER programme and its influence on greater activity and integration of inhabitants by, e.g. extending the knowledge of tradition and national heritage and the actions intended for the integration of local communities. It is noticeable particularly in the implementation of the activities within Axis 4 of the 2007–2013 Rural Development Programme. Positive changes in rural areas are a result of building strong social and human capitals, which are important factors of local development. The skills and the ability for cooperation of a local community allows it to implement many projects. The investments made by beneficiaries of the LEADER programme improve the level of living and the quality of life in the countryside. The effect is an improvement in physical infrastructure and tourist attractiveness as a result of care for the rural landscape and cultural heritage. The implementation of the LEADER programme is presented on the example of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship where the participation in actions for local communities is deeply ingrained. In order to show spatial differences in the activity of local entities under Local Action Groups in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, classes were selected on the basis of funds received by local entities in the LAG areas. There are 36 Local Action Groups operating in Wielkopolska (of which 31 have seats in this region).


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