Short Food Supply Chains as a Response to Food Supply Disruptions: The Case of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy

This chapter brings into perspective the role of short food supply chains (SFSCs) for both producers and consumers. As most of the economic power of agricultural exploitations and the food distribution chain relies upon the major players in this domain, there is less maneuvering space left for small agricultural entrepreneurs and to tailored demand from consumers. The analyzed context demonstrates however that at the European level, the largest number of farming entities are of small dimensions and that there is an important unexploited potential for developing agricultural activity and rural life and environment, for new EU member states especially. The analysis concentrates on the general concept of short food supply chains and the measures undertaken so far under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in terms of rural development, agricultural production, and stability of food supply. The emphasis is brought upon the main relevant aspects to be taken into consideration from the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014–2020, but also on the general agricultural perspective and resources in the EU countries amid the disruptions of food supply in longer cross border chains due to external factors.