Local organic food supply chains in Rhône-Alpes (France): form of resistance or vehicle for conventionalisation of organic agriculture?

Summary

For ten years, innovative forms of distribution of organic products emerged between long supply chain and short supply chain. We defined them as " localized agri-food supply chains". Our work is based on the analysis of 18 localized food supply chains in Rhône-Alpes (France). Firstly, it presents the diversity of these localized supply chains and the mechanisms implemented to address the limits of short supply chains, particularly an increasing number of intermediaries.
Then we assess their performances with regard to the advantages commonly lent to short supply chains. We demonstrate that localized supply chains are in some cases a vehicle for conventionalisation of organic agriculture and in other a form of mitigation of the agribusiness model.