Practice Abstract: Open Food Network: Empowering Farmers and Strengthening Short Food Supply Chains

The document presents the Open Food Network (OFN) as an open-source digital platform designed to help small and medium-scale farmers overcome market access challenges and strengthen short food supply chains. It explains how OFN enables producers to sell directly to consumers and through collective food hubs, improving income diversification, reducing transaction costs, supporting logistics, and fostering cooperation among farmers. The practice abstract also outlines practical steps for setting up a local OFN hub, from defining governance and mapping stakeholders to piloting, training, transparent pricing, and linking the platform with physical events and communication activities. Overall, it positions OFN as a practical tool to build fairer, more transparent, and efficient local food systems while strengthening rural-urban connections