Practice Abstract #12: How Europe Supports Short Food Supply Chains: A Cross-Country Look at Advice, Training and Practical Opportunities for Farmers

Across Europe, farmers interested in Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) face uneven access to knowledge, advisory services and practical support. Although SFSCs are increasingly promoted as tools to improve farm income, resilience, and consumer trust, support systems remain fragmented and vary significantly across countries. Farmers often encounter regulatory complexity, limited time, lack of business planning support and difficulties in accessing markets or scaling up initiatives. This abstract provides a cross-country overview of how farmers access SFSC-related advice, training and practical opportunities. It highlights differences between structured public advisory systems and more informal knowledge networks, while identifying the types of support that are most useful for farmers and practitioners.