SAC Research

The European Union (EU) is moving towards freer markets. Reduced market intervention for agricultural products has repercussions on the whole food chain, which might provide new opportunities or challenges for the European food system.

In order to be able to benefit from these new developments, a more proactive and self-responsible behaviour of all actors involved in the food chain is necessary.

In addition, there is need for analysis of potential risks, benefits and measures of support of the transformation process. Measures to counter arising instabilities in the European food sector and to promote sustainable development of competitive food chains may include the improvement of co-ordination among farmers, processors and retailers by strengthening economic relationships and by intensifying communication.

The aims of the project are:

• to analyse the role (prevalence, necessity and significance) of economic relationships and communication in selected European food chains
• to identify the economic, social and cultural factors which influence co-ordination within these chains

Project Number:  N/A

The project is financed by the EU Commission (50%) and from national research funds (50%). In most cases, the national research funds are provided by the respective research partners.

SAC, Aberdeen; Department of Agricultural and Food Market Research, University of Bonn, Germany (project co-ordinator); Centre for Agri-Food Research and Technology, Government of Aragon, Spain; Food Marketing Group, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland; Department for Agricultural Markets, Marketing and World Agricultural Trade, Halle, Germany; Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland; Ruralia Institute, University of Helsinki, Seinäjoki, Finland.