Do Area-based Partnerships Favour the Development of Short Food Supply Chains? Analysis of Local Product Offers on the Websites of Local Action Groups in Two Regions of Poland

Abstract

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are cross-sectoral, area-based partnerships of local stakeholders working for social and economic development in functional regions. Their main task is to redistribute public aid funds as part of grant competitions for grassroots initiatives of local social organizations, farmers, entrepreneurs and local government institutions. LAGs can also play an important role in developing local food markets. The main aim of this research was to establish the extent to which LAGs promote local food products related to short food supply chains through their home websites. The authors have analyzed the websites of LAGs from two regions of Poland: Lower Silesia and Lesser Poland in an attempt to establish whether they contain permanently posted content related to offering and promoting local products (including traditional ones). Research has shown that almost half of all LAGs surveyed (47%) do not promote local products on their websites. However, examples of good practices indicate that they have the potential to carry out such tasks.