Evolution of Short Food Supply Chain Theory and Practice: Two-Sided Networks and Platforms

Abstract

The shift from an industrial to a post-industrial economic system encourages an alternative to the globalized food chains—short food supply chain initiatives, which come alongside the servitization concept and are often discussed in the context of sustainability. However, short food supply chain literature is mainly focused on the aspects typical of the industrial economic system and neglects new important business drivers arising in the post-industrial era. This research aims to discuss the evolution of short food supply chain theory and practice in the context of three paradigm innovations that emerged in the post-industrial economic system and suggest new paths for sustainable agri-food system building. All three paradigm innovations are closely related to each other, but each changes a certain dimension of the mental model concerning the food production and delivery system. The article examines the organizational model of the alternative local food market in Lithuania that has been designed according to the “new rules of game” suggested by the post-industrial economic system.

Servitization of Farming: A New Approach to Local Food Systems Building

“…The food systems transformation has been the subject of debate for several decades. However, recent years show a rise in concerns that reforms inside the industrial framework neglect new important business drivers arising as paradigm innovations of the post-industrial era (Lankauskienė et al, 2022). In comparison with the agrarian era, the industrialization of agriculture created a new international division of labour in food systems that was centred on transnational agri-food companies and retailers.…”