EU4Advice: Building a Stronger European Network for Short Food Supply Chains

Article by EGInA – European Grants International Academy

As Europe moves  towards more sustainable, resilient and locally connected food systems, EU4Advice is strengthening the role of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) by connecting knowledge, expertise and people across Europe.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, EU4Advice focuses on improving advisory services for Short Food Supply Chains and supporting advisors, farmers, policymakers, researchers and other food-system actors in making SFSC practices more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. To achieve its goals, the project builds on two connected pillars: a European Network for SFSC advisors and a dedicated network for policymakers.

Growing the European Advisory Network for SFSC

A key element of EU4Advice is the European advisory network for Short Food Supply Chains, bringing together advisors and food-system experts from across Europe. The network offers training, peer learning, knowledge exchange and cross-border collaboration, creating a space where professionals can share experiences and help shape the future of SFSC advisory services.Members can take part in  Advisinar, monthly one-hour online webinars for cross-European peer learning and discussion,  can access the Advisors’ Corner and Knowledge Hub, which offers practical resources such as Advisinars, presentations, Practice Abstracts and project documentation. The project is also setting up  Living Labs in 4 European countries- namely Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Hungary-providing opportunities to test and explore training approaches in real-world contexts.EU4Advice is currently piloting its training programme with advisors and policymakers; the course is expected to be finalised by the end of September 2026.

If you advise farmers, producers or other actors involved in SFSC and are not yet part of the European network, you are invited to join the EU Network of SFSC Advisors.Members can connect with peers and experts from across Europe, access training and dedicated resources, participate in knowledge-sharing activities and help develop  recommendations and approaches for stronger SFSC advisory services.

Join the EU Network of SFSC Advisors 

Bringing Policymakers Together

Alongside the advisory SFCS network, EU4Advice’s second pillar  is a dedicated European network for policymakers committed to supporting fairer and more sustainable food systems.

It  gives regional, national and local public authorities the chance  to connect with counterparts across Europe, exchange experiences and discuss common challenges, while also facilitating  interaction with producers, advisors, researchers and other stakeholders within the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS).Members can access opportunities for knowledge exchange and learning while contributing to the wider discussion on how policy can better support the development of Short Food Supply Chains. EU4Advice and its sister project COREnet jointly established a dedicated European Policymaker SFSC Network for professionals involved in policy development or implementation. It creates opportunities to exchange experiences with policymakers from different European countries, interact directly with SFSC producers, advisors and AKIS stakeholders, and access best practices, training resources, regulatory tools and dedicated learning opportunities.

Join the European Policymaker SFSC Network 

Wider Resources for the SFSC Community

Beyond the EU4Advice networks, professionals working on Short Food Supply Chains can also benefit from wider European resources and initiatives supporting knowledge exchange, innovation and learning. The SFS Innovation Platform is an open-access resource bringing together knowledge and practical tools  for farmers, advisors, researchers, businesses, policymakers, educators and other food-system actors, including real-life case studies from across Europe, an inventory of SFSC-related initiatives and innovations, Practice Abstracts, publications and reports, and free online training courses.

Professional work  working in short food supply chains in Europe, can also join the EU Community group on the Short Food Chain on LinkedIn- a space bringing together advisors, researchers, policymakers and practitioners who care about  reconnecting producers and consumers in Europe This community is intended as a place where to share knowledge,exchange experiences, discuss challenges and follow the the latest developments in the field. .

Upcoming  events and Activities

To discover more about EU4Advice and follow its latest activities, visit the project website or connect with the project on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube and Bluesky.