Strengthening Short Food Supply Chains in Denmark – An Interview with Jesper Zeihlund
This interview is part of the EU4Advice Advisors’ Campaign, which highlights the voices and expertise of key actors supporting sustainable innovation in European food systems.
Jesper Zeihlund, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of the Association for Local Foods in Denmark, is a leading advocate for short food supply chains and local value creation. Bridging the worlds of practice and policy, he works to connect producers, networks, and institutions, translating strategic visions into tangible actions. His work combines hands-on experience in food production with a deep understanding of the structural, historical, and societal dimensions that shape local food systems. Through his leadership, the Association for Local Foods has become a national platform for collaboration and innovation—strengthening the link between farmers, consumers, and policymakers in building more sustainable, resilient, and community-driven food networks.
Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of the Association for Local Foods in Denmark
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Can you describe your role and its connection to short food supply chains?
My role is to bridge the gap between the practical realities of food production and the strategic and political frameworks shaping short food supply chains. I translate strategic visions into concrete actions and experiments, combining hands-on experience with an academic understanding of structural, historical, and societal dimensions. -
What are the main challenges for local farmers and suppliers today?
Producers face the dual challenge of being farmers, business developers, and communicators, often with limited resources. Regulations are typically designed for large-scale actors, creating barriers for smaller ones. Moreover, reliable sales channels and sustainable logistics remain difficult to establish. The key challenge is balancing the flexibility of local initiatives with the need for stable, scalable structures. -
How do you currently work with producers or networks?
I create arenas where stakeholders can meet, exchange knowledge, and develop joint solutions. My role is to facilitate and translate between producers’ practical needs and the systemic changes required to strengthen short food supply chains. -
What type of support or training would benefit producers most?
The most effective approach combines practical skills with strategic insight. Producers need help navigating regulations, developing business models, and building collaborative capacity. Training should be rooted in practice but framed strategically, so individual efforts contribute to broader systemic change. -
What role should policymakers play?
Policymakers should provide framework conditions that allow flexible, viable food systems to grow. This includes differentiated regulation for small-scale producers, public demand through procurement, and investment in infrastructure that supports networks and collaboration. Policy should prioritize sustainability, diversity, and local value creation, not just traditional growth. -
How can EU initiatives, such as EU4Advice Living Labs, contribute?
They can provide transnational learning spaces, sharing models and methods across borders. The key is keeping these initiatives grounded in practice while combining them with strategic learning, so results become usable and impactful locally. -
What barriers do producers face in adopting digital tools or new practices?
The main barriers are lack of time, capital, and digital skills. Producers may also doubt the value of such investments, while cultural factors—such as prioritizing direct, personal customer relations—can make digital tools feel intrusive. Solutions must be practical and clearly valuable in everyday operations. -
Which types of collaboration are most needed?
Public-private partnerships can integrate local food into public systems. Producer collaborations can reduce vulnerability and strengthen market presence. Cross-sector partnerships can unlock new value creation, while international networks bring transferable experience. Collaboration should always be a means to systemic change, not an end in itself. -
How can short food supply chains support broader goals such as sustainability and rural development?
They reduce environmental impact, diversify rural economies, and strengthen social cohesion by linking producers and consumers. They also reinforce food culture and awareness of raw material origins, which provides both cultural and educational value. -
Looking ahead, what would an ideal future scenario for short food supply chains in Denmark look like?
An ideal scenario would see short food supply chains as a fully integrated part of the national food system. Regional structures would ensure stability and scale, while maintaining proximity and flexibility. Knowledge institutions would bridge practice and theory, and supportive policies would enable growth through differentiated regulation and incentives. Local food would be embedded in daily consumption, gastronomy, and community development.
