Brief description
The ULePro project aims to strengthen the medium-sized agricultural sector, which is essentially responsible for the regional food supply, in the long term. It is to investigate the potential of regional and local food production and supply networks, considering all actors and decision-makers involved, i.e. agribusinesses, logistics service providers, and others engaged in local food production, storage and distribution. It should serve as an interface with final customers and buyers of the products, as well as with local authorities, policymakers, and others responsible for setting local framework conditions.
Project purpose
Agriculture supply chains have changed decisively in recent decades. It is becoming increasingly difficult for small and medium-sized farmers/agricultural businesses to compete with on cost, performance and technical development with large food corporations, e. g. large agribusinesses have access to the latest technical innovations and can therefore invest in more efficient production processes. Small farmers can use direct marketing on farmers’ markets and in farm stores. However, these sales channels bring a rather low turnover and are accompanied by considerable logistics costs. It is also becoming increasingly difficult for the “middle class” in the agricultural sector to survive. They lack the financial means to invest in the latest production equipment to produce more sustainably and productively. At the same time, they are too big to offer their products merely on farmers’ markets simply. This begs the question how the medium-sized agricultural sector, which is essentially responsible for the regional food supply, can be strengthened in the long term. The primary objective of this research project is to investigate the potential of urban and regional food production and their related supply chains. The analysis should take all actors and decision-makers into account. The specific focus is on horizontal collaboration and coordination in local food production and distribution networks and on potentials of innovative local production such as vertical and urban farming.
Subjects
Food Logistics, Sustainability, Supply Chains
Project partners
Kühne Logistics University (KLU)
Project Team
Sonia Alikhah (Kühne Logistics University - KLU)
