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Trilogy of Platforms: sustainable food chains and development of the local food sector
Published on 29 April 2021
Germany
Oberbayern
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry intends to support and promote healthy food with regional focus. The enhancement of networking and the exchange of the individual players in the value chain are important in particular. For this purpose online platforms have been developed. The platforms provide an overview of the regional procurement situation in Bavaria and facilitate contacts for the purchase of regional foods.
The platforms are free of charge for the participants and user-friendly.
The Bavarian State Ministry aims to demonstrate the significant benefits of using regional products:
- short distances and a strengthening of the purchasing power of the region
- market transparency: who works with who, identify and strengthen regional circulation systems
- more detailed information on production and processing
- public, independent and non-profit offer
- only one registration for all three platforms
Regional products from regional suppliers can be found through the following platforms.
The main differences between the platforms are the target groups:
“Regionales Bayern” is addressed to consumers.
“Wirt sucht Bauer” is addressed to producers and gastronomy.
“RegioVerpflegung” is addressed to traders, producers and community catering/cantines.
The platforms are free of charge for the participants and user-friendly.
The Bavarian State Ministry aims to demonstrate the significant benefits of using regional products:
- short distances and a strengthening of the purchasing power of the region
- market transparency: who works with who, identify and strengthen regional circulation systems
- more detailed information on production and processing
- public, independent and non-profit offer
- only one registration for all three platforms
Regional products from regional suppliers can be found through the following platforms.
The main differences between the platforms are the target groups:
“Regionales Bayern” is addressed to consumers.
“Wirt sucht Bauer” is addressed to producers and gastronomy.
“RegioVerpflegung” is addressed to traders, producers and community catering/cantines.
Expert opinion
Promoting local production and consumption has several benefits for regional development, namely, it can help reduce the harmful environmental impact of transporting goods over a long distance and it supports economic activity at a local level. This is particularly relevant for transitioning to a more circular economy, which is a key priority of the EU and regions in general. In this context, this good practice does a good job supporting the regional economy by connecting regional producers and suppliers through a digital platform. On this platform, producers and suppliers can view how far/close producers or suppliers are, who works with whom in the regional market, information about how products are produced and/or sold, etc. Such information can promote transparency and it can optimize shipping and receiving costs. Further, the success indicators show that there are several producers and suppliers (3000) who are active on the platform which indicates there is a need and willingness to use the platform. Such a platform has broad applicability and could be integrated in regions across Europe.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
For the continuation, public work, further development, administration and for questions at least 3 full time working persons are needed. The visibility of the website can be improved by advertising through farmers' associations, regional agencies, or public work.
Evidence of success
This can be seen from the continuously increasing number of registrations and good website access rates. More than 3000 regional suppliers and producers are now registered (status Nov. 2021) and offer more than 800 different products. A survey of the Regio-Verpflegung domain (youngest website, online since the beginning of 2021) shows that a lively exchange is already taking place. One in five suppliers and consumers has already contacted another business about a new business relationship.
Potential for learning or transfer
Digital networking possibilities and marketing in a free offer can help to secure the existence of small producers in particular.
Based on the principle of offering simple, quickly usable and free platforms, further portals are being developed. The platform "Lokal-Helden" (Local Heroes) was created during the Corona pandemic. Restrictions enforced as a result of the Corona pandemic have led to sales losses for all restaurant owners that have threatened their existence. On a virtual map of the platform, restaurants can register their offers (for example takeaway services) and consumers can use the search function to find registered restaurants in their area.
Link: https://www.lokalhelden.bayern/karte
Based on the principle of offering simple, quickly usable and free platforms, further portals are being developed. The platform "Lokal-Helden" (Local Heroes) was created during the Corona pandemic. Restrictions enforced as a result of the Corona pandemic have led to sales losses for all restaurant owners that have threatened their existence. On a virtual map of the platform, restaurants can register their offers (for example takeaway services) and consumers can use the search function to find registered restaurants in their area.
Link: https://www.lokalhelden.bayern/karte
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Bavarian Public Management Academy for Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry
Germany
Oberbayern
Contact
Project manager