Can a Short Food Supply Chain Create Sustainable Benefits for Small Farmers in Developing Countries? An Exploratory Study of Vietnam

Abstract

A number of studies have indicated that short food supply chains could create economic, social, and environmental benefits, but most of those chains were implemented in developed countries. This research aims to find out the characteristics of short food supply chains and their benefits to small farmers in Vietnam, which is a developing country, based on the survey results from 338 small farmers in the third quarter of 2020, with the support of Stata 14 software. The results showed that the short food supply chains in the survey sample in Vietnam were characterized by two main actors: small farmers and distributors. Farmers could sell products flexibly at the local market. There was some initial evidence to prove that these chains helped to stabilize the input, output price, and revenue; formulated sustainable income; and increased the satisfaction and confidence of farmers. They eliminated gender discrimination in rural areas and improved livelihood for ethnic minorities. These chains also enhanced the mindset on green, organic, and clean production of farmers, which in turn created environmental benefits. COVID-19 has posed a negative impact on the income of farmers and made them change their production and sales method. Therefore, the research could suggest some policies to sustainably develop the short food supply chains in Vietnam in the future.

COVID-19 challenges to sustainable food production and consumption: Future lessons for food systems in eastern and southern Africa from a gender lens

“…Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are among several models developed to make food production and consumption sustainable in the face of rapid globalization. The SF-SCs concept is generally and continuously accepted as crucial to achieving the triple sustainability pillars of social equity, economic development, and environmental protection ( Bui et al, 2021 ). SF-SCs converges the three pillars, allowing food systems to be efficient and competitive in terms of increased food production, distribution, and consumption.…”

“…SF-SCs converges the three pillars, allowing food systems to be efficient and competitive in terms of increased food production, distribution, and consumption. This model has multiplier effects on local economies, such as diversity of food products, job creation, minimized food losses and waste, limited rural-urban migration, and matched food production and consumption ( Bui et al, 2021 ).…”

Food and beverage stocks responding to COVID-19

“…In addition, Höhler and Lansink (2021) pointed out that agricultural products are bulky and perishable products, so the supply chain of these products in this sub-sector is highly influenced by geographical location. Therefore, when countries implement lockdown and social distancing, it is easy to increase transportation costs, limiting opportunities to sell farming products (Bui et al, 2021;OECD, 2020). Between food and beverage, the food sub-sector is often rated as essential and preferred by consumers.…”

Modern Short Food Supply Chain, Good Agricultural Practices, and Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework and Case Study in Vietnam

“…Scientists and policymakers believe that SFSCs can result in positive impacts and multi-aspect benefits both for actors in value chains and local communities. The benefits of SFSCs have been proven by several studies and can be structurally summarized into (i) Environmental protection: atmosphere, water, land, biodiversity, material and energy, animal welfare, food waste, emission and pollution; (ii) Economic development: vulnerability, job creation, higher profit and income, poverty reduction, improving local economy, collective or cooperative economics, tourism and specialty products (iii) Social sustainability: decent livelihood, consumer beliefs, closer relationship, fair trade, labor rights, equity, social respect, migration, cultural diversity and preservation; (iv) Health and well-being: farmer and worker health, consumer safety and health, product quality, certification, appetite, satisfaction, and human well-being, and (v) Governance improvement: corporate ethics, accountability, participation, sufficient and transparent information, and better cooperation [1,4,9,13,[20][21][22][23]33,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

“…The key factors facilitating development include the vision and role of the founders, the ability of the core actors, market and political environments, motivation of members and networking [13,52]. According to Bui et al [40], farmers in SFSCs are worried about the small scopes of the local markets and they expect to receive training in marketing, connecting to local retailers and consumers, support on product branding, and participation in the local distribution chain.…”