Italy
Description
In Italy’s Lazio region, especially within the province of Latina, fruit and vegetable farming is a mainstay for small-scale producers who contribute to both Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) or Export-Oriented Supply Chains (EOSC). However, the fragmented nature of the region’s agricultural landscape creates challenges in achieving consistent quality and distribution. The pilot focuses on a variety of vegetables, including both fruit (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, zucchinis) and root vegetables (carrots, cabbages, kohlrabi).
Challenge
Small producers in Lazio struggle with market fragmentation, which limits their capacity to scale and reach broader markets. This fragmentation hinders efficient logistics and makes it difficult for farmers to negotiate fair prices, posing a threat to the economic stability of local agricultural practices. They need support to better understand the differences and constraints of the two supply chains and how technology can be used effectively.
Solutions
In Italy, MED-LINKS project activities engaged local producers and stakeholders in two pilot actions tailored to different supply chains: Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) and Export-Oriented Supply Chains (EOSC). During these actions, Romagna Tech introduced a digital solution in both in-person and online sessions, addressing questions and providing insights to farmers, advisors, and other stakeholders. As a result, participants, including smallholders, gained a higher awareness of the digital solution and its benefits. This increased familiarity is expected to boost adoption. For EOSC, simplified digital tools proved promising for engaging farmers in new marketing channels. Meanwhile, for SFSC, where traditional markets emphasize personal connections, the digital platform sparked interest in reaching distant consumers, despite some hesitation over digital integration.
The main impacts included enhanced digital knowledge, greater awareness of smart contracts, and increased willingness among some farmers to adopt the digital platform