Dear readers,  

As a continuation of the work initiated by the H2020 project SKIN, in September 2022 COREnet was officially born. COREnet builds on the resources, achievements and networks of the SKIN project and aims to support the systematic development of more effective advising on Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs).  

The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F) and EU Green Deal consider SFSCs as an opportunity to rebuild a fairer, more resilient, sustainable and food-secure economy. To achieve that, an advisory service for SFSC initiators and organisers needs to be set up. The key task of COREnet is to develop an SFSC advisory and support system which builds on the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovations System (AKIS).The COREnet pan-European peer-to-peer learning network for SFSC practitioners will bring research and practice closer, foster a partnership approach among SFSC stakeholders, promote innovation across themes and borders, and  support their activities to revitalise rural areas and assist farmers to become more innovative, more friendly environmentally and more sustainable economically. Discover more by watching our presentation video. 

Since the commencement of COREnet, important steps forward have already been taken, starting from the collaboration with the EU4Advice project. COREnet and EU4Advice are twin projects funded by the EU under the same topic (CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-27) with the common goal of developing an EU advisory network on consumer-producer chains. To expand consumer-producer chains throughout Europe, it is crucial to confront and bridge political and socio-economic barriers. COREnet and EU4Advice will equip the stakeholders with the essential tools to overcome these challenges. 

On a different note, COREnet contributes to a user-friendly digital platform specifically designed for those interested in the SFSC topic and powered by CO-FRESH and FAIRCHAIN. This platform serves as a central hub where farmers, producers, and consumers can connect, interact, and conduct business seamlessly. It is a network where individuals can publicise their initiatives and/or innovations, and EU projects can publicise their case studies/pilots/living labs and EIP-AGRI practice abstracts. The COREnet project will disseminate its golden cases, reports, and results through the platform.  

Additionally, the very first project’s news release has been shared. The news item highlights the introduction of COREnet by the UniFg partner to its students. The presentation emphasises the significance of SFSC, focusing on its social and environmental aspects. It also addresses the transition from SKIN, presenting new challenges and objectives.  

Furthermore, COREnet collaborates with national AKIS and other EU projects like EU-FarmBook, ATTRACTISS, and modernAKIS to share results, and build a stronger EU SFSC network of practitioners.  

We would greatly appreciate your continued subscription to our project. However, if you no longer wish to receive updates regarding COREnet, you can opt out by using the button provided below.

Francesco Contò

Project Coordinator

University of Foggia

Fedele Colantuono

Project Manager

University of Foggia