Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Avani

Avani

"Avani vzw" is a community of people aiming for local food systems to start the transition to sustainable agriculture in Flanders. It is a cooperative model in which 10 000 adresses are being served with affordable, delicious and sustainable food. Farmers are given chances to work in a more sustainable way. The community forms a stable sales market for the hub. Within a certain region, local farms deliver their products to a processing unit where the produce is being stored, processed and packaged (the HUB). From the webshop regional people can do groceries on line, after which the products are directly delivered at home or at a pick-up point. BP: Local farms get a score in terms of animal welfare and sustainability. The higher the score, the higher the profit share for the farmers.

Creating food hubs in order to make SFSCs more professional. It aims to reach a larger group of citizens in order to let them also enjoy locally and sustainably produced food. More and more local farmers are able to fully sell their products through direct sales, indepently from industrial food chains.

A smart and sustainable food hub is a success formula in upscaling SFSCs sales: 1)It can take on the role of up to 10 intermediaries in the industrial food chain, 2) creates added value: products are stored, packaged and upgraded (sandwich meat, sauces, mealboxes, fruit/vegetable or dairy packages), 3) no food waste: everything is re-used, nothing is lost, 4) on line shop where one does groceries at home or groceries are delivered at a pick-up point, 5) the heart of a local earnings model: the hub creates employment and economically profitable, though not aiming for profit maximization, 6) forms a centre with a range of experiences for visitors: groceries, eat good food and watch farms through livestreaming. Inspiring events and school visits can also take place.

is a role model, when it comes to direct selling, product innovation, marketing/representation of local produce and small scale farming. It also shows how important it is to have a good regional network and agricultural structures to establish this type of concept. Consumers benefit from the companies phylosophy the most - the show ice cream centre enables them to reconnect with farmers and their livestock, learn about ice cream production and their natural ingredients.

Avani is een community van mensen die streven naar lokale voedselproductie door te starten met duurzame landbouw in Vlaanderen. 10.000 burgers en gezinnen die kiezen voor betaalbare, duurzaam geproduceerde voeding. Zij vormen de vaste, stabiele afzetmarkt van de hub. Door hun aankopen geven ze lokale boeren de kans om steeds duurzamer te produceren en maken ze een alternatief voedselmodel in Vlaanderen mogelijk. Via professionale aanpak van de korte keten kan: 1) een veel grotere groep burgers genieten van lokale, duurzaam geproduceerde voeding; 2) Steeds meer lokale boeren hun volledige afzet kwijt kunnen via de directe verkoop van hun producten, los van de industriële voedselketen.

Een veel grotere groep burgers kan genieten van lokale, duurzaam geproduceerde voeding EN Steeds meer lokale boeren hun volledige afzet kwijt kunnen via de directe verkoop van hun producten, los van de industriële voedselketen.

Consument: Investeren samen in een lokaal voedselmodel, Bewaken de kwaliteit en ­veiligheid van hun voedsel, krijgen volledige transparantie; HUB: werkt ‘van kop tot staart’, dus niets gaat verloren!, creëert meerwaarde door middel van opwaardering, creëert lokale tewerkstelling; BOER: leveren rechtstreeks aan de HUB, worden extra vergoed voor hun agro-ecologische inspanningen, vormen één ecosysteem.

Source Project
SKIN - Short supply chains Knowledge & Innovation Network
Ongoing | 2016-2019
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Italy
Project details

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