In the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, growing consumer demand for specific agricultural products is driving the expansion of short food chains that directly link farmers with consumers. These chains vary in form, influenced by historical developments in post-communist countries, sometimes resembling Western European models and other times adapted to local needs.
According to Ivo Zdráhal from the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies at Mendel University in Brno, the success of short supply chains depends on aligning customer needs with the farmer’s value proposition and the chosen chain model. While these chains can diversify food offerings and boost rural economic activity, they also present challenges such as higher time demands, transaction costs, and the need for new skills.
The project, supported by the Visegrad Fund, involves partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, where traditional short food chains have long existed. Workshops organized by Mendel University and Louisiana State University have brought together experts from six countries to share business model innovations, strategic farm management practices, and sales approaches. Successful models from the Visegrad region will be shared with farmers in Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: Mendel University in Brno
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