Flevofood Association – a regional network association
Published on 11 December 2019
Netherlands
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The aim is to establish and increase the Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) within Flevoland and towards the Floriade expo in 2022. Since the start in 2018, the association has already created very important and strong partnerships and collaborations within the SFSC in the Netherlands.
There was no alike organisation to connect the groups of food suppliers (e.g. farmers, processors, retail, foodservice, etc.) when Flevofood association started.
What connects the members is the passion for food products from Flevoland and it’s fabulous quality. From the beginning on networking and exchange activities supported the collaboration. The idea is that by collaborating, more can be achieved than what can be done while working alone. By growing the network, an increase in combined power is developed. This growth leads also to greater benefits for each individual company within the association. At this point FlevoFood sets up a B2B platform to facilitate sales of regional products and promote them at e.g. Floriade Expo 2022.
Cooperation is key. Not only within Flevofood, but also with alike organisations under the umbrella of interregional Taskforce Short Chains.
The main objective is to establish SME competitiveness, by working together on regional, national and EU level, by using each others unique strengths, as data, tools, range, authority, expertise and funding as described in the GAIN model.
There was no alike organisation to connect the groups of food suppliers (e.g. farmers, processors, retail, foodservice, etc.) when Flevofood association started.
What connects the members is the passion for food products from Flevoland and it’s fabulous quality. From the beginning on networking and exchange activities supported the collaboration. The idea is that by collaborating, more can be achieved than what can be done while working alone. By growing the network, an increase in combined power is developed. This growth leads also to greater benefits for each individual company within the association. At this point FlevoFood sets up a B2B platform to facilitate sales of regional products and promote them at e.g. Floriade Expo 2022.
Cooperation is key. Not only within Flevofood, but also with alike organisations under the umbrella of interregional Taskforce Short Chains.
The main objective is to establish SME competitiveness, by working together on regional, national and EU level, by using each others unique strengths, as data, tools, range, authority, expertise and funding as described in the GAIN model.
Expert opinion
Flevofood Association is a regional network of farmers and companies of the agrifood sector working together for empowering the Short Food Supply Chain in Flevoland (Netherland). According to the GAIN model, the good practice highlights the importance of a multisectoral and multilevel collaboration to achieve the goal of a place-based sustainable food transition, reconnecting farms and cities and bringing new value to local products. The initiative aims to increase SMEs competitiveness in the agrifood sector facilitating the collaboration among different actors of the regional supply chain (e.g. farmers, processor, retail, foodservices, etc.). Created in 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Association currently has around 50 members and 15 networkpartners, counting municipalities, universities and financial companies among stakeholders. Collective events such as food-tours and gatherings have been organized for promoting local products and fostering transfer of knowledge. Benefiting from the interregional cooperation within the Taskforce Short Chain, a business-to-business platform (B2B) has also been set up for Floriade Expo 2022. The good practice is an inspiring example for many regions where SMEs in the agri-food sector are unable to compete on their own within the market. The network works as an engine of innovation, connecting different local actors to create a shorter, more efficient and sustainable Food Chain.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
- an investment in hours for founders (36K 2 years)
- funding for organizing foodtours and knowledge meetings (15K 5 years)
- funding for knowledge exchange (20K)
- in kind hours of board members
- active members
- diverse network
- funding for organizing foodtours and knowledge meetings (15K 5 years)
- funding for knowledge exchange (20K)
- in kind hours of board members
- active members
- diverse network
Evidence of success
We have now approx. 50 members, 15 networkpartners and managed to establish partnerships with all municipalities in Flevoland, other stakeholders as banks and universities. We have inter-regional cooperations within Taskforce Short Chain (B2B platform implementation), from which we really achieving big results in setting up SFSC. This is also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture.
We’ve organized 4 foodtours and 4 inspiring knowledge gatherings, with approx. 350-400 participants.
We’ve organized 4 foodtours and 4 inspiring knowledge gatherings, with approx. 350-400 participants.
Potential for learning or transfer
Most important learning from this practice is the cooperation part between sectors on the different levels: local, regional, national and even on EU level, to establish the relation between farmers and citizens, through the re-connection farmland and cities. Main stakeholders are the Flevofood board (7 members within the different producer groups, and based in all connecting areas), Flevofood association members (currently approx. 50), Province of Flevoland, municipalities, universities, financial companies (e.g. Rabobank).
We started as a network association with similar ideas between the members, and moved towards setting up a SFSC, because all members believed and invested in the urgency of this network to contribute to a sustainable food transition.
Another important learning is to consider the legal set up of the association. A change to a cooperation supported by a ltd is needed.
We started as a network association with similar ideas between the members, and moved towards setting up a SFSC, because all members believed and invested in the urgency of this network to contribute to a sustainable food transition.
Another important learning is to consider the legal set up of the association. A change to a cooperation supported by a ltd is needed.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Province of Flevoland
Netherlands
Flevoland
Contact
Project Manager