Report on food chain logistic challenges, electric and biofuel mobility solutions in public policies
A transnational state of the art report on food chains logistics challenges, on electric and biofuel mobility solutions and on public policies and mechanisms with a detailed version and a short version to facilitate the appropriation of its contents by a wide audience.
Project:
GARDEN
Mission
Promoting green living areas
Programme keywords:
Agri food systems, Climate mitigation, Energy transition
KEEP keywords:
Green technologies, Logistics and freight transport
Partners:
University of Zagreb - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Issues addressed
The report tackles the urgent need to reduce the environmental, economic, and social impacts of food supply chains by addressing the role and challenges of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs). Emerging in Europe since the early 2000s, SFSCs meet consumer demand for sustainability, transparency, and alternatives to industrialised systems. Despite benefits such as stronger consumer-producer ties and local economic gains, they face major logistical barriers, particularly in last-mile delivery. Urban congestion, fragmented flows, and limited clean transport increase emissions and costs, threatening the overall sustainability of SFSCs.
Added value of the document
The transfer and adaptability potential is significant, but their successful implementation depends on several key conditions. The integrated approach combining organisational strategies, technological innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and policy support can be tailored to different local contexts by adjusting elements like flow consolidation, clean transport, digital tools, and policy measures according to region size, infrastructure, and food network structure. Technologies like electro mobility need proper infrastructure, while retrofitting and biofuels require funding. Success depends on cooperation among producers, logistics operators, buyers, and especially public authorities.
Transferability potential
The added value of the analysis lies in its comprehensive, integrated approach to improving the sustainability and efficiency of logistics in short and local food supply chains (SFSCs) particularly in urban contexts, where logistical challenges are most pronounced. The analysis presents technological and policy innovations like electro mobility, biofuels, retrofitting, digital platforms and urban mobility tools as interconnected solutions. The analysis proposes an integrated framework where clean transport, digital tools, and supportive policies work together. Public authorities are seen as active facilitators, using infrastructure, training, and planning tools (SUMPs Low Emission Zones).
Contribution to SDGs
Sdg9, Sdg13, Sdg3, Sdg11
Contribution to the Programme / EU policies
EuSmartMobilityStrategy, EusairActionPlan, EuCircularEconomy