SMALLDERS : Smart Models for Agrifood Local vaLue chain based on Digital technologies for Enabling covid-19 Resilience and Sustainability

Context The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more resilient food systems to effectively and efficiently address supply chain disruptions. More specifically, this global disaster has emphasised the problems of smallholders in the Mediterranean area, who generally operate in challenging conditions: infrastructures (e.g., roads, distribution channels) are often inadequate, access to credit is complicated, business growth opportunities are minimal. Due to the health emergency, many governments have taken drastic measures intending to limit the spread of the infection, resulting in the closure of the main distribution channels of smallholders, such as bars, restaurants, school canteens, open-air markets. In addition, travel restrictions and COVID-19 symptoms have severely limited the availability of the workforce in many fields. As a result, the amount of food wasted has grown enormously because, in some cases, it was not possible to complete the harvesting activities on time. In contrast, the goods remained in finished goods warehouses until they perished due to the multiple restrictions in the distribution stage. The SMALLDERS' platform aims to address all these issues. Objective and contents The overall aim of the project is to carry out basic research as well as industrial research and development activities to identify a framework that encompasses innovative strategies, methodologies, technologies and business models to increase the resilience of small-scale farms in the Mediterranean area, to effectively and efficiently face unexpected and disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will also aim to bring technological improvements to reduce water consumption, improve storage conditions, and reduce food waste. The SMALLDERS project-specific objectives (SOs) are the following SO1: Increasing saleability and perceived value of smallholder products to be resilient and address any supply chain disruption in the event of a crisis SO2: Increasing smallholder products traceability, quality, safety and perceived value SO3: Helping smallholders to cope with the shortage of workforce due to the COVID-like crisis SO4: Helping smallholders to increase the farm production efficiency SO5: Increasing the Multi-Capital Sustainability of Smallholders processes Expected impact and results Increase profitability facing COVID-like crises: the use of blockchain technology will increase the transparency of the supply chain, then the safety and traceability of food products, therefore justifying the price to the final consumer. As for production costs, it will be possible to evaluate multiple scenarios using simulation models and quickly take countermeasures in case of inefficiencies. Moreover, the smallholder will choose the most convenient freight transport company day-by-day based on the routes made available on the platform. Greater efficiency and sustainability in processes and use of resources: the platform will provide a dashboard layer, characterised by multi-capital sustainability indicators, which will make it possible to monitor the performance of the agri-food chain under multiple scenarios. Increase mitigation capability: supply-side disruptions are limited as the platform facilitates supply-demand matching in the job market. Demand-side disruptions are faced by creating consortia of smallholders and/or using an e-commerce channel to sell directly to consumers. Decrease in food loss: the SMALLDERS platform allows smallholders to provide and/ or request a workforce. Therefore, it will be possible to organise and carry out the activities of harvesting, processing, and producing agri-food goods in the best possible way, reducing potential food losses. Furthermore, production inefficiencies will be facilitated through storage monitoring and production tracking via QR Code technology.