The Way Forward in the Current and Post-Farm to Fork Strategy Era

The Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy, aimed at reshaping EU food systems towards sustainability, represents a new departure point for a change in the food system, aiming to transcend the traditionally sectoral and narrow scope of existing agri-food policies. However, its potential to empower small-scale farmers and foster the development of Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) initiatives remains questionable. The Chapter examines the F2F Strategy, the legislative initiatives targeting small farmers under its Action Plan, and its interplay with the 2023 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The central question guiding our research in this Chapter is: ‘What is the future for SFSC regulation in the current and post-Farm to Fork Strategy Era?’. Our objective is to identify points of convergence and divergence, highlighting the missed opportunities for SFSC operators within the current framework and delineating a possible scenario for the future. In our concluding remarks, we speculate on the post-Farm to Fork Strategy era, proposing the development of a ‘Reconciled F2F Agenda’. This agenda would seek to harmonise the diverse interests of all food system stakeholders and address the needs of small farmers operating at the local level through harmonised and tailored legal actions.