Final Reflections—Short Food Supply Chains in the Agri-Food Context: Charting the Future Agenda

In this final Chapter, we synthesise the extensive research conducted throughout the book to address the fundamental question: ‘How can a new conceptualisation of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) in EU regulatory frameworks unlock their full potential to influence and shape the future of sustainable agri-food systems?’. We begin by summarising the main findings of the conceptual and legal analysis, focusing particularly on the role of legal definitions in EU law and their implications for SFSC regulation. We advocate for a flexible approach that strikes a balance between clarity and coherence while allowing for contextual adaptation. Ultimately, we argue that SFSCs can fully realise their potential in shaping sustainable agri-food systems only if a harmonised framework is developed—one that integrates all dimensions of the agri-food system, transcends the traditional separation of the food and agriculture domains in SFSC regulation, and allow for some degree of flexibility.