In Austria, an EAFRD funded project has been developed in order to encourage the modernisation of the European agri-food sector as well as the direct sale approaches. The project led by the Austrian Chambers of Agriculture together with experts from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the representatives of consumers and professional organisations, included the participation of six Austrian regions (the provinces of Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria and Vienna).
“Goodies from the farm” is a project aiming at drawing closer consumers and local farms thanks to the creation of a database of the agri-food services available throughout the countryside: using the project’s website or its smart phone app, people are able to know where to find bread, meat, dairy, fruit or honey from the 1600 local farms involved. This high tech project provides consumers with information on the retail outlets location and opening hours, updated information on the different products currently on sale and navigation facilities to better reach the food product they are looking for. Besides, with the app, people receive a notification on their smart phone when they are close-by a participating sale point.
The goals of the project were to support the economy in a sustainable way and to bring social and environmental benefits. Indeed, by reducing the food distribution channel, the firms involved in this project will improve their income. And by working together, local, agricultural, touristic and food supply sectors can develop new ideas to attract new customers. In addition, “Goodies from the farm” is a way to protect the environment by decreasing food transport, and aims at creating a human relationship between local food producers and consumers.
Users were very satisfied by the project’s services. As a result, “Goodies from the farm” is currently exploring how more businesses can be involved and is trying to constantly adapt its mobile app to the evolution of technology.
This is a summary of a Good practice published by the European Network for Rural Development (project examples 2007-2013).
11 November 2014
