Evaluating the effectiveness and impact of short food supply chains requires comprehensive measurement approaches that capture the multiple dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic, social, and health outcomes—while recognising the complex interactions between different components of food systems. Traditional economic metrics, while important, provide incomplete pictures of food system performance and may not consider the SDGs or the rapid challenges in climate change or global emergencies such as Covid19. For our food systems to be truly sufficient, it must consider the longevity of practices for food sustainability for future generations across Europe.
The EU Food System Dashboard is a set of indicators to monitor food sustainability in the EU that gives a comprehensive and cross-sectoral overview of the food supply chain: primary production, food processing, distribution and consumption – and different sustainability aspects such as; climate; pollution; biodiversity; economic viability of business; and food environment including sustainable fishing. [1] The dashboard also identifies best practices and gaps in knowledge.
Environmental indicators represent crucial measures of food system sustainability, encompassing impacts on climate, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and resource efficiency. Carbon footprint assessments compare the greenhouse gas emissions associated with different food production and distribution systems, typically showing significant advantages for local food systems that minimise transportation distances and support sustainable farming practices.
Soil health measurements provide insights into the long-term sustainability of agricultural production systems. Indicators such as soil organic matter content, erosion rates, and biological activity help assess whether farming practices such as lack of crop rotation methods, are maintaining or degrading the soil resources essential for future food production. Local food systems often support farming practices that build soil health through crop rotation, cover cropping, and organic matter additions.
Water quality and usage metrics evaluate the impact of agricultural practices on freshwater resources. Measurements of nutrient runoff, pesticide contamination, and water efficiency help compare the environmental performance of different production systems. Local food systems typically show advantages in water quality protection due to their emphasis on sustainable farming practices and reduced chemical inputs.
Biodiversity assessments examine the impact of food systems on native species, habitat preservation, and agricultural genetic diversity. Measurements include the number of crop varieties grown, presence of beneficial insects and wildlife, and maintenance of natural habitats within agricultural landscapes. Local food systems often support greater biodiversity through diversified farming practices and preservation of heritage crop varieties.
Economic indicators extend beyond simple profitability to include measures of economic resilience, wealth distribution, and community economic development. Local economic multiplier effects quantify how food system investments circulate within communities rather than flowing to distant corporate owners.
Farm economic viability measurements assess whether farming operations provide adequate incomes for farmers while maintaining long-term operational sustainability. Indicators include net farm income, debt-to-asset ratios, and farm succession planning. Local food systems often provide better economic outcomes for small and medium-scale farmers through premium pricing and direct marketing opportunities. The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) exists to support the long-term viability of farms throughout the EU member states that also includes grants for modernising farms and rural development.
Employment metrics examine the job creation potential of different food systems, including the number of jobs per euro of food sales, wage levels, and working conditions. Local food systems typically create more jobs per euro of sales while often providing better working conditions and opportunities for advancement compared to industrial food operations.
Social indicators, now recognised by the CAP, capture the community-building and educational aspects of food systems that are often overlooked in conventional assessments. Measurements take into consideration health and wellbeing of farmers, digital literacy levels, community engagements such as farmers markets and social interaction outside of their farm work; age and gender profile of farmers; the overall providing aclearer picture of the future of sustainable farming.
Food access and security measurements evaluate whether food systems provide adequate nutrition for all community members regardless of income or location. Indicators include the availability of fresh produce in low-income households. Local food systems can contribute to food security through increased food access and community resilience.
Health outcomes provide important measures of food system performance, including nutrition quality of available foods, diet-related health indicators, and environmental health impacts. Local food systems often support better health outcomes through increased access to fresh produce, reduced exposure to agricultural chemicals, and stronger connections between food and health and reducing dependency on fast food due to healthy foods being affordable and easily accessible.
Cultural preservation indicators assess whether food systems maintain traditional food knowledge, crop varieties, and culinary practices. Measurements include the number of heritage varieties grown, participation in traditional food practices, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Local food systems excel in cultural preservation through support for traditional farming practices and heritage crops.
Educational impact assessments examine how food systems contribute to learning and skill development in communities. Indicators include participation in agricultural education programs, food literacy skill development, and awareness of food system issues. Local food systems provide numerous educational opportunities through direct farmer-consumer interactions and hands-on experiences.
Resilience measurements evaluate the ability of food systems to maintain functionality during disruptions and adapt to changing conditions. Indicators include supply chain diversity, local production capacity, emergency food system capabilities, and adaptive management practices. Local food systems often demonstrate greater resilience due to their distributed nature and community-based management.
Participatory evaluation approaches involve community members in defining success indicators and collecting data, ensuring that measurements reflect local values and priorities. These approaches recognise that different communities may prioritise different aspects of food system sustainability while building local capacity for ongoing monitoring and improvement.
Integrated assessment frameworks attempt to capture the multiple dimensions of food system sustainability through composite indicators that balance environmental, economic, social, and health outcomes. These frameworks help decision-makers understand trade-offs and synergies between different objectives while providing comprehensive pictures of food system performance.
Longitudinal studies track changes in food system indicators over time, providing insights into trends and the long-term impacts of different interventions. These studies are particularly valuable for understanding the cumulative effects of local food system development and identifying successful strategies for replication in other communities.
Comparative assessments examine differences between communities with varying levels of local food system development, helping identify the factors that contribute to successful outcomes. These studies provide evidence for the benefits of local food systems while identifying best practices and potential challenges.
The development of appropriate metrics for local food systems continues to evolve as researchers, practitioners, and communities gain experience with different measurement approaches. Success requires metrics that are meaningful to local stakeholders, practical to collect, and useful for guiding decision-making and improvement efforts.
[1] The EU Food System Dashboard. https://datam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/datam/mashup/EU_FOOD_SYSTEM_MONITORING/index.html