European citizens and small-scale sustainable farms are taking back control of the food system from large industrial businesses; this is the key message of a report released on Monday by Friends of the Earth Europe. According to the authors, the globalisation of food production has led to a monopoly within the agricultural sector, with just a few companies dominating the supply of seeds, pesticides, processing, logistics and food production. In 2011, four retailers controlled 85% of the German food market and three retailers controlled 90% of the food market in Portugal. Many people do not know what they are actually eating: supply chains are long and complex, leaving consumers with no idea about the origins of their food. However, more and more people are beginning to understand the benefits of responsible eating habits. There is a growing trend across Europe of farmers’ markets, on-farm shops or community supported agriculture (CSA) projects, which are creating new alliances between producers and consumers. These different initiatives are expressions of a growing grassroots movement that promotes local food chains, supplying sustainably-farmed, small-scale food – also known as 'agroecological' farming. The report features five case studies which illustrate different ways in which communities are supporting sustainable producers or re-invigorating local economies. In Italy, the Gruppi di Acquisito Solidale movement consists of groups of consumers who purchase collectively and directly from local producers. Over the past ten years, the number of GAS schemes has grown rapidly and it is estimated that there are now 2,000 groups in Italy, with a total annual turnover of €90 million. In northern Spain, three small-scale chicken farmers set up a chicken cooperative, Avicultura Campesina, with their own slaughterhouse, so that they can guarantee the whole production process from farm to table without any intermediaries. Another example are farmers’ markets in the Czech Republic: Since 2009, when the first farmers’ market was held in the Czech capital, the demand for fresh locally-grown produce has continued to increase. Within two years, there were more than 13 farmers’ markets in Prague. According to Jana Spilkovà, an Assistant Professor at Prague’s Charles University, “They illustrate the start of a noticeably new consumer and producer culture, created as concerns about food consumption, ethics, social diversity, and urban renewal come together.” Friends of the Earth Europe calls on policymakers to recognise the benefits of short food supply chains for people and the environment and to support them in multiple policy areas including health, environment, rural development, trade and agriculture. The report concludes: "Locally-produced and affordable agroecological food should be the backbone of a food system that increases our food sovereignty. The ‘business-as-usual’ model can no longer be considered an option for a well-functioning food system in the future.“ (ab)