Local, Mixed and Global Organic Tomato Supply Chains: Some Lessons Learned from a Real-World Case Study

Abstract

This chapter presents the evaluation of three organic tomato supply chains in Catalonia (Spain): the Local and Global supply chains, and a Mixed supply chain. The evaluation is based on a set of multidimensional indicators derived from different narratives: Commodity, Environmental and Livelihoods. In so doing, we identified the main challenges when implementing the supply chain approach, and propose some recommendations for its application. The supply chain approach proves to be very useful in identifying the critical points at which to intervene and/or improve the performance of food supply chains, but presents some disadvantages when it is used to compare the sustainability of food supply chains. Finally, we show that organic production is not enough to achieve a sustainable food provision system, and the context and the food supply chain in which organic food is commercialised also determine the sustainability of organic food production.