In the face of global crises such as the pandemic, climate change and geopolitical conflicts, the regionalisation of agri-food systems is gaining increasing importance. The article by Andrea Winter and Brigitte Hilcher in the Critical Agricultural Report 2023 highlights how regional value chains can significantly contribute to resilience, sustainability and crisis preparedness. Short supply chains, regional cycles and strong rural–urban linkages make agriculture less vulnerable to disruptions in global markets while strengthening small and medium-sized farms and food businesses.
Despite strong consumer demand for regional food and clear political commitments, regional products remain largely confined to niche markets. The authors point to structural challenges such as the decline of food processing crafts, missing regional processing infrastructure and fragmented funding frameworks. In this context, regional value chains are identified as a cornerstone of circular economy approaches in agriculture, reconnecting production, processing, marketing and consumption within a region.
To unlock this potential, Winter and Hilcher call for the establishment of a dedicated “Federal Programme for Regional Value Creation”. Such a programme would systematically support regional production and material cycles, foster cooperation along the value chain and help scale up circular economic practices in agriculture. Only through long-term and well-designed policy frameworks, the authors argue, can regionalisation fulfil its role as a “security architecture in a globalised world.”