Towards a strategic vulnerability and resilience analysis framework for sustainable small farmer involvement in short food supply chains (SFSCs)

The economic and social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic again focused the attention on the importance of strategies and practices to secure the sustainability of small farms involved in short food supply chains (SFSCs) following such disruptive activities. The aim of the paper is to examine the role and importance of the vulnerability and resilience predisposition of SFSCs and show the importance of their adaěptive capacities in the face of such catastrophes and disruptions. Some theoretical analysis is offered in analyzing the adaptive capacity of such undertakings. The article interrogates the potential collective protective mechanisms offered by SFSCs to participants in mitigating these risks with the objective to offer perspective on strategies and policies aimed at the management of the sustainability of small farms in SFSCs. Selected methodological approaches suitable not only for identifying the levels of sustainability, resilience, and vulnerability of small farms, but also the importance of their individual determinants, are discussed. This paper identifies this matrix of contributing factors and offers insight into the development of a strategic vulnerability and resilience analysis framework to research and promote sustainable small farmer involvement in SFSCs. Discussions confirm the importance of careful policy considerations and mechanisms when developing vulnerability and resilience analysis frameworks to enhance the adaptive capacities of small farms in navigating toward resilient small farms in inclusive SFSCs.