• The development of a starters’ package to help producers start direct sales of beef on the farm

• Discussion and information events to help producers who are part of the community supported agriculture (CSA) network to deal with their particular problems

• Recruitment efforts to bring producers of organic food together in an organisation

• A step-by-step plan to set up a preparation and sales area for on-farm shops to keep them in line with the law, as well as training days

• A pilot project to create three state-of-the-art farm shops, which would then serve as models

• A new service to allow workers in companies to order farm products online and have them delivered to their workplaces

• Publication of a series of six “biographies” of short food-chain producers to act as an inspiration to others

“The short food-chain strategy plan aims at stimulating initiatives that reduce the distance between producer and customer,” Peeters said. “By supporting projects that can be quickly implemented and that give rapid results for the consumer, we hope to give substance to that strategy.”