Author: Abigail Whittier
Short Summary
Open Food France is the French branch of the international network Open Food Network, founded in 2015. Since 2020, the platform has been managed by a cooperative society of collective interest (SCIC) named CoopCircuits. The vision of both of these platforms is to create a decentralized system, reconnecting producers and consumers, composed of multiple independent producers and distributors to link the territories, though they may be diverse by their nature. Connecting these multiple parts to each other allows them to help each other and cooperate as soon as it is relevant. To reach that goal, both Open Food France and the Coop Circuits aim to be open, co-managed, and accessible food distribution platforms.Website address: coopcircuits.fr
Location: France
CoopCircuits
source
Profile
To support the transition from mass distribution to distribution by the masses, Open Food France and CoopCircuits make short-circuit products accessible to as many people as possible, ensuring that these “alternatives” become “the norm.” CoopCircuits is dedicated to supporting efficient operation (e.g. order processing, daily management efficiency, etc) and the multiplication of short circuits in France. The goal of CoopCircuits is for any short circuit organizer, regardless of its model, to have access to open-source management tools and the support needed to operate effectively and ensure sustainability. To achieve these objectives, they develop the following activities:- Provision of an e-commerce platform allowing the creation of online shops adapted to any type of short circuit organizer, and the management of sales from field to plate.
- Support, advice and training for organisers of short circuits, at start-up or during the course of activity, to make them more efficient by sharing knowledge and experience
- Provision of custom tools integration (connection to accounting tool, mailing tool, etc.)
- Since 2020, Open Food France has been concentrating on operational support for the creation and development of short circuits in France through three key missions:
- Promote the sharing of information and the co-resolution of problems between project leaders within a learning community, by providing a forum for discussion, detailed case studies of short-circuits (which are intended to be concrete and inspiring), and summary documents on good practices. By allowing sharing of problems and best practices, a space is created allowing for co-construction.
- Support project leaders on a daily basis, in particular through operational guides and tools, and individual support.
- Bridge the gap between networks of short-circuit experts and project leaders, a commitment that is reflected in particular by the important contribution of Open Food France to the RMT Alimentation Locale, the network of experts approved by the Ministry of Agriculture dedicated to the improvement of knowledge on short-circuits
Governance
Their global network of local authorities functions as a collective of affiliates, working together as defined in their global engagement. Governance and funding oversight is provided by a not-for-profit organization called the Open Food Foundation.Governance and finance are managed by the Governance and Finance Circle, which reports to the Board of Directors of the Open Food Foundation.
Friends & Partners
Finances
The Open Food Network chooses not to receive investment from entities that require ownership of the products that they create as a community for use as part of the Commons. Instead, they receive funding from a wide range of partners who support the aims of the Open Food Network, as well as from crowdfunding, individual donations, and volunteering. Volunteers can contribute to the open-source software of the platform (e.g. system administration, testing, UX design, etc), or help in customer support, communications, marketing, and fundraising.Origin Story
_See Also
- Other commons categories that are related to this one's, or specific similar examples