The re-localization of agriculture is the rapprochement between producers and consumers. In this context, the root “local” in “re-localization” is synonymous with “proximity”.

The re-localization of agriculture favours short food supply chains in order to promote farmers’ economic autonomy. Therefore, the major part of the production profit goes to the farmer thanks to the suppression of many intermediaries. In addition to production, the farmer can carry out all or part of the processing and marketing, within the territory where the final product will be consumed. A reinvestment of the added value in the territory is therefore possible with agricultural projects or citizens, for instance with the creation of producers’ shops. This enables a reinforcement of the viability of farms and local businesses, a boost of the municipalities and an increase of the territories’ attractiveness. The reconciliation of “cities” and “countryside” enabled by relocation increases production transparency towards consumers and the creation of a strong farmer-consumer social fabric.

By bringing together actors from the agricultural and food sector (farmers but also cooperatives, slaughterhouses …) with other actors as consumers, re-localization contributes to local development. re-localized agricultural and food systems therefore question the forms of food reappropriation by all the actors and the forms of cooperation between actors resulting in a local food governance,.

In terms of agroecology, the re-localization of agriculture answers many territorial issues. It enables the revaluation of the territory by mobilizing its ecological, economic and social assets. It favours a viable food system, on a smaller scale and therefore less subject to the influence of world or national market prices. Peasant agriculture advocated by some agroecological currents is part of the principle of relocalizing agriculture, with the aim of making the farmers more autonomous and in direct contact with the consumers.