Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) provide a dependable substitute for conventional supply chains, as their food reflects the characteristics of “local”, “natural”, “healthy” and “reliable”. For the family farmer, the short chains constitute anexcellent way of diversifying their produce, gaining higher added value and thus warranting steadier revenues. This paper thus aims to discern the distinguishing features that the short chains offer, in general, to the family farm. To accomplish this, a literature review was performed to study the works done and approaches conducted on the short chains in the academy, in terms of family farm, and identify their specifications. Positive characteristics related to family farmers were recognizable in comparison with short chains. This article emphasized the significance and need for future research, as well as the necessity for a more extensive exploration of the subject of short chains, focusing attention on this sector, and pinpointing the determinants to be developed in the market.

Resumo: Os resultados do Censo Agropecuário 2017, divulgados no final de 2019 pelo IBGE, abriram os debates acerca das características e dos motivos da redução absoluta do contingente de agricultores familiares no Brasil vis-à-vis os números apresentados em 2006. Isso posto, o objetivo do presente artigo é se inserir nessa discussão e contribuir com a mesma a partir da utilização dos microdados da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios – PNAD (de 2006 a 2015) para avaliar a evolução do número de produtores pertencentes à agricultura familiar no país. Os resultados da pesquisa revelaram que a pluriatividade se tornou, em virtude da aplicação dos critérios da Lei da Agricultura Familiar de 2006, um elemento potencial de impedimento de uma parte expressiva das famílias de contas próprias serem classificadas como agricultura familiar, o que contribui para a sua retração nas estatísticas oficiais. Por sua vez, ao lado da agricultura familiar que comercializa parte de sua produção, o trabalho mostra que uma parcela crescente da categoria se dedica a atividades produtivas para o próprio consumo, exigindo políticas públicas de inclusão produtiva e de desenvolvimento rural.

In recent years, local food systems have come to be seen as a new possibility in creating markets for family farming. These systems are based on local production and consumption structures, with a primary focus on sustainability, locality and proximity. It is essential to understand the dynamics of these systems and their impact in the context of family farmers. Thus, this article seeks to identify in the literature the main theories and concepts used in the analysis of “local food systems”, verifying the state of the art of its theoretical elements related to the concept of “family farming” in Brazilian and international academia. The methodological procedure employed was a systematic literature review following the Methodi Ordinatio protocol, covering 30 articles indexed in the search portal Periódicos - Capes and in the database ProQuest. The main approaches included in this theme are presented in a summarized form, as well as the research gaps in the area are identified. The results show that these concepts involve themes such as local rural development, politicization of consumption, sustainability, market niches, agroecology, territorial valorization, and institutional programs.