**1. Introduction**

In the last few decades, the unsustainable operation of the global food system could be the reason for the rising level of food waste and food safety hazards, and it could also increase environmental pollution. We also must emphasize the vulnerable situation of supply chain members since the distribution of added value is not fair. To mitigate these problems and provide more environmentally friendly and sustainable production, numerous alternative ways have been developed in agriculture. Fisk [1] published the ancestor of sustainable consumption in 1973. It was the concept of responsible consumption. The author defined it as the efficient and rational use of resources with respect to the global human population. This definition concentrated only on the supply side, but the article noted that the production serves the consumers' needs and wants. Nearly twenty years later, one of the first appearances of sustainable consumption was published in 1987 by the Brundtland report [2]. There are various definitions of this idea. One of the most comprehensive was published by Ofstad [3]. He identified sustainable consumption as a lifestyle that focuses on basic needs. At the same time, it minimizes pollution, toxic materials, natural resources and emissions of waste and does not jeopardize the needs of the future generation [4,5]. Some academic researchers emphasize the contrary position and meaning of sustainability and consumption [6,7]. According to Vermeir and Verbeke [8], sustainable consumption involves a decision-making process that accounts not only for the consumer's social responsibility but also for the individual's needs and wants. Nowadays, consumers appreciate trust a great deal, especially in the food sector [9,10]. Many stakeholders can be found in the traditional food supply chain, which could also obstruct the products' effective traceability. One way that traceability and trust could be increased,

and the environmental damage decreased, is the application of a Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC). An SFSC embodies an alternative to the standardized industrial food supply, where the distance between consumer and producer is shorter (often face-to-face interaction), and the information flow between the participants is smoother. We can also find environmental, social and economic reasons why this alternative could be favorable, but the SFSC has two main functions: to stress the key position of producers in sustainable agriculture and to emphasize the consumers' role in sustainable consumption [11,12]. Since the supply depends on the consumers' needs in the "food democracy", the new consumption habits could change food supply systems [13]. tion), and the information flow between the participants is smoother. We can also find environmental, social and economic reasons why this alternative could be favorable, but the SFSC has two main functions: to stress the key position of producers in sustainable agriculture and to emphasize the consumers' role in sustainable consumption [11,12]. Since the supply depends on the consumers' needs in the "food democracy", the new consumption habits could change food supply systems [13]. **2. Materials and Methods** 

To achieve a wide range of articles in line with SFSCs, a comprehensive literature

stakeholders can be found in the traditional food supply chain, which could also obstruct the products' effective traceability. One way that traceability and trust could be increased, and the environmental damage decreased, is the application of a Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC). An SFSC embodies an alternative to the standardized industrial food supply, where the distance between consumer and producer is shorter (often face-to-face interac-

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### **2. Materials and Methods** review was conducted using five significant online databases: Scopus, Web of Science,

To achieve a wide range of articles in line with SFSCs, a comprehensive literature review was conducted using five significant online databases: Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, ProQuest and Science Direct. The keyword used was "short food supply chain". This expression had to be included in the title, abstract or keywords. The involved article had to contain empirical data. The search was restricted to studies in English. We also included reports published by the European Commission, FAO, United Nations and Strength2Food (an EU-funded project). None of the online databases, such as FADN Public Database, Eurostat or OECD, had related information. Our review could not be extended with the articles' references since the involved publications principally identified a particular phenomenon. From the online databases, 496 items fulfilled the above-defined requirements. The procedure for the systematic review was managed by the online platform Rayyan [14], applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. PRISMA is a concept used to sum up why the studied review was written, what methodology was used and what the authors found [15]. The original concept was published in 2009 [16]. However, the idea was extended in 2020 [17]. Based on these, the applied multi-round screening can be seen in Figure 1. JSTOR, ProQuest and Science Direct. The keyword used was "short food supply chain". This expression had to be included in the title, abstract or keywords. The involved article had to contain empirical data. The search was restricted to studies in English. We also included reports published by the European Commission, FAO, United Nations and Strength2Food (an EU-funded project). None of the online databases, such as FADN Public Database, Eurostat or OECD, had related information. Our review could not be extended with the articles' references since the involved publications principally identified a particular phenomenon. From the online databases, 496 items fulfilled the above-defined requirements. The procedure for the systematic review was managed by the online platform Rayyan [14], applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. PRISMA is a concept used to sum up why the studied review was written, what methodology was used and what the authors found [15]. The original concept was published in 2009 [16]. However, the idea was extended in 2020 [17]. Based on these, the applied multi-round screening can be seen in Figure 1.

**Figure 1.** Pathway of the systematic literature review based on the PRISMA concept. Source: Own elaboration. **Figure 1.** Pathway of the systematic literature review based on the PRISMA concept. Source: Own elaboration.

To exclude duplicates and irrelevant studies, the aforementioned online platform was used. After excluding the duplicates, 366 studies provided the base of our systematic To exclude duplicates and irrelevant studies, the aforementioned online platform was used. After excluding the duplicates, 366 studies provided the base of our systematic literature review. The initial screening was based on the abstract and performed independently by both authors. The conflicting outcomes were discussed. This first round resulted

in 130 items being excluded. Then, the remaining 236 articles were deeply analyzed to identify the different directions within the examined topic since SFSC became a buzzword and many poorly related areas have been linked to the main idea. The share of different directions within the main topics were the following: consumer attitude: 63, SWOT: 57, other: 55, producer participation: 39, state intervention: 22. buzzword and many poorly related areas have been linked to the main idea. The share of different directions within the main topics were the following: consumer attitude: 63, SWOT: 57, other: 55, producer participation: 39, state intervention: 22. These articles were mostly published in high-ranked journals, which confirms the scientific demand on this topic. Before analyzing the chosen primary studies, demo-

These articles were mostly published in high-ranked journals, which confirms the scientific demand on this topic. Before analyzing the chosen primary studies, demographic and sociographic information were sought in the selected articles to obtain those rarely published papers that researched the consumers' attitudes and characteristics. The final set of relevant studies contained 23 academic publications and 1 study from the grey literature to cover all the related publications until 11 April 2022. graphic and sociographic information were sought in the selected articles to obtain those rarely published papers that researched the consumers' attitudes and characteristics. The final set of relevant studies contained 23 academic publications and 1 study from the grey literature to cover all the related publications until 11 April 2022. As mentioned earlier, in the last few years, the topic of sustainability has been

As mentioned earlier, in the last few years, the topic of sustainability has been stressed more and more. While global warming and its consequences were mostly researched earlier, the same can be seen with the topic of sustainability nowadays, since many more articles have formulated suggestions for the industry and agriculture in the last few years than before. However, it could also be distorted through the growing number of publications (Figure 2). stressed more and more. While global warming and its consequences were mostly researched earlier, the same can be seen with the topic of sustainability nowadays, since many more articles have formulated suggestions for the industry and agriculture in the last few years than before. However, it could also be distorted through the growing number of publications (Figure 2).

literature review. The initial screening was based on the abstract and performed independently by both authors. The conflicting outcomes were discussed. This first round re-

to identify the different directions within the examined topic since SFSC became a

**Figure 2.** The identified SFSC studies by year of publication (the base of the study without duplications). Source: Own elaboration; the collection covers studies available on 11 April 2022. **Figure 2.** The identified SFSC studies by year of publication (the base of the study without duplications). Source: Own elaboration; the collection covers studies available on 11 April 2022.

### **3. Results and Discussion 3. Results and Discussion**

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