Farmers’ e-commerce platforms in China

In China, the development of e-commerce platforms has played a major role in the growth of short supply chains for farm produce. This is presented as an ecological and reliable alternative to industrial farming products, which have been affected by numerous food scandals. While the link between digital technology and short supply chains is beginning to be documented in countries of the global North, the Chinese context is more specific. It is characterized by the coexistence of subsistence farming, a growing demand for organic products via short supply chains in cities with tens of millions of inhabitants, and the omnipresence of digital platforms for everyday consumer services. This article is based on an ethnographic and digital survey of short food supply chains in south-west China. It shows how online interactions are instrumental in rebuilding trust in food; they are fostering the emergence of a new profession of young intermediaries who are returning to the land and using digital tools to promote agroecology.