Newsletter December FAB'LIM (1/2)
Contributor
Organization
FAB'LIM
Name
Hugo Juillard
Your article for the newsletter
Language
French
Long title
Building the pilot of Montpellier : optimised food short supply last mile logistics for food solidarity
Theme
- Logistic
- Pilot site
- Short food supply chain
- Last mile logistic
Summary (500 words)
From February to november 2024 FAB'LIM worked on defining the framework of a pilot food short supply devivery from the food platform of Montpellier (Market of National Interest of Montpellier) to downtown. The solution we want to test is about optimising the last mile logitics for small food producers (especially farmers in process of setting up) and food solidarity organisations that can't access to profesional logistics services for now. Below, we give more details on the construction of the pilot.
Detailed content
From February to november 2024 FAB'LIM worked on defining the framework of a pilot food short supply devivery from the food platform of Montpellier (Market of National Interest of Montpellier) to downtown. The solution we want to test is about optimising the last mile logitics for small food producers (especially farmers in process of setting up) and food solidarity organisations that can't access to profesional logistics services for now. Below, we give more details on the construction of the pilot.
Bio GNC : the most relevant biofuel for our need
In the first month of the project, we have been consulting experts about mobility energy transition to identify the most relevant biofuel for the vehicle of our pilot (GRT Gaz, Cap Energie). We also used an online tool (“Verdir ma flotte”) designed to help transporters to make the best decision when choosing a vehicle for a specific need (based on price and environmental criterias). All those consultations gave us the same answer : the best choice was bio compressed natural gas (Bio GNC). It’s a second generation biofuel, which means it is not competing with food production crops. We also identified a supply station near the MIN of Montpellier (2 km) and it’s possible to buy Bio GNC locally produced.
Looking for our pilot tester : local farmers and food solidarity organisations
To be transparent, we decided to select our pilot testors (producers and distributors) with a call for tender procedure based on specific criterias : The pilot tester must be organisations without any access to private logistics services for the last mile delivery : mostly local producers and food solidarity associations.
Before launching the call for tender we started field work to identify potential pilot testor. Vrac & Cocinas, a food solidarity association, is one of the potential tester identified. This organisation gives to all its members the opportunity to do grouped purchasing (mostly food products but not only) avoiding the cost of intermediaries and packaging. Based on a fair-price model, members pay a different price depending on their economic situation. This association organizes 5 deliveries a month, from the MIN platform to several distribution spots in the city of Montpellier. They are using their own vehicle. In the future, they would like to delegate their logistics to the MIN as it’s a complex work they are not specialized in.
Regarding producers, we identified some group of farmers (in process of setting up) and profesional integration organisations that could be interested in mutualising their logistics to supply Montpellier.
The next steps are the following (january - february) :
- To lauch the call for tender to select for a transport service
- To lauch the call for tender to select the testers of the pilot
Bio GNC : the most relevant biofuel for our need
In the first month of the project, we have been consulting experts about mobility energy transition to identify the most relevant biofuel for the vehicle of our pilot (GRT Gaz, Cap Energie). We also used an online tool (“Verdir ma flotte”) designed to help transporters to make the best decision when choosing a vehicle for a specific need (based on price and environmental criterias). All those consultations gave us the same answer : the best choice was bio compressed natural gas (Bio GNC). It’s a second generation biofuel, which means it is not competing with food production crops. We also identified a supply station near the MIN of Montpellier (2 km) and it’s possible to buy Bio GNC locally produced.
Looking for our pilot tester : local farmers and food solidarity organisations
To be transparent, we decided to select our pilot testors (producers and distributors) with a call for tender procedure based on specific criterias : The pilot tester must be organisations without any access to private logistics services for the last mile delivery : mostly local producers and food solidarity associations.
Before launching the call for tender we started field work to identify potential pilot testor. Vrac & Cocinas, a food solidarity association, is one of the potential tester identified. This organisation gives to all its members the opportunity to do grouped purchasing (mostly food products but not only) avoiding the cost of intermediaries and packaging. Based on a fair-price model, members pay a different price depending on their economic situation. This association organizes 5 deliveries a month, from the MIN platform to several distribution spots in the city of Montpellier. They are using their own vehicle. In the future, they would like to delegate their logistics to the MIN as it’s a complex work they are not specialized in.
Regarding producers, we identified some group of farmers (in process of setting up) and profesional integration organisations that could be interested in mutualising their logistics to supply Montpellier.
The next steps are the following (january - february) :
- To lauch the call for tender to select for a transport service
- To lauch the call for tender to select the testers of the pilot
Work package
WP2