ISSN: 2046-1887 (online) 2046-1879 (print)

Practical Action Publishing produced the magazine Food Chain from 1990 to 2003 and in 2011 launched a new international peer-reviewed journal also called Food Chain to share information among researchers, practitioners and policy-makers.

Food Chain is an international journal for all those involved in developing the supply of high-quality foods from ‘farm gate to plate’ and those who use food processing to alleviate poverty and hunger. By bridging the gap between research and practice, we encourage papers written by researchers for the benefit of people who put ideas into practice in the field, and those written by practitioners to inform the need for further research. The content covers all aspects of promoting food chains, from on-farm processing and post-harvest storage, to the operation of small food processing businesses, supply of food processing or analytical equipment, hygiene and quality assurance, marketing, distribution, finance and the place of small-scale processing in the wider business and economic environment.

The content of Food Chain covers all aspects of promoting food chains, from on-farm processing to storage, transportation, food processing businesses, hygiene and quality assurance, marketing, finance and the business environment. Although agriculture and nutrition does not feature per se in the journal, it does include aspects of post-harvest technology, crop quality, and nutrition/food security and food relief operations, where these impact on local food processors.

Each issue of Food Chain includes long in-depth articles of up to 5000 words; shorter technical reports and case studies of 3000 words; and the following regular features: Crossfire – a debate on topical issues argued out between two experts- debates include: 'The growth of supermarkets in developing countries is to the detriment of small-scale producers'; 'GM foods help small-scale producers expand their market share'; 'The local food movement and concern about food miles in “the North” are harming the livelihoods of small-scale producers in “the South” ; 'Reviews of publications that are of interest to those involved in small-scale food processing and food supply management; Diary of events over the next six months.