Abstract
A strong need is addressed with the project entitled "Development of a reference framework to evaluate the technical, economic, social and environmental performance of short food supply chains and support their development". This need has been expressed at various occasions but also by actors of rural development such as short circuit advisors, administration, banks, and local authorities. The existence of sound references enables all project holders to make appropriate choices in line with their goals, and enables actors of rural development to offer relevant interventions and advice. The project originality lies in its widening of the analytical framework, choosing a more systemic approach than most previous research taking into account only economic and work dimensions. It made it possible to establish new reference indicators, especially in the social, environmental and economic field. In addition, it is through this project that all actors involved in reference production and short circuits in general, from various circles and with various experiences, were brought together and met for the first time.