This issue of Farming Matters presents a small sample of the many innovative marketing arrangements being developed by both producers and consumers. These experiences generate substantial employment, and also build local food security and food sovereignty. Yet they are often overlooked by policymakers and mainstream development experts who view them as “niche” initiatives, supposedly irrelevant for larger development processes. There is work for researchers here: by analysing and quantifying their impact, they can help policymakers see the real strengths of localisation.