  We outline the main features of nuclei acceleration at supernova remnant
forward shocks, stressing the crucial role played by self-amplified magnetic
fields in determining the energy spectrum observed in this class of sources. In
particular, we show how the standard predictions of the non-linear theory of
diffusive shock acceleration has to be completed with an additional ingredient,
which we propose to be the enhanced velocity of the magnetic irregularities
particles scatter against, to reconcile the theory of efficient particle
acceleration with recent observations of gamma-ray bright supernova remnants.
