Facilitators of, and barriers to development and implementation of food policies and planning frameworks

The food system stands as a pivotal factor with the potential to significantly impact the well-being of individuals and the planet. Addressing challenges within the food system requires integrated solutions that account for its complex interconnections with other systems and stakeholders. In our increasingly urbanized world, cities are key players in fostering just and sustainable transformations. Their close governance ties with citizens, businesses, and community organizations empower them to craft integrated policies addressing various concerns at different levels, both horizontally (i.e., sectoral and territorial) and vertically (i.e., multi-level governance).

This report aims to offer a deeper insight into the topic of integrated urban food policies (UFPs) with the objective of informing and inspiring pilot actions and experimentation by partner cities. This is achieved by building on the pillars of the CLIC framework (co-benefits, linkages, inclusion, connectivity) and acknowledging the great potential of integrated policy approach to overcome siloed ways of working and fragmented knowledge that often hinder food system transformation.

Following an initial exploration of fundamental concepts tied to food policy integration from around the world, this report analyzes thirty notable selected examples of urban food policies currently in practice. For each of them, it carefully highlights factors and conditions that either facilitate or hinder their progression towards a wider integration of the food system.

As a conclusive endeavor, the report extends its purview by delivering recommendations tailored for both municipalities and Living Lab teams. These recommendations serve as practical guidelines, outlining strategies to ensure comprehensive approaches in the conceptualization and execution of the integration of urban food policies into existing frameworks, thus facilitating a tangible shift towards the establishment of sustainable and integrated urban food systems.