Food Systems Transformation: What’s in the policy toolbox?
A new report mapping policy levers for transformation has been published as part of the UKRI Transforming UK Food Systems Programme, a £47.5M research programme led by GFS in partnership with BBSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, Defra, DHSC, PHE, Innovate UK and the FSA.
The report, published alongside a case study focussing on the lever of public procurement, presents an overarching map of policy levers, a simplified categorisation of types of policy lever, and analysis of policy lever interactions, offering a common ‘toolbox’ organising framework to be used to support cross-system conversations, research and action.
The case study report utilises this toolbox approach and applies it to the policy lever of Food Public Procurement to explore its potential role in food systems transformation.
Download the Map of Policy Levers (PDF, 2 MB)
Policy Toolbox
Dr Kelly Parsons, lead author of the reports and research fellow in the University of Hertfordshire’s Food Systems & Policy Research Group, said:
“By mapping out policy levers in the form of a food systems transformation policy toolbox, and illustrating how different levers can enable or constrain one another, we aim to support would-be transformers – be they policymakers, researchers, or other practitioners – to understand, utilise, and maximise the effectiveness of, the wide range of levers which can be employed to create healthier, more sustainable and fairer food systems”
“Along with inspiring the kind of bold innovative policy design which a transformative approach will demand, a common toolbox framework can also enable comparison of policy approaches taken by countries and cities, and be used to understand the overall coherence of food systems policies in a more systemic way.”
Responding to calls for action
Professor David Barling, co-author of the reports and head of the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management Research at the University of Hertfordshire said:
“This year’s World Food Day will echo the recent UN Food Systems Summit’s call for action to transform the way the world produces and consumes food, and these reports offer guidance and tools for those looking to respond to these calls through policy”
Guy Poppy Director of the ‘Transforming UK food systems’ programme said:
“The food system is complex and so is the policy environment surrounding it. This important analysis of policies and policy-owners offers insight into what needs considering/changing if we are to transform the UK food system for healthy people and a healthy environment. Consideration of successful policies from across the world and a detailed case-study on the role of procurement in food systems begins to offer insights into what might be possible and what may work as we move to ensure the food system helps address climate change, health inequalities and improve the environment – each one being a significant challenge. Dr Kelly Parsons and Prof David Barling have produced an excellent analysis and interpretation based on their significant experience in the field of food policy.”
Download the Summary (PDF, 1 MB)
Food Systems Transformation: What’s in the policy toolbox?
This report from the ‘Transforming UK Food Systems Programme’ presents an overarching map of policy levers, a simplified categorisation of types of policy lever, and analysis of policy lever interactions, offering a common ‘toolbox’ organising framework to be used to support cross-system conversations, research and action.
What would a transformational approach to Food Public Procurement look like?
This report, produced as part of a project for the ‘Transforming UK Food Systems Programme’ to explore policy levers for food systems transformation, presents a case study on food public procurement (FPP), examined through the lens of food system transformation.