Towards food policies that support healthy and sustainable consumption

The report aims to help policymakers and stakeholders in Member States considering the development of
demand-side food policies by providing a better overview of relevant and effective policies, useful processes
as well as success factors and barriers. The case studies:

• provide a brief overview of how food policies and priorities have evolved in each country
• explain the extent to which each country has worked towards and agreed on a national food strategy and
  action plan and the extent to which it is a more holistic strategy or focused on specific issues and measures
• describe who was involved in the development of relevant food policies and what lessons can be learned
  from stakeholder involvement
• describe a selection of policies, value chain interventions or policymaking processes that can serve as
  inspiration or positive examples for different aspects of an integrated food policy
• refer to what is known about the impact of the measures and discuss what lessons can be transferred
  to other countries. 

The focus of these case studies is on demand-side food policies, i.e. policies that have a direct or indirect
impact on food practices through changes in the food environment. Policies fostering such food environments
not only enhance food-related competences but also improve availability, affordability and appeal of healthy
and sustainable options. This includes reducing food waste and promoting healthy and sustainable diets. 

Sweden’s National Food Strategy emphasizes competitiveness and food production but also includes sustainability, however, its impact has been limited in terms of environmental objectives and healthy diets. Stronger common vision among government actors could support a more coherent food policy.

The paper delves into opportunities and solutions hidden in changing food consumption patterns, emerging demand-side policy trends and necessary national and EU-level frameworks for effective food policies.