City Research Online

Abstract

While many assert that food system transformation is needed to address the wicked problems embedded within the industrial food system, few can agree on the objectives, timeline or scope for how such transformation should occur. ”Food Policy Networks” – multi-sector collaborations that are formed to address everyday food systems’ issues – offer diverse possible pathways towards such transformation. In general, scholars agree that the transformative capacity of Food Policy Networks – defined here as their ability to drive structural change rather than performing isolated, issue-specific interventions – is tied to their ability to engage with and shape food policy. However, a significant research gap persists regarding their potential to catalyse food system transformation and where such changes may occur. These criticisms underscore the need for research that adopts dynamic and power-informed perspectives to assess both the productive and disruptive potential of Food Policy Networks. In this paper, we apply a policy cycle approach to deepen understandings of the role and deployment of policy interventions by Food Policy Networks to advance food system transformation. We draw on interviews with representatives from 67 Food Policy Networks to provide a globally comparative perspective of Food Policy Networks and their impacts along the policy cycle. By utilising a policy cycle perspective and by drawing on diverse global approaches, this paper opens new discussions around power, tools and policies that Food Policy Networks.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Population Health & Policy
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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