Moving the needle on transforming food systems: What's blocking progress in Europe and the UK and where investments can help
Aubert, P-M., Reynolds, C. 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1073-7394, Headings, R. , Zurek, M., Garnett, T. & Harding, A. (2026).
Moving the needle on transforming food systems: What's blocking progress in Europe and the UK and where investments can help (10.25383/city.34057083).
Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford.
Abstract
Food systems across Europe and the UK are falling short on health, climate and equity outcomes. This study combines interviews and workshops with changemakers across seven countries and the EU level with bibliographic mapping, a researcher survey and a scoping review to identify barriers to transformation and priorities for investment. Findings highlight five recurring barriers: entrenched power, difficult policy environments, polarisation, fragmentation, and evidence that is poorly suited to implementation. We identify four investment priorities: more applied research, stronger links between evidence and decision-making, long-term collaboration, and more effective narratives. These priorities support targeted, longer-term and transformative funding pathways.
| Publication Type: | Report |
|---|---|
| Publisher Keywords: | food system transformation, evidence-to-action, dietary shift |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences 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: |
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
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