The Political Economy of Food System Transformation in the European Union

The European Commission put forward its Green Deal proposal in December 2019 and its Farm to Fork strategy for a more sustainable food system in May 2020. Ambitious objectives were set, and there was broad political support for the general direction of travel. However, significant pushback has emerged when specific steps toward these objectives are proposed. This chapter explores the political economy of the transition toward a more sustainable food system in the EU. Among the issues highlighted are the success of new players in shaping the agricultural policy agenda, the top-down nature of the initial proposals, tensions between the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability, the challenges of altering consumer behavior, the need for greater coherence with trade policy, and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The effects of the invasion have enabled some actors to refocus food policy on increasing food production in the name of food security. Political leadership will be required to avoid unraveling plans for food system transformation in the EU.