Food systems are significant integrators across public health, environmental, agricultural, economic and social protection policies amongst others. Policies across sectors can be contradictory with significantly increased efficiency and cost saving attained with greater policy coherence. 

Transformative potential of policy actions is realised when implemented as contextually appropriate bundles of mutually reinforcing actions. Governments can enhance their ability to effectively bundle, sequence, and prioritise interventions through institutional mechanisms that foster cross-sectoral collaboration—such as coordination between ministries—and by partnering more closely with research organisations. 

Cross-sectoral coalitions including actors from public institutions, private sector, and civil society can allow various actors with diverging interests and perspectives to negotiate more inclusive, viable, and realistic food systems pathways. An example would be to establish food systems science-policy hubs at national level that link researchers, parliamentarians, youth innovators, and civil society to co-interpret data and inform responsive policies. Ensure that these coalitions are supported by data accessible to civil society, local governments, and parliaments to allow for accountability, inclusive decision-making, and effective oversight of food system transformation efforts. 

Effective food systems transformation requires political leadership to prioritise coordinated, intersectoral policy actions that extend beyond food systems themselves. Governments can systematically integrate agriculture, environment, health and nutrition, infrastructure, energy, growth, and equity into food system policies. Strengthening governance requires robust legislative oversight and transparent budget tracking mechanisms. Parliaments play a critical role in holding ministries accountable for food and nutrition outcomes—particularly when monitoring frameworks are codified in law and budget allocations are aligned with clearly defined performance indicators.

Implementing policy actions for food systems transformation requires willingness to reprioritise current resource spending. This can happen through bundling of activities that already exist, repurposing subsidies to agricultural sectors to align with health and environmental objectives, health directed taxation of foods, and alignment of investments with climate-, nature/biodiversity-, and economic agendas. Shifts in agricultural subsidies or value-added tax can reduce costs to the healthcare sector, increase health benefits, and lower climate impacts. By aligning investments, governments can work more strategically to integrate and coordinate multiple agendas towards public goods.

Brazil’s Food Systems and Climate Framework was developed through participatory, cross-sectoral collaboration to align policies across sectors and government levels. It sets strategic pathways for transforming food systems, including agroecological transitions, sustainable land use, water security, sociobiodiversity, resilient cities, healthy food environments, reduced food loss and waste, and investments in science, technology, and innovation, while recognizing food supply as a national sovereignty issue.

Ethiopia’s integrated food and nutrition strategy unites government, civil society, private sector, and international partners. Through inclusive policy dialogues and legal assessments, they are establishing a Food System and Nutrition Council to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination, amplify community voices, ensure accountability, and accelerate efforts to reduce undernutrition and achieve zero hunger by 2030.

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy aims to transform the EU food system, secure Europe’s food future, achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal and set a global standard for food transformation. Its latest reform focuses on sustainability objectives, providing more targeted support to smaller farms and allowing greater flexibility for EU countries to adapt measures to local conditions. The Vision for Agriculture and Food, sets a roadmap to build a competitive, resilient, and attractive agri-food sector for current and future generations. It aims to improve farmers’ income, reinforce the capacity to face global competition and shocks, and develop a future-proof sector that works within planetary boundaries and values food by re-establishing the link between farming, food, and territories. 

Mexico has adopted a new General Law on Adequate and Sustainable Nutrition (Ley general de Alimentación Adecuada y Sostenible) to address NCDs and promote environmental sustainability. This law translates the Mexican constitutional right to nutritious, sufficient, and quality food in Article 4 into a practical legislative framework. It enshrines the human right to food, elevating it to include healthy and sustainable nutrition.

Nepal’s National Pathway for Food System Transformation, co-developed with diverse government and non-government actors, comprises six Action Tracks. Together, these actions aim to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food system for current and future generations.

Switzerland’s National Pathway for Food Systems Transformation mobilizes government, cities, private sector, academia, and civil society to achieve sustainable food systems. It uses a cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach. Key 2030 goals include 30% of the population consuming a healthy diet, halving food loss and waste, reducing food-based GHG emissions by 30%, and increasing farmers engaged in sustainability by 30%.

Tanzania’s National Pathway for Food Systems Pathway, developed through a multistakeholder and multisectoral process, has embedded accountability through a National Steering Committee chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office. This model demonstrates the importance of anchoring food systems coordination in high-level political structures, with strong parliamentary engagement.

The UK government's new food strategy, launched in July 2025, introduces the "Good Food Cycle" framework, aiming to transform the nation's food system. This strategy outlines ten priority outcomes to enhance food security, promote healthier diets, and foster sustainable supply chains. It emphasizes collaboration across sectors, including agriculture, health, and education, to create a resilient and equitable food environment for all citizens.

Vietnam’s 2030 food system transformation aims to ensure food and nutrition security, raise rural incomes, reduce poverty, protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and advance the SDGs. Key goals include tripling rural incomes, cutting stunting under 15% and wasting under 3% in children, boosting exports above USD 30 billion, expanding organic farming, reducing postharvest losses,, and cutting GHG emissions by 10%, while enhancing disaster resilience and public health.