Sabrina Arcuri

This paper analyses the regional characteristics of food policy networks (FPNs)—multi-sector stakeholder groups that are responding to social, political and ecological challenges facing food systems. As FPNs have grown in number around the globe, there is an absence of comparative research to understand their diversity across regions. In addition, there is scant understanding of how their placed-based characteristics might complicate the picture of an ‘urban food policy council’, raising questions about translocal influences—interventions, coalitions and crises—that impact the emergence of FPNs in regional settings. Drawing on interviews with 67 FPNs from across the world, the paper examines the significance of place and socio-cultural framing on transformative agendas for food systems. Applying a place-based and translocal conceptual lens, the paper asks: how do the regional contexts of FPNs shape their purpose, approach and impact? Can the analysis of diverse regional FPNs from one location contribute new understandings of others towards food systems transformation? How can regional perspectives inform urban food governance research? And how can translocal networks help rescale food system governance? This paper shows that not only are FPNs creating innovative governance structures to identify and tackle regionally contextualised food challenges, but they are also modelling forms of translocal collaboration across silos and sectors while striving for inclusivity beyond an urban-rural dichotomy.

The development of synergies between rural and urban areas is one of the EU’s objectives to contribute to smart and inclusive growth. Effective governance of rural–urban links is essential for balanced development but often lacks policy coherence. This study examines the role of spatial planning and food policy integration in enhancing local food system sustainability and resilience, specifically in peri-urban areas. It investigates challenges and enablers in this integration through a Living Lab experiment in Lucca (Italy) as part of the ROBUST H2020 project. The Living Lab methodology entailed envisioning, experimenting, and experiencing phases to identify key rural–urban connections and assess governance arrangements, focusing on reclaiming abandoned land in peri-urban areas together with local stakeholders. By highlighting the strengths and limitations of a multi-year collaborative research approach, the research highlights a weak recognition of rural–urban linkages and the need for improved dialogue between rural stakeholders and urban planners. Key recommendations comprise formalising public–private partnerships and cross-sectoral projects linking agriculture with education, tourism, and landscape (e.g., agricultural parks).

This paper offers a comprehensive critical review on digitalisation in rural areas, drawing on international and EU policies, scientific and grey literature and real-life examples from two European H2020 research projects. In doing so, it aims at providing a basic conceptual framework encompassing three main intervention areas, with relative sub-themes, identified as relevant for rural areas, namely: the rural digital divide, the attractiveness of rural areas and opportunities for strengthening local governance. For each of these broad themes, the role of digital tools is explored and supported by case study examples providing valuable insights and real-life applications in rural settings.

Local governments are increasingly adopting food policies, but the extent to which these policies advance their stated aims often remains unknown. Indicator frameworks have been developed to facilitate evaluation, but in practice, food policy evaluation remains limited, as cities face increasing challenges. Through an explorative case study, we examine implementation opportunities and challenges for the indicator framework with a relatively greater potential reach among governments: the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact framework. Data, collected from expert interviews, were inductively analyzed for evaluation opportunities and challenges. Our analysis confirms that, at present, the value of this framework lies less in the evaluation outcomes themselves, and more in opportunities generated from the process, such as concretizing policy priorities and goals and generating political will. Encountered challenges include lack of data and resources, difficulty of adaptation to the local context, and poor data accessibility. Evaluation challenges between thematic areas differ: issues related to food production, supply, and distribution prove relatively hard, while health and governance issues are easier to assess. We emphasize the value of approaching evaluation less as a mechanism of accountability and control, and more with a view to acknowledging its processual capacity to improve food policy and learn.

This chapter forms the land case study for Italy. As with all empirical chapters it explores several key themes in relation to food charity in Italy: • the history of food charity in the national context and the relationship between the welfare state and charities; • the nature of and drivers behind contemporary food charity provision; • key changes in social policy and their impact on rising charitable food provision; • and the social justice implications of increasing need for charitable assistance with food. The chapter concludes with critical reflections on the future direction of food charity provision in Italy and the implications of this.