Towards a new generation of (agri-) food policies

The need to develop a new generation of agri-food policies that respond to emerging social and environmental challenges is addressed. The main objective of the article is to analyse the key features of these transformative policies, identifying their values, knowledge base and intervention pathways, proposing a framework to adapt them to the policy cycle. Transformative policies must possess three essential qualities: directionality, reflexivity and market articulation. Directionality involves setting long-term goals and building consensual visions, while reflexivity refers to the ability to learn and adapt from experience and innovation. Market articulation, on the other hand, seeks to influence the behaviour of market actors to encourage sustainable practices. The author highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in the policy-making process and the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate diverse perspectives and knowledge. Successful policy implementation requires transformative governance that manages the dynamics of the policy cycle and promotes collaboration between diverse actors. It also notes that research into transformative policies is in its infancy, so further study is needed to develop effective approaches and accelerate the process of transition towards sustainable agri-food systems.