Why the Great Food Transformation may not happen – A deep-dive into our food systems’ political economy, controversies and politics of evidence

The article analyses the political and economic barriers that impede the transformation of the food system towards sustainability. It argues that forces such as the concentration of power in large food corporations (“Big Food”), political incoherence and the divergent interests of key actors block progress. These corporations, which dominate the global food market, use their influence to maintain the status quo and to curb any disruptive change that may threaten their financial interests. Furthermore, technological innovation, seen as a catalyst for change, is driven by profit rather than sustainability, which impedes a transformation aimed at a more sustainable system. The article also highlights how science can be manipulated by corporate interests to delay or prevent necessary changes in food policies. Therefore, for a true transformation to occur, prescriptive global governance is needed that prioritises sustainability over financial profit.