Food systems are shaped by many different policies. This creates opportunities for better policies to address the “triple challenge”. For example, work by the OECD analyses agricultural policies around the world and has identified options to improve existing policies so they can contribute more effectively to meeting the triple challenge.

Food systems are complex and actions may have unforeseen consequences. Policy makers must therefore take into account possible synergies and trade-offs when designing new policies. However, policies in many areas related to food systems have historically been developed in “silos”, without considering spillover effects. 

An effective approach should consider a broad set of objectives, and develop a coherent package of policy instruments to maximize synergies and reduce trade-offs. For example, a shift in consumption patterns, notably in wealthier countries, could help improve not only nutritional outcomes, but also environmental sustainability. OECD analysis helps policy makers understand the impact of policies on the different dimensions of the “triple challenge”.

Policies for food systems can be hotly contested. Achieving better policies for food systems is often difficult because of disagreements over facts, interests, and values: 

• Facts: Much is known about food systems, but there are also important evidence gaps. Moreover, in some cases there is a gap between public perception and the evidence. It is essential to build a shared understanding of the facts. One way this can be done is to combine regulatory impact assessments and scientific advice with stakeholder consultations.

• Interests: Any change in policy tends to create winners and losers. Interest groups thus try to move the policy process in their preferred direction. By itself, stakeholder involvement in policy making is not a bad thing, but it is essential to avoid policy capture – a situation where policy caters to a special interest rather than the public interest. Institutions and policy processes should promote transparency, accountability, and a level playing field to reduce the risk of policy capture.

• Values: Many food systems issues are marked by differences over values, making it difficult to achieve a consensus in society around relative priorities. Creative problem-solving can help: sometimes it is possible to adjust a policy to make it acceptable to people with different values. In other cases, difficult choices must be made. Deliberative processes are one possible way of making progress.  

Work by the OECD has identified several good practices to set up robust, evidence-based, inclusive policy processes which can help prevent or manage disagreements around facts, interests, and values.