Food System Planning, Governance, & Democratization Across Scales: Pathways Toward Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals Through Food System Transformation

About this Research Topic

Background

Global food systems are at a crossroads. Climate change, ecological degradation, diet-related illness, economic inequality, and systemic inequality all converge in the ways we grow, distribute, and consume food. While food systems are major contributors to these crises, they are also uniquely positioned to deliver solutions—if planned and governed for health, equity, resilience, and sustainability.

Comprehensive state and regional food system planning has measurably influenced a range of ecological, social, and economic indicators across governance scales. Ecologically, regions implementing integrated food system plans often see improvements in soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable land use practices, largely due to the promotion of agroecology, regenerative agriculture, and local conservation incentives. Socially, food security rates tend to improve through investments in local procurement programs, nutrition assistance, and the development of regional food hubs that increase access to fresh, culturally relevant foods in underserved communities. Economically, indicators such as agricultural employment, farm income, and local food market revenues show significant gains when policies are aligned to support small- and mid-scale producers, infrastructure development, and market access. These outcomes are most pronounced in regions where food system planning incorporates participatory governance, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term public investment, demonstrating that multiscale coordination is essential for resilient and equitable food systems.

This Special Research Topic brings together two critical dimensions of food system transformation:

1. Food system planning and implementation across municipal, state, regional, and national scales, and

2. Democratization of food governance through participatory, inclusive, and equity-centered models.

This Special Research Topic explores the role of food system planning, governance, and democratization in driving systemic change toward sustainability and equity. We invite contributions that examine how formal and informal governance mechanisms, community-led planning processes, institutional innovation, and rights-based frameworks are advancing or hindering food system transformation. Of particular interest are case studies, policy analyses, and theoretical contributions that explore the integration of sustainability metrics, participatory governance models, Indigenous and place-based knowledge systems, and institutional arrangements that promote inclusivity, accountability, and resilience. We especially welcome research that considers the role of planning and governance in aligning local food systems with the broader aims of the UN SDGs.

By showcasing interdisciplinary and international perspectives, this collection aims to illuminate the institutional, political, and epistemic conditions necessary for democratizing food systems and accelerating their transformation. In doing so, the Special Research Topic seeks to deepen our collective understanding of the pathways by which food system planning and governance can meaningfully contribute to sustainable development.

Scope and Objectives

This collection invites original research, systematic reviews, policy analysis, and case studies that explore:

- The design, implementation, and evaluation of food system plans and policies at the municipal, regional, state, and national levels.

- Participatory governance structures such as food policy councils, citizen assemblies, and cross-sector coalitions.

- Governance innovations that integrate climate action, health equity, labor justice, and food sovereignty.

- Strategies to overcome structural barriers to inclusive governance, including power asymmetries, institutional fragmentation, and political polarization.

- Social movements and community-based models that are redefining how food system change is conceptualized and enacted.

The goal is to synthesize best practices and critical insights that inform more equitable, climate-resilient, and sustainable food system governance.

Submission Topics

We seek interdisciplinary and international contributions on topics including (but not limited to):

- Case studies of food system plans and charters advancing health, equity, sustainability, and resilience.

- Integrated food policy development across municipal, regional, and national levels.

- Stakeholder engagement and participatory planning methods.

- Multi-level governance approaches that link food, climate, health, labor, and equity goals.

- Metrics and indicators for evaluating implementation success and participatory governance.

- Integration of Indigenous, local, and traditional ecological knowledge.

- Legal frameworks supporting the right to food and participatory decision-making.

- Climate adaptation, emergency preparedness, and land-use planning strategies.

- Comparative analyses of governance innovations and implementation outcomes.

- Social movements as catalysts of food system democratization.

Manuscript Types Invited

We welcome submissions from diverse disciplinary, epistemological, and methodological approaches, including:

- Original Research Articles

- Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

- Policy and Practice Reviews

- Case Studies

- Perspective, Opinion, and Commentary Pieces

All submissions must contribute to advancing knowledge or practice in food system governance, planning, and institutional transformation aligned with the UN SDGs.

Important note: This manuscript summary and scope statement is mandatory for this Research Topic. Authors should copy and paste the scope questions provided in the submission portal and address them when submitting their manuscript summary.

Please do not attempt to download or edit this document, instead copy and paste the questions and address each one when submitting your manuscript summary: document and answer these ahead of your manuscript summary. Please ensure that your answers precede the manuscript summary itself.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Food Systems; Participatory Governance; Planning; Equity; Resilience; Social Movements; Institutional Change; UN Sustainable Development Goals; Policy Implementation; Multi-Level Governance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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