A feast of knowledge: How AI-powered food councils can transform policymaking in the digital era

As global food systems face intensifying challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to nutritional insecurity and fractured supply chains—policymakers are under increasing pressure to formulate agile, informed, and inclusive responses. While digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) offer transformative potential, few initiatives have explored their application within food system governance. This article presents a discussion-based case study of the Council of Foods , an experimental AI-powered policymaking platform developed within the EU Horizon-funded Hungry EcoCities project. Through playful, food-character-driven dialogue, the platform enables stakeholders to explore complex policy dilemmas, surface diverse perspectives, and receive dynamically generated recommendations. Drawing on experiences from early testing environments, including public forums and conference sessions, we reflect on the conceptual framework, technical design, and pedagogical value of the Council of Foods. While the tool is still in its developmental stages, we argue that such AI-mediated, participatory platforms can help bridge knowledge gaps, stimulate policy learning, and support just transitions in food governance. The article concludes with key implications for future research, platform development, and the ethical integration of AI in public policy.