Strategic Design of Public Food Procurement to Leverage Positive Food Systems Outcomes: A Framework of Actions

ABSTRACT There is substantial potential for the procurement of food by public institutions to contribute to Sustainable Development across multiple environmental, social, and economic outcomes. In this study we used theories of policy instrumentation and learning to analyse global guidance for designing public food procurement instruments to leverage positive food systems outcomes, with the aim of informing strategic policy design. We identified 15 discrete objectives that could be applied to food procurement policy instruments to promote different aspects of economic and social wellbeing, food security and nutrition, or environmental sustainability, operationalizable through 52 mechanisms. We consolidated these into a framework of options for achieving various policy objectives in terms of what is contextually relevant and politically feasible. This framework can serve as a nominal reference point for considering the different ways to achieve Sustainable Development priorities through public food procurement, supporting strategic policy framing for appealing to the different values and positions inherent in food systems.