Challenges for policymakers in enabling transparency for sustainable, healthy and safe food systems

This Deliverable reports on the findings of Task 7.3 (Identification of challenges faced by policymakers), which involved working with members of the policy community and wider policy networks to understand the challenges for public policy in enabling and promoting greater transparency in the food system. The research sought to understand how members of the policy community and wider policy networks: 1.envision and define food system transparency; 2.perceive the potential benefits and beneficiaries of enhanced food system transparency; 3.perceive the obstacles hindering greater food system transparency and strategies to overcome them; 4.view the opportunities and obstacles presented by digital transparency in the food system; and 5.view the role that public policy can play in promoting and enabling (digital) food system transparency. The report is written in the context of a constantly shifting policy landscape. The research is driven by the European Green Deal and, particularly, by the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, both of which established a trajectory towards systemic thinking – a holistic approach to the food system encompassing diverse sectors, actors and issues (e.g. health, food safety and environmental sustainability) – and a shift away from more linear and siloed approaches to food governance. More recent developments in the EU, such as the Omnibus Package and Vision for Agriculture and Food imply a shift away from the explicitly systemic approach and raise questions about the changing nature of transparency requirements. The Deliverable reports on research that involved semi-structured interviews with policymakers and organisations that aim to influence policy, a focus group encompassing different levels of government in the EU, and an online survey covering similar groups. The key findings are: 1.Defining Transparent Food Systems: Participants generally equated transparency with the availability and accessibility of accurate information. Key requirements included sharing verifiable data and effective communication. Participants questioned the amount of data that should be shared; perspectives ranged from full disclosure to targeted communication. 2.Perceived Benefits of Transparency: Most participants highlighted benefits for consumers, enabling informed decisions and driving change in consumption patterns. Other benefits included enhanced accountability and empowerment, while some participants emphasised the potential for benefits across the food system that go beyond specific supply chain stages. 3.Obstacles to Greater Transparency: Key obstacles included concerns about data confidentiality, a lack of standardisation in data collection, and the potential costs associated with implementing transparency measures. 4.Digitalisation towards Transparency: Digital technologies were seen as offering significant opportunities for improving transparency, particularly in relation to data exchange and processing. However, obstacles included cost, data security, and a lack of digital skills. 5.Public Policy and Promotion of Transparency: Participants emphasised the crucial role of policy in setting direction, promoting a systems approach, and establishing an enabling environment for collaboration and data-sharing. The continuing importance of addressing policy fragmentation was highlighted.