Enablers of food system transformation: unveiling pathways for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe

The global community is falling behind on achieving the SDGs by 2030, necessitating systemic transformations across sectors such as food systems, energy, cities, and education. Food systems, with their complex links to environmental, social, and economic outcomes, are central to advancing multiple SDGs in an integrated manner. Yet, fragmented policies, siloed structures, intricate SDG interlinkages, and a lack of anticipatory policymaking hinder progress. This thesis pursues three core objectives: (1) identify enablers and barriers in food system transformation; (2) assess policy coherence within European food system governance; and (3) examine how feedback loops in SDG interlinkages influence system dynamics and intervention points. A multi-method approach is adopted: horizon scanning - supported by text mining and natural language processing (NLP) - identifies emerging trends, technological innovations, and social practices as potential enablers. Further, text mining, NLP, and network analysis map the European food policy landscape, while systems thinking and network analysis reveal balancing and reinforcing feedback mechanisms within SDG interactions. Key findings highlight digital innovations, precision and climate-smart agriculture, and precision fermentation as crucial enablers that address production and consumption challenges. However, most enablers target lower leverage points, suggesting that deeper paradigm shifts are needed for systemic change. Policy coherence analysis exposes substantial fragmentation in European food system governance, underscoring the need for integrated models to bridge gaps - especially in underrepresented areas like agroecology and alternative proteins. Analysis of SDG feedback loops further emphasizes both the potential and the complexity of harnessing these interactions for transformative change. Overall, this research advocates for holistic, integrated governance frameworks that align interventions with system behaviours, offering a framework for future policy and research aimed at driving systemic, transformative change.