Transforming Food Systems. An Exploratory Research Journey on the EU Green Transition. Vol. 1

This report examines barriers and enablers shaping the transformation of European food systems and synthesises insights from a participatory exploration of potential pathways toward more sustainable, resilient and equitable food systems. It draws on an international multi-stakeholder workshop that combined futures thinking, systems analysis and participatory design to explore how change may unfold across production, consumption, governance and market domains. The study uses a combination of methods, including scenario building with an adapted Futures Wheel, the identification of barriers and enablers, and stakeholder role mapping through the Berkana Two Loops framework. These approaches were applied to explore desirable future states, identify systemic constraints and opportunities, and clarify how different actors may support or hinder transformation. Two complementary visions were developed: one centred on a rapid protein transition driven by innovation and environmental price signals, and another focused on universal access to healthy, local and nutrient-dense food through educational and community-based measures. Across both visions, the analysis highlights the importance of coherent and stable policy frameworks, strong food literacy and skills, adaptive and reflexive governance, reliable data infrastructures, targeted finance and participatory approaches. Common barriers include cultural attachment to prevailing diets, fragmented governance, uneven economic impacts, investment risk, skills shortages and mis- and disinformation. The mapping of stakeholder roles shows that transformative change depends on how pioneers, intermediaries, institutional stewards and incumbent actors interact, and on the ability to reduce resistance and build shared ownership. The report also identifies methodological limitations and the need for stronger evidence integration and complementarity with quantitative analysis. Overall, the findings underline the importance of coherent, cross-domain strategies to advance sustainable food system transitions.