Contemporary food systems face several paradoxes regarding equity and sustainability. Considering food production—an issue that simultaneously affects both the supply (production) and demand (consumption) sides—several cities have begun to implement new strategies, called Urban Food Policies. These approaches aim to address the various challenges presented by food system failures, while also involving the existing network of grassroot initiatives. For this reason, these have established Food Policy Councils, arenas where institutions can engage with supply chain actors and food activists, deciding through the processes of participatory democracy their Urban Food Strategies. This article investigates the evolution of a new Urban Food Strategy in a middle-sized Italian town, Trento. Despite a growing number of case studies discussing the promises and problematic aspects of UFS, empirical research and analysis tend to overlook the role of the context in which these processes are embedded and how the system of political, economic, cultural, and environmental opportunities weigh upon the success of these policies. The paper draws upon a multi-method qualitative approach combining in-depth interviews, document analysis, and direct observations of the construction process of an Urban Food Strategy for the city of Trento.

Food systems are undergoing rapid transformation driven by evolving consumer and producer demands, technological advancements, financialization, and climate change. In response, municipalities around the globe are establishing Food Policy Councils (FPCs)—multi-stakeholder roundtables designed to craft comprehensive and sustainable food policies. FPCs are crucial in addressing global food system challenges, promoting food citizenship, and emphasizing justice, rights, and local control over food systems. This article, centered on a case study of Nutrire Trento (“Feeding Trento”)—an FPC initiative in Trento, Italy—employs an ethnographic approach combining in-depth interviews, field notes, and direct observation from the outset. It explores how democratic innovations of this nature emerge and respond to the complexities of modern food systems through collaborative governance and sustainable practices. The research uniquely integrates the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) with Event Structure Analysis (ESA) to trace the historical development of Nutrire Trento. It identifies key enabling and disabling factors that shape its trajectory. The findings reveal a dynamic interplay between institutional support, crises, and grassroots initiatives, contributing to the literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the power dynamics and strategies that drive these democratic efforts.

The vulnerabilities of global food systems, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the need for sustainable transitions. Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) presents a promising alternative, yet its scalability remains challenging. Although existing research has recognised the barriers to CSA growth, a deeper examination of the specific elements embedded in practices and regimes that hinder success is lacking. This study examines “NaturalMente in Trentino,” a CSA initiative in Trento, Italy, adopting a zooming in and out approach to identify the structural and behavioral lock-in points. Drawing on three years of ethnographic research—including participant observation, in-depth interviews and quantitative data analysis—this study integrates the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Social Practice Theory (SPT) to assess the interplay between socio-technical regimes and everyday consumption practices, revealing multiple lock-in points. These findings suggest that overcoming CSA constraints is linked not only to organizational inefficiencies (e.g. the rigidity and inefficiencies of product distribution moments) but also to deeply rooted cultural and behavioural habits, such as the use of private gardens or a preference for the convenience of supermarkets, and to rigid institutional frameworks and influential player patterns in the sector (e.g. cooperative dominance in local agri-food regime). By identifying both barriers and possible solutions, this research provides both actionable recommendations and policy interventions to support the transition to more resilient and equitable food systems.