From Policy to Practice: Tracing the Evolution of Urban Food Policies Across London and Rotterdam

Abstract

Urban food policies (UFPs) have emerged as key instruments for addressing food system challenges at the municipal level, often framed by scholars as tools for fostering sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. However, these policies do not exist in a vacuum; instead, they are shaped by the broader governance landscapes in which they are embedded, such as increasing city gentrification and branding. This article critically examines the evolution of UFPs in London and Rotterdam - two early adopters of UFPs in Europe - exploring how each city's approach to food governance has shifted over time in response to political leadership, funding structures, and local priorities. Employing critical discourse analysis, this study investigates the language and priorities embedded within these policies, revealing persistent tensions between market‐driven objectives and sustainable, community‐focused solutions. By situating UFPs within their broader governance context, this study contributes to critical debates on urban governance: It questions whether municipalities have the capacity to implement transformative food policies or whether they remain constrained by the structural dynamics of the global food system governed by corporate imperatives.