Food governance and healthy diet an analysis of the conflicting relationships among the actors of the agri-food system

Promoting healthy, sustainable diets has become an important social goal. Governments and businesses are increasing measures aimed at promoting a healthy diet. However, a variety of data indicates that a healthy diet is far from being attained. Our principal thesis is that ‘conflictive’ relationships among actors in the agri-food system form one of the main barriers to achieving a healthy diet. We analyzed changes that have taken place in the agri-food system and how these affected the foundations of conventional models for food governance, enabling and giving rise to innovative forms of food governance. Then, we examined some of the initiatives developed by traditional actors in the agri-food system to address the demands of “more aware” consumers and explored the contradictory results obtained so far. Development of healthy, sustainable diets for all requires consensus among the different actors in the agri-food system. However, such a goal is not easy to attain within a framework of governance characterized by complexity, asymmetry, and conflicts among these actors. The conflicts are rooted in a disconnection between the needs and demands of consumers and the ways in which public and private actors deal with the requirements of “more aware” consumers. Promoting a healthy diet depends, to a great extent, on the creation of a framework of relationships in the agri-food system and different connections among the actors to replace the current conflicting ones. •Food governance can enable or impede the achievement of a healthy diet.•The appearance of “more aware” consumers has redefined food governance.•Traditional actors are trying to adapt to these new consumers but achieving poor results.•Measures taken so far have been limited to conveying information to consumers.•Promoting a healthy diet depends on innovative governance arrangements among actors.