The Milan Food Policy: Six lessons for local food strategies

Abstract

Milan is acknowledged worldwide for its significant commitment to developing a more inclusive and sustainable urban food policy. In 2021, the Italian city won the prestigious Earthshot Prize in the category ‘build a waste-free world’ for being “the first major city to enforce a city-wide food waste policy encompassing public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities, and private businesses” (2). Milan established its Food Policy in 2015, creating a dedicated Milan Food Policy Office that has been pivotal during the Covid-19 emergency and beyond to reduce food waste and ensure access to healthier diets to hundreds of vulnerable households. Through a mix of interviews and archival data, this research outlines six useful lessons for public authorities in the UK.