The Food Commons Approach “Put to the Test”: A Viable Alternative for the Achievement of the EU Goals for More Sustainable Food Systems?

The final chapter aims to build upon the previous reasoning by addressing the core research question of the book: Could the food commons approach offer a viable conceptual framework for achieving the desired goals of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for more sustainable food systems? To address this question, the chapter will be structured into two parts. The first part will involve a general assessment of the compatibility between the food commons approach and the food system approach. This assessment aims to demonstrate that, despite some irreconcilable differences, a food commons system (i.e., a food system inspired by commons principles in its activities, goals, actors, governance, etc.) could indeed serve as a viable complement to the concept of sustainable food systems and its defining features (i.e., activities, goals, approach, governance, etc.). Building upon the results of this assessment, the second part of the chapter will focus on evaluating whether, and to what extent, the food commons approach and related initiatives across Europe could address the specific economic, social, and environmental objectives of the CAP 2023–2027. Based on these considerations, it will be concluded that a food commons system could align positively with the food system approach increasingly embraced by the CAP throughout its history. Therefore, it could offer a viable conceptual framework for EU agri-food policymakers to develop strategies and plans for designing more ecological, equitable, and sustainable agri-food systems.