This chapter explores the role of public food and governments as pace-setters within food system. Public food is often associated with the welfare state, for example school lunches and meals within eldercare facilities or prisons. But it has deeper historical roots in military organizations. Using the concept of pace-setting, the chapter draws on examples ranging from combat rations to modern school kitchens, to illustrate how public institutions have shaped not only the logistics of food supply, but also the direction and tempo of innovation in food preservation, technology, and norms. Since the 1990s, the public sectors capacity to lead has become more fragmented and reactive. Yet governments continue to respond creatively to societal pressures, translating demands for sustainability and resilience into concrete practices.