From Plate to Policy: The Role of Collaborative Governance in Sustainable Urban Food Transformation - The Case Study of Malmö, Sweden

Sammanfattning

Urban food systems are increasingly recognised as critical arenas for addressing sustainability challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and social inequality. In response, cities are adopting collaborative governance approaches that engage public authorities, civil society organisations, academia, and private actors in collective efforts to transform food systems. This study examines the role of collaborative governance in supporting sustainable urban food transformation in Malmö, Sweden, through a qualitative case study of Malmö Food Council. Drawing on Emerson et al.’s (2012) Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance, the research analyses how collaboration among food system stakeholders is organised and how governance dynamics influence collective action. The study identifies enabling factors including shared recognition of food system challenges, facilitative leadership, local sustainability networks, and institutional support through funding and policy alignment. At the same time, collaboration is constrained by fragmented governance structures, uneven stakeholder participation, limited institutionalisation, and resource dependency. The study concludes that collaborative governance can strengthen local capacity for sustainability transformation by fostering collective learning and coordination among stakeholders. However, its transformative potential remains dependent on stronger institutional support, inclusive participation, and long-term political commitment.