Introduction -- The food commons: an unexplored approach for a more sustainable design for our food systems -- The evolution of EU agri-food policymaking: a long path towards a food system approach -- The food commons approach “put to the test”: a viable alternative for the achievement of the EU goals for more sustainable food systems? -- Conclusions.

This book presents a thorough analysis of the innovative food commons approach in relation to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The debates surrounding this pivotal European policy have always been robust, and with the ambitious targets outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal, they are poised to become even more prominent. To effectively realize these objectives, it is imperative to systematically reassess the fundamental structures of our food systems and enact substantive reforms within EU agri-food law and policymaking. The food commons approach represents not only a novel theoretical framework, but also, and foremost, a dynamic socio-political movement that has garnered attention from both researchers and policymakers due to its pioneering nature. Rejecting the prevailing paradigm of absolute commodification of food, this approach endeavours to reconceptualize our food systems through the prisms of ecology, social inclusion, collective governance, and resilience. The overarching objective of this book is to scrutinize the potential of this novel approach to fundamentally reshape the theoretical underpinnings of EU agri-food law, ultimately facilitating the realization of more sustainable and just food systems. The target audience of this book mainly consists of academic researchers, but also practitioners and policymakers working on agricultural and environmental studies, due to its interdisciplinary approach and the originality of its content. Along the same lines, the book will appeal to NGOs, indigenous peoples, and food sovereignty movements around the world.