Nearly two years after its supposed release date, France's National Strategy for Food, Nutrition and Climate (SNANC) for 2030 has finally been published. The text–which may still evolve–marks some progress in terms of addressing the issues and governance, proposes new objectives, and opens up new areas for public action. However, there are significant shortcomings that weaken the SNANC's ability to promote healthier and more sustainable food environments for the entire population. The consultation period that is now beginning, followed by its implementation, will be crucial for consolidating the progress made and raising the level of ambition.
The origins of the SNANC
The SNANC originated in the recommendations of the 2021 Citizens' Climate Convention, which included adding a climate dimension to the National Nutrition and Health Plan (PNNS): a relevant proposal at a time when the environment is struggling to be integrated into the sectoral plans of the Ministry of Health and Agriculture, and when other European countries have already adopted multi-sectoral food strategies. After being taken up again by the public authorities, a commitment was made in the Climate and Resilience Law (2021) to provide the country with a strategy by July 2023 to determine the direction of food and nutrition policies, while including environmental and food sovereignty issues.1
A strong mobilization of civil society
A contribution from the National Food Council, produced in April 2023, identified 17 strategic objectives and 37 priority recommendations from among more than a hundred.2 In the same month, IDDRI published a study containing recommendations for the ongoing process. The High Council for Public Health also published an opinion in June 2023. Civil society mobilization around the SNANC remained strong in the months that followed (an open letter from 105 organisations in October 2023, proposals from 54 organisations and an op-ed by food experts [including IDDRI] in April 2024, etc.).
The tense political and social context surrounding agricultural protests, inflation and government instability in 2024 temporarily delayed the final decisions between ministries. The SNANC is the result of an unprecedented configuration for food policy: under the aegis of the Prime Minister, the ministries responsible for Health, Agriculture and Ecological Transition, as well as the General Secretariat for Ecological Planning (SGPE), worked together to draft the document.
What assessment of the strategy’s published draft?
In a difficult political context, the SNANC achieves several breakthroughs
The document put out for consultation first provides a rigorous summary of food issues, including health, social, environmental and food sovereignty aspects,3 and an assessment of their severity. With regard to these various challenges, the strategy recognizes in particular the importance of ‘acting on consumption trends’ (p. 15), particularly on diets through ‘limiting the consumption of meat and processed meat, especially imported products’, increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, legumes and whole grains, ‘shifting towards more sustainable models’ (p. 12), and reducing loss and waste. To ‘ensure the sustainability of the food system and France's food sovereignty’, the SNANC also stresses the need to ‘support all actors in the food chain’ (p. 14).
The strategy therefore marks a decisive step towards the establishment of a multi-sectoral food policy that covers the entire food chain and aims to promote changes in dietary practices.
In line with this vision of a strengthened food policy, the SNANC proposes, in particular:
● A governance under interministerial strategic leadership, with the three ministries responsible for operational management at national level (with the SGPE) and regional level (with ADEME's regional departments and regional health agencies), in conjunction with the regional food project networks (PAT) and existing plans. This governance will be responsible in particular for the operational implementation of the SNANC objectives and measures in the PNNS and the National Food Programme (PNA);
● A target of 12% organic consumption by value for all consumption channels; a target to limit meat and processed meat consumption in line with the PNNS benchmarks and the objectives of the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC) for 2030, but that should have been explicitly quantified;4 and a target for the roll-out of PATs with enhanced labelling criteria;
● A ‘flagship initiative’ for transparency on sustainable products which targets mid-chain stakeholders such as retail and commercial food services, which have so far been largely overlooked by public action. This initiative is complemented by other voluntary measures aimed at promoting sustainable products. The agri-food industry is being called upon to improve the range of ready-made meals available as well as their composition.
● Recognition of the importance of supply and the food environment in determining individual consumption, which must be addressed by ‘strong policies’ (p. 35).
A need for ambition, political support and clarification of the next steps
However, the SNANC does not fundamentally break with the limits of current public action on food. Thus, the conclusions of our 2023 Study, which proposed an assessment of French food policies, remain valid overall.
● Political ownerhip and support for the food strategy is currently lacking: no minister or interministerial delegate has been appointed to implement it. The subject may be considered sensitive, but the proposed guidelines are likely to offer solutions to the majority of the French population who want to eat more sustainably and healthily and have access to high-quality food.5 In this sense, supporting the SNANC is both essential to its success and a legitimate political investment in view of these concerns.
● The implementation, monitoring and assessment mechanisms are unclear. Some objectives are not quantified, for others the baseline is not specified, and the proposed actions lack information on: the budgetary allocations mobilized, the lead actors within the State, the monitoring indicators selected, etc. The assessment of progress is also unclear: which institutions will be responsible (there will undoubtedly be several, given the broad scope), what will be the timeframe, and what level of transparency and public communication will there be? All these elements will need to be clarified during the transition to the PNNS and the PNA.
● Most of the actions and objectives are an extension of existing measures: the levers mobilized are mainly support and incentives, with a strong focus on consumer information. The measure to regulate marketing and advertising aimed at children was downgraded to a voluntary measure between November 20246 and April 2025. This weakening is all the more difficult to understand given that the measure is recommended by all expert reports (e.g. WHO, INSERM, Haut Conseil à la santé publique), widely supported by the population,7 implemented by certain retailers in France, and already implemented by other countries such as the United Kingdom. Let us hope that the consultation phase will strengthen it.
There is therefore a real disconnect between the description of the challenges and the choice of levers to address them.
Open the discussion on implementation and give substance to the measures
The SNANC is responsible for providing direction for sectoral plans: measures may be confirmed, strengthened and clarified in these plans. There are still several months to go before the SNANC objectives are adopted and translated into sectoral nutrition and food plans (as well as other plans, e.g. the post-2027 organic ambition plan, etc.). The first step, which has already been announced, is a formal consultation with stakeholders on the draft strategy.
The SNANC is raising for the first time the need to change practices in the intermediate segment (industry, retail, commercial food services) of the food value chain. It is crucial that discussions begin immediately with these stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the SNANC's provisions, but also to assess how to gradually go further between now and 2030. For example, commercial food services and large retailers could be mobilized not only to improve the availability and appeal of sustainable products, but also to rethink their strategy on plant-based products (fruit, vegetables, protein), in line with numerous existing initiatives and even their own internal objectives.
The coming period will therefore be crucial in terms of building on this momentum: the SNANC has opened up new areas for public action, and progress must be capitalized on in order to be truly capable of improving the food environment and thus respond to food challenges.
- 1
‘The National Strategy for Food, Nutrition and Climate sets out the guidelines for a sustainable food policy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, respects human health, better protects biodiversity, promotes the resilience of agricultural systems and local food systems, and guarantees food sovereignty (...), as well as the guidelines for nutrition policy.’ (amendment by the Climate and Resilience Act to Article L1 of the Rural Code).
- 2
Rather unusually, some recommendations reflect disagreement among the members of the body regarding certain measures, their prioritization, or even the working methods that led to the drafting of the opinion, as the NFC was forced to carry out this work more quickly than usual.
- 3
More specifically, the following topics are addressed: chronic diseases, nutrition, social inequalities, food insecurity, exposure to pathogens and pollutants, climate, biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, food sovereignty, and the direct and indirect costs of the food system.
- 4
The SNBC, available for consultation since late 2024, forecasts a 4%, 12%, 13% and 12% reduction for poultry, beef, pork and processed meat respectively between 2020 and 2030. https://concertation-strategie-energie-climat.gouv.fr/les-grands-enjeux-de-la-snbc-3
- 5
For example, respondents say they switch stores to find more sustainable options (CSA/Greenlex/Ademe, 2024), want to reduce their meat consumption, spend more on local products and at markets, and consume more seasonal products, fruits, vegetables and legumes (Verian/Parlons Climat, 2024).
- 6
In a leaked document made public by the media Contexte.
- 7
In 2024, 74% of respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘rather agreed’ with the following statement: ‘The government should ban advertising for products that are most harmful to the environment and health’ (CSA/Greenlex for Ademe, 2024).
