In this collection, we summarise how a systems approach can inform the formulation and implementation of policies. The how includes the establishment of an enabling macro-environment, including a well-functioning multistakeholder nutrition governance. Governance refers to how nutrition action is organized, who makes decisions, who exercises what roles, who is accountable for what, how stakeholders collaborate and communicate, etc.

For such governance to function well, an analysis of power relations is needed and resulting power relations should be managed. The food system is an arena in which different actors want to shape policies according to their interests. As such, balancing the resulting contradictory influences on nutrition policy development and implementation using evidence and impact assessment of policies, as well as a food system lens, is key.