Abstract

The need to adapt existing global policy instruments to achieve sustainable development objectives is increasingly recognised worldwide. Responding to the global need to help countries progress towards transforming food systems, the EU proposed, negotiated and agreed to adopt a chapter dedicated to Sustainable Food Systems in its free trade agreement with New Zealand and its advanced framework agreement with Chile. This study aimed to identify the origins, rationale and enablers of this policy innovation. A theory-informed qualitative study methodology was applied based on interviewee data. We found that the idea of the Sustainable Food System Chapters originated from the need to respond to domestic and global pressures to maintain public and political support for pursuing trade and investment agreements. The adoption of the Sustainable Food System Chapters was enabled by political pressure; pre-existing global, foreign and domestic policies; and shared thinking that was previously translated into joint action. Policy-makers may use this evidence to support efforts to achieve greater policy coherence in trade agreement negotiations across economic, social and environmental domains. © 2025 The Author(s). Global Policy published by Durham University and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.