Barcelona’s Municipal Food System Characterization and Analysis with the Institutional Grammar Tool

Diego Macall of the Autonomous University of Barcelona will present at the May Institutional Grammar Research Initiative (IGRI) research seminar.

Abstract: Municipal governments around the world are increasingly taking it upon themselves to set out and enact their own food policies. Acknowledging the multifaceted nature of food systems, which encompass a wide array of stakeholders including governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private entities, and society at large, this study employs the Institutional Grammar Tool (IGT) as a methodological lens with which to systematically identify and analyze the institutions that play pivotal roles in shaping Barcelona's food system governance. The IGT, with its structured approach to parsing institutional statements into actionable components, enables a detailed examination of the rules, norms, and strategies that underlie the operational and regulatory mechanisms of the food system. Through this analysis, the study uncovers the intricate network of formal and informal institutions, their jurisdictional scopes, and the interactions that facilitate or impede the realization of sustainable and equitable food outcomes in Barcelona. The findings highlight the importance of integrated governance frameworks that leverage synergies across different institutional levels and sectors, offering insights into the potential pathways for enhancing food security, sustainability, and resilience in urban settings. The study contributes to the burgeoning field of food system governance by providing a comprehensive institutional mapping that can serve as a foundation for future research and policy formulation aimed at fostering more inclusive and sustainable urban food systems.