Priority policy areas to support agroecology transitions in rural Europe: insights from an actor-centred approach

Agroecology is increasingly recognised as a pathway to sustainable food systems, yet its uptake in Europe remains limited, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policy support. This Policy Paper identifies priority policy areas to support agroecology transitions by integrating actor perspectives through a participatory mixed‑methods approach combining multi‑criteria analysis and qualitative evaluation. Evidence from 15 European case studies shows that policy instruments perform differently across transition goals (adoption, positioning, amplification). Knowledge promotion and payments for investments emerge as key enablers for adoption and market positioning, while networking and cooperation are critical for territorial scaling. By contrast, certification schemes and food policies require redesign to better address equity concerns and improve connectivity across actors and scales. The findings highlight the importance of adapting, combining, and sequencing existing policy instruments in line with transition goals and governance conditions. Overall, the paper provides actionable insights for policymakers seeking to create enabling environments for agroecology in Europe, with implications relevant beyond the European context.