Policy Integration in the Federal Governance of Food Security in Mexico

This article analyzes the degree of public policy integration in the federal governance of food security in Mexico. Drawing on the policy integration framework proposed by Candel and Biesbroek, the study examines four key dimensions: (1) policy frame, (2) subsystem involvement, (3) policy goals, and (4) policy instruments. The analysis reveals a partial recognition of the multifunctional nature of food security, but this recognition does not translate into fully integrated policy design or implementation. Instead, food security interventions remain fragmented, concentrated within a limited number of institutions, and disproportionately focused on food utilization, to the detriment of availability and accessibility. Weak coordination across sectors and levels of government is further reinforced by a highly centralized financial architecture, which constrains policy coherence, limits instrument complementarity, and restricts the capacity of subnational actors to engage in coordinated action. Although many initiatives are formally aligned with national and international frameworks, implementation often remains rhetorical rather than operational. To address these limitations, the article argues for a shift toward polycentric governance supported by a reconfigured financial architecture and balanced policy instrument mixes. Finally, the study highlights the role of evaluation as a critical mechanism for advancing toward more integrated, coherent, and sustainable food security policies in Mexico.