When shaping better food system policies, it is necessary to overcome disagreements and find a balance between differing interests and diverse values. This can be achieved through inclusive policy processes that provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to be heard, while avoiding preference for any specific interests. It is also necessary to ensure that the multifaceted EU-level goals set for agriculture, food, innovation and nature management are backed by appropriate funding to achieve them. Currently, the main EU-level funding for this purpose is the Common Agricultural Policy funding, which is insufficient to achieve the aforementioned goals. The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated that sufficient food self-sufficiency and a developed agricultural and food sector are a vital foundational element for the existence of every country. Therefore, it is particularly important to continue work on developing shorter food supply chains.