The development of the Milan Food Policy and the launch of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) are rooted in a "fertile ground" established by prior social projects, notably those connected to the Parco Agricolo Sud (South Agricultural Park), created in 1990 to shield agriculture from rapid urbanization. This foundation of established actors and robust relationships, nurtured by national and European projects, provided the necessary framework to initiate a comprehensive "general food strategy."

The strategy, proposed by the EStà research center, culminated in a July 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the City of Milan and the Cariplo Foundation. The dual objective was to conceive and implement an integrated Food Policy for Milan and concurrently spearhead a global dialogue, leading to the signing of the MUFPP. This international pact was officially launched by the Municipality of Milan during the 2015 Expo, capitalizing on the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life." The MUFPP, in its initial form, was a collaborative effort involving 46 cities and an advisory group of international institutions, committing signatories to shared objectives on urban food policies. The synergy between Milan's local Food Policy Office activities and the international MUFPP work has solidified the city's role as a European reference point on these issues. The 2015 Expo served to further legitimize both the Food Policy and the MUFPP as a positive legacy of the event, underpinned by a significant political commitment from the City. The local policy trajectory began with the 2014 MoU, leading to studies and a citizen consultation that defined five core guidelines: 1) ensuring healthy food for all, 2) promoting food system sustainability, 3) food education, 4) combating food waste, and 5) supporting agri-food research. These were formalized in the "Milan Food Policy Guidelines 2015-2020." The subsequent phase (2016-2017) saw the policy's adoption and governance formalization, including the establishment of the Food Policy Office in August 2017, a key step in its institutionalization. Implementation (2017-2021) focused significantly on food education (school projects) and food waste reduction.

The latter became a flagship initiative through the creation of neighborhood food Hubs—logistical centers collaborating with the third sector (e.g., Banco Alimentare, Caritas) to recover surplus food and redistribute it to vulnerable populations. In 2021, the City of Milan was awarded the prestigious Earthshot Prize for the value of its neighborhood food Hubs. The associated financial resources have enabled an expansion phase, strengthening existing hubs and opening new ones with increasingly diversified local civil society partnerships. The MUFPP, currently signed by over 280 cities across six regions, aims to foster inclusive, resilient, safe, and diverse sustainable food systems. The associated Framework for Action provides voluntary strategic options for signatory cities, encouraging interdepartmental and cross-sector coordination and coherence across municipal, subnational, and international policy levels. Cities commit to involving all food system stakeholders (public, private, civil society) in policy formulation and implementation, adapting existing urban regulations to encourage sustainable food systems. Key outcomes after a decade include the strong institutionalization of the governance structure and measurable results in reducing environmental impact, particularly through food waste reduction and school menu revisions. The MUFPP's success has strengthened Milan's international positioning, offering opportunities for global exchange, funding, and collaboration. The establishment of the Milan Pact Awards (MPA) in 2016, which has collected 621 practices, serves as a mechanism for monitoring and sharing cities' achievements, creating a vital library of common knowledge on urban food policies.