Projets Alimentaires Territoriaux (PAT), or Territorial Food Projects, represent integrated, multi-stakeholder initiatives enforced by the 2014 Loi d'avenir pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et la forêt in France. Led by local authorities, PATs provide a territorial framework for developing a more sustainable and localized food economy, primarily through the promotion of short supply chains. As of July 2025, 450 PATs are registered, covering 70% of the French population. Core Objectives and Implementation Strategy PATs are designed to address all dimensions of the food system, adopting varying governance forms (centralized, shared, or territorialized) based on local context. Key initiatives include: Land Protection: Safeguarding agricultural land through planning documents and supporting new farming installations. Supply Chain Development: Fostering urban agriculture, producer markets, and local processing/distribution infrastructure. Sustainable Procurement: Implementing requirements for public markets, aligning with the 2018 EGAlim law, which mandates that public establishments source 50% of food from sustainable/quality products, with 20% being organic. Agroecology: Promoting biological and agroecological practices. Relational Proximity: Facilitating coordination among all actors to trigger changes in practices and raise awareness among local communities (e.g., through events and the Challenge Families for Positive Food, FAAP). This framework explicitly aims to reconnect food to its place of origin, utilizing quality signs (AOP, IGP) and direct short circuits (AMAPs, collective stores).Territorial Food Projects (PAT): An Integrated Governance Model for Sustainable Food Systems Projets Alimentaires Territoriaux (PAT), or Territorial Food Projects, represent integrated, multi-stakeholder initiatives enforced by the 2014 Loi d'avenir pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et la forêt in France. Led by local authorities, PATs provide a territorial framework for developing a more sustainable and localized food economy, primarily through the promotion of short supply chains. As of July 2025, 450 PATs are registered, covering 70% of the French population. Core Objectives and Implementation Strategy PATs are designed to address all dimensions of the food system, adopting varying governance forms (centralized, shared, or territorialized) based on local context. Key initiatives include: Land Protection: Safeguarding agricultural land through planning documents and supporting new farming installations. Supply Chain Development: Fostering urban agriculture, producer markets, and local processing/distribution infrastructure. Sustainable Procurement: Implementing requirements for public markets, aligning with the 2018 EGAlim law, which mandates that public establishments source 50% of food from sustainable/quality products, with 20% being organic. Agroecology: Promoting biological and agroecological practices. Relational Proximity: Facilitating coordination among all actors to trigger changes in practices and raise awareness among local communities (e.g., through events and the Challenge Families for Positive Food, FAAP). This framework explicitly aims to reconnect food to its place of origin, utilizing quality signs (AOP, IGP) and direct short circuits (AMAPs, collective stores). Case Study: Pays des Châteaux PAT The Projet Alimentaire Territorial of Pays des Châteaux, initiated in March 2020, exemplifies this integrated approach. Its governance is centered on a participatory Local Food Council (LFC, Conseil Local de l'Alimentation), involving approximately 170 diverse local actors (from producers and processors to educators and civil society). The LFC developed an action plan through collaborative "Ateliers Gourmands" structured around six complementary axes: Maintaining agricultural diversity and land management. Developing local food supply chains (processing, distribution, markets). Supporting sustainable transition (agroecology, carbon neutrality, waste minimization). Education and accessibility of healthy food for all. Territorial branding, connecting production to tourism and cultural identity. Food quality and territorial reconnection through quality labels. Specific actions include shared gardens, gastronomic tours, local product dispensers, and innovative food assistance programs utilizing fresh local products. The PAT successfully mobilized financial resources, notably through the Budget & Support Open to Citizens for Food Initiative and a dedicated allocation from the CARASSO Foundation for the agroecological transition (TETRAA Program). The LFC also prioritized land pressure, leading to actions for the remobilization of abandoned land by organizations like SAFER to support local, quality food chains and fire risk reduction.PATs employ a multi-scale, cross-sectoral approach, integrating with broader territorial policies, such as the Climate Air Energy Territorial Plans (PCAET). This connection links food system transformation to climate action, promoting initiatives like shared gardens and establishing an observatory for collective catering data. Studies conducted in the Pays des Châteaux, in line with the national ACCLIMAGRI strategy, elaborated two 2050 scenarios to mitigate climate change, involving significant increases in organic and soil conservation agriculture (up to 40% for each in the ambitious scenario). Challenges and Systemic Results Despite the comprehensive nature of PATs, several obstacles persist: Governance Complexity: Coordinating the large number of diverse stakeholders (e.g., 170+ in Pays des Châteaux) requires sustained resources and risks network fatigue. Regulatory Constraints: Public procurement rules and stringent hygiene regulations often limit direct, flexible local sourcing based on seasonality and producer availability. Cost and Reliability: Balancing the higher cost of local produce (to ensure fair farmer remuneration) with collective catering budgets, and mitigating supply reliability issues due to seasonal variations. Behavioral Change: Documented resistance to dietary changes (e.g., vegetarian menus) necessitates intensive education and engagement strategies. However, the results demonstrate significant potential. The Pays des Châteaux PAT has successfully mobilized stakeholders and contributed to measurable environmental benefits, including a documented reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fossil energy use, aligning with the "Territoire Bio Engagé" label (over 7% of utilized agricultural area is organic). The project has catalyzed the multiplication of local food outlets (producer stores, AMAPs) and mapped substantial agricultural development potential (1,420 hectares of fallow land). Ultimately, the PAT framework represents a successful model for innovative, participatory food governance, enhancing food security and inclusivity through short supply chains while supporting local producer income and long-term systemic change.