An open, international network for scholars and analysts studying the fiscal instruments that shape what the world eats — and their consequences for health, the environment, and equity.
Members are currently based across South America, North America, Europe and Africa — with an open door to every region still to come.
Food taxation sits at the intersection of public health, environmental policy, and public finance — yet research on it remains scattered across disciplines and borders. The Food Taxation Network exists to close that gap.
To build a global hub where researchers and institutions can study how fiscal policy — taxes, levies, and related instruments — can improve health and environmental outcomes, while rigorously examining the economic and social trade-offs involved, including regressivity and industry impact.
A world in which food tax policy is designed on solid, shared evidence — informed by research from every region, not only high-income countries — so that fiscal tools for healthier, more sustainable food systems are both effective and fair.
Four research strands anchor the network's collaborative agenda.
Comparing tax mechanisms — excise taxes on specific products, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, against broader VAT differentiation — and how each shapes consumption.
Developing shared methodologies to measure real-world effects on consumption, health, environmental metrics, and economic indicators across diverse populations.
Investigating reformulation, marketing shifts, and purchasing behaviour as consumers and food companies adapt to new tax policy.
Examining regressivity and socioeconomic consequences, and how policy design can offset disproportionate burden on lower-income households.
Sharing case studies and findings across regions and income levels, to accelerate learning between contexts that rarely compare notes today.
Connecting food taxation to diet-related emissions and sustainable food systems, alongside its health rationale.
The network's research agenda contributes directly to four Sustainable Development Goals:
A light, transparent structure designed to keep the network active between gatherings, not just around them.
We welcome researchers, academics, and public policy analysts working on food taxation, nutrition policy, public health, or sustainable food systems, from any country.
Questions about the network, partnership ideas, or press inquiries — send a message directly to the network's founder.