Across Europe, efforts to reconcile agricultural production, environmental protection and local food security reveal tensions between established rural development models and the changes needed to build more sustainable food systems. This article compares regional experiences in Sweden and Italy to examine how agri-environmental policies interact with agroecological transitions and alternative visions for agriculture. The analysis focuses on Uppsala and West Bothnia in Sweden, and Sicily in Italy, exploring how national and European Union policies shape regional agricultural practices, markets and rural development strategies.

Drawing on food regime analysis and political agroecology, the authors combine critical policy analysis with qualitative research, including 41 semi-structured interviews, observations on ten farms, participatory workshops and seminars, and an examination of policy documents. The research brings together the perspectives of farmers, public authorities, cooperatives, producer associations, researchers and other local actors. It highlights differences between Sweden’s emphasis on productivity, competitiveness and environmental sustainability, and Sicily’s more explicit institutional approach to agroecology, supported by regional legislation, certification mechanisms and incentives.

The comparative findings suggest persistent challenges in translating sustainability objectives into viable agricultural alternatives. Market pressures, limited demand for organic products, declining agricultural production in some areas, competition over land and uncertainties around long-term policy support can constrain change. At the same time, local markets, farmer cooperation and territorially grounded initiatives offer potential opportunities to strengthen sustainable production and rural livelihoods. The authors argue that understanding agroecological transitions requires attention not only to farming practices and policy instruments, but also to the political and economic interests shaping food systems and regional development.