From Evidence to Implementation: An Integrative Conceptual Framework for Science–Local Government Partnerships in Sustainable School Food Systems

Despite growing evidence on sustainable food systems and children’s food choice behaviours, a persistent gap remains between research findings and their implementation in local institutional contexts, particularly in schools. Existing approaches often address behavioural, implementation, or governance dimensions separately, limiting real-world applicability. This conceptual review aimed to develop a theoretically grounded and practice-informed conceptual framework explaining how science–local government partnerships can support sustainable food system interventions in schools. An integrative conceptual approach was applied, combining a targeted narrative review of literature on sustainable food systems, consumer behaviour, and school-based interventions; theoretical integration of behavioural and implementation frameworks, including the COM-B model and Self-Determination Theory; and practice-informed implementation insights from a large-scale municipal nutrition education programme implemented in primary schools in Warsaw, Poland. Framework development involved component identification, domain synthesis, and model integration. The resulting Integrated Science–Policy–Practice (ISPP) Model integrates five interrelated components: Knowledge Translation, Institutional Embedding, Sustainability-Oriented Behavioural Activation Mechanisms, Multi-stakeholder Integration, and Feedback Loops. The model provides a system-level explanation of how evidence-informed interventions can be embedded within local governance structures and translated into mechanisms that may support responsible food-related behaviours. It offers implications for research, policy, and practice in sustainable school food systems.