The character of the food system and the nature of food policy are both changing, as urbanisation, technical change and the industrialisation of the food system transform the way food is produced, marketed and consumed in developing countries. This overview presents an evaluation framework and explores new policy options. Some issues feature more prominently in richer, more urbanised, more industrialised developing countries, but the new food policy agenda is relevant in all countries — and it is in the poorest countries where challenges are set to emerge most rapidly. The agenda is more one of 'food policy' than 'food security': developing countries need both, but particularly a greater engagement with the new food policy.