Since its inception, Feed the Future has recognized the central role that policies play in food systems. Effective and predictable policy systems can facilitate private sector growth and investment, promote systemic resilience, enhance inclusion of traditionally marginalized groups and communities, and can ensure local ownership by governments and nongovernment stakeholders alike. Our programs in policy research and support have continued to help us evolve our understanding of how locally owned policy systems can be improved through better research, inclusive stakeholder consultations and more effective analysis driven by the expressed needs of decision-makers.