System archetypes represent generic behavioural patterns – or system dynamics – in any system. The concept of archetypes is mostly applied in the context of business management and organizational life. But similar archetypes of system behaviour can be found in food systems.

Developed by KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Wageningen University & Research, this publication provides examples of these archetypes in food systems. For each archetype, a set of leverage points is identified, which can offer solutions for the problematic behaviour captured by the archetype.