This paper seeks to provide guidance and recommendations for policy-makers to increase ambition in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement using the climate change mitigation and adaptation potential of a transition to sustainable food systems. The paper is structured as follows: • Section 1 provides an overview of the role and opportunities for the food system to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation and summarizes how it is currently featured in NDCs. • Section 2 provides concrete suggestions of policies and measures that could be included in NDCs for activities across the food system for policy makers. In addition, the section provides examples for the design of targets and indicators. The guidance and recommendations provided in this paper are meant to serve as a starting point for discussions, future development and to provide a clear way towards measurable, actionable outcomes within their NDCs.