Paris, 20th of November 2025. French, German, and Danish industry representatives, policymakers, and experts gathered at the German Embassy in Paris to exchange best practices and explore approaches for boosting the production and consumption of plant-based foods and green proteins.
The event took place in the Ambassador’s residence and was opened by Stephan Steinlein, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to France, followed by Hanne Fugl Eskjær, Danish Ambassador to France.
Participants shared insights and emphasized the need for continued collaboration, with a strong focus on strengthening the value chain. The Danish Plant-Based Food Grant was highlighted as a unique initiative, prioritizing projects that engage the full value chain from production to consumption.
Under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Plant-Rich Proteins – How to Increase Food Sovereignty and Create Compelling Business Opportunities for Farmers and Companies,” discussions centred largely on the farmer’s perspective.
Keynote speaker Anders Klöcker from the Danish Agriculture and Food Council presented how Danish plant-based policies aim to reinforce the value chain while maintaining balanced supply and demand. He noted that Danish farmers support these policies as an additional opportunity for the sector.
In the panel discussion, Lea Fließ of the German Forum Moderne Landwirtschaft pointed to Germany’s growing market, engaged retailers, and increasingly conscious consumers. However, she noted that domestic production of protein crops remains limited, and both political and financial support for farmers are still insufficient.
Antoine Henrion, Vice-President of the French Federation of Oilseed and Protein Crops (FOP), presented the French Protein Plan, which aims to increase protein crop production for both feed and food. He underlined the need to accelerate the development of resilient seeds and strengthen value chain cooperation to secure stable markets for legumes intended for human consumption.
Speaking from a consumer perspective, Lucile Gerardin, Sustainable Purchasing CSR Manager at Lidl France, noted that French consumers still lag behind in purchasing legumes, fruits, vegetables, and plant-based alternatives. She emphasized Lidl France’s commitment to promoting healthier diets and supporting the shift toward plant-rich foods.
The event concluded with remarks by Frédéric Lambert, Head of the European and International Affairs Directorate at the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Sovereignty. He stressed the importance of maintaining focus on green protein production to strengthen both national and European sovereignty.
The event was moderated by Niklas Záboji, Business Correspondent at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
