Prague,15th of May and 18th of June, 2025. Plant-Based Diplomacy recently took part in two events in Czechia, highlighting Denmark’s leadership in plant-based food policy and supporting the local work on alternative proteins.
New Food Forum: Launching the Czech Chamber for Alternative Proteins
The New Food Forum (NFF), held on May 15, 2025, is the Czech Republic’s leading B2B conference dedicated to plant-based foods and alternative protein sources. The event brings together key stakeholders—including food producers, retailers, policymakers, and industry experts—to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector.
This year’s forum marked the official launch of the Czech Chamber for Alternative Proteins, an important milestone in the country’s efforts to accelerate innovation and collaboration in the field. A series of expert roundtables, scheduled for fall and winter 2025, was also announced. These discussions aim to shape strategies for sector development.
Under the banner of Danish Plant-Based Diplomacy, Ms. Louise Johansen, Chief of Program at the Vegetarian Society of Denmark, participated as a featured speaker. She presented Denmark’s Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods—a comprehensive policy framework developed in cooperation with public institutions, the agricultural sector, and other stakeholders.
Her presentation demonstrated that even in a country with a strong livestock tradition, it’s possible to build broad support for national plant-based strategies. Johansen emphasized that plant-based food policies should complement national food strategies rather than compete with them.
EURACTIV Panel: Building a Sustainable Food System in Czechia
On June 18, 2025, Dr. Christian Bugge Henriksen, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, contributed as a keynote speaker at the EURACTIV panel debate titled: “How Can Czechia Build a Sustainable, Self-Sufficient, and Balanced Food System?”
Dr. Henriksen shared valuable insights into the development and implementation of Denmark’s Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods. He highlighted the wide-ranging support the plan has received—from farmers and food industry stakeholders to NGOs and environmental advocates—and explained how such a coalition was critical to its success.
The keynote set the stage for a dynamic panel discussion featuring:
- David Surý, Director General for Environmental Protection, Ministry of the Environment
- Jiří Lehejček, Head of the Agriculture and Forestry Policy Team, The Pirate Party
- Jan Moudrý, Associate Professor, University of South Bohemia
- Eliška Selinger, Nutritional Epidemiologist, National Institute of Public Health
These engagements underline the importance of international collaboration in shaping sustainable, forward-looking food systems. Plant-Based Diplomacy continues to support cross-border dialogues and knowledge exchange in the global shift toward more resilient and plant-forward food policies