Rotterdam, 21st of May 2026. Ministry officials, NGOs, researchers, industry and farmer organizations convened to discuss and explore how Dutch agriculture and food systems can become more beneficial for society and nature.
The backdrop to the event was a report released last year, showing that by reorienting Dutch agricultural production towards 70 percent plant protein and 30 percent animal protein, while prioritizing organic production, the net benefit of farming to Dutch society could increase to more than €5 billion.
The event explored pathways to realize this scenario, with multiple experts and speakers taking the floor.
Currently, a broad coalition of Dutch organizations connected through Eiwittransitie.nl is working towards a broad, sector-wide call for a Dutch Action Plan for More Plant-Based Foods, which they hope will accelerate the transition to a food system that is both healthier and more sustainable.
Hanne Winter, EU Policy Manager at the Vegetarian Society of Denmark, was invited to the event and presented how Denmark became the first country in the world to launch a dedicated action plan to boost plant-based and organic consumption and production.
The Danish Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods is accompanied by a €170 million Plant-Based Foods Grant, which supports both supply- and demand-side measures. Hanne Winter explained that the grant is currently so popular that there are four times as many applicants in the current funding round as available funding, demonstrating a strong appetite among stakeholders to engage with this agenda, diversify production, and promote healthier consumption.
“We find great inspiration in the Danish case and are working with a wide range of stakeholders to bring something similar to the Netherlands. Hearing how it was achieved in Denmark gives us new ideas and confidence that an equivalent initiative could be realized in the Netherlands,” says Maritha Werther from the Food Transition Coalition.
The event was organized by the Robin Food Foundation and the Food Transition Coalition.
Participation in the event of the Danish speaker is part of an EU project, which has received grants from the Green Development and Demonstration Programme (GUDP) under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Denmark.
