Athens, 20th of June, 2025. The European Parliament Office in Athens hosted a high-level event that brought together prominent voices from politics, diplomacy, agriculture, and civil society. Among the key participants were Members of the European Parliament Dimitrios Tsiodras (EEP) and Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D), the Danish Ambassador to Greece Per Fabricius Andersen, Christos Giannakakis, Vice President of the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, as well as representatives from the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
Titled “The Case for Change: A More Resilient and Sustainable Future with an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods,” the event provided a platform for constructive dialogue on the urgent need to transition towards a more sustainable and resilient food system. A central theme was the promotion of plant-based food production and consumption—both across Europe and in Greece specifically.
The Danish delegation included Mr. Rasmus Prehn, Managing Director of Organic Denmark and former Minister of Agriculture (2020–2022), Anders Klöcker, Head of Innovation at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council and Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark.
Together, they presented compelling arguments for stronger policies and interventions to support the plant-based food value chain.
Drawing on Denmark’s National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods – the first of its kind in Europe – the Danish experts shared concrete policy strategies, implementation tools, and best practices that could inform similar efforts in Greece.
“This event demonstrates the strategic importance of a European strategy for plant-based foods. This is not only a matter of our nutrition but one for the way we produce, consume and live, impacting on the environment, health, economy and social justice.” said Mr. Dimitrios Tsiodras, member of the European Parliament (EPP)
The event attracted selected participants from the fields of journalism, public policy, and academia, fostering a dynamic environment of knowledge-sharing and strategic discussion. The gathering helped build bridges between key stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable nutrition and food security.
Targeted Dialogue with the Danish Delegation
Ahead of the main event, a focused roundtable session was held between the Danish delegation and key Greek stakeholders. This session explored the practical aspects of implementing Denmark’s Action Plan, emphasizing policies, tools, and partnerships that could serve as a blueprint for Greece.
The strong engagement and interest shown by attendees highlighted the growing recognition of plant-based food systems—not merely as a dietary trend, but as a vital component of public health, environmental sustainability, and food resilience across Europe.
The event was co-organized by the NGO ‘A Promise to Animals’ and the ‘Danish Plant-Based Diplomacy’ initiative.