The recording of the PlantEurope panel discussion “Working Towards the Inclusion of a Plant-Based Diet in Public Policy” is now available to watch here. All presentations can be downloaded on the event website. 

On May 24th 2023 over 100 audience members were able to listen to pioneers from 6 different countries present their work. The speakers highlighted the diversity of approaches to embedding a plant-based diet in public policy. The speakers were:

• Dr. Friederike Wöhrlin (German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Germany)
• Anne Pøhl Enevoldsen (Danish Food Administration, Denmark)
• Jeroom Remmers (True Animal Protein Price Coalition, The Netherlands)
• Keyvan Mostafavi (Assiettes Végétales, France)
• Dustin Benton (Green Alliance, The United Kingdom) 
• Sofie Verhoeven (Ghent en Garde, Belgium)

Takeaways from the discussion were that in order to achieve the shift of the food system away from animal-sourced foods to plant-based foods we need to be inclusive, work together with civil society organizations and policy makers, have a fair yet independent process and address cultural sensitivities. The speakers showed that there are many levers through which these changes can occur - taxation, legislative change, subsidizing farmers appropriately, influencing individual consumption through public sector catering initiative. It was also noted that any change away from consuming meat needs to be accompanied by appropriate education and messaging including up-skilling of chefs and communities.

There are enormous challenges to overcome, yet if this transition is successful we have the opportunity to improve health, reduce food costs and positively impact the planet and the animals we share it with.

The PlantEurope team would like to thank all the speakers and our moderator Dr. Shireen Kassam from Plant-Based Health Professionals UK.