A ProVeg grantee in Denmark is helping to shift national policy and strengthen the case for plant-based food systems
Part 3 of a three-part series on grantees supported by the ProVeg Grants programme
What happens when plant-based advocacy moves from community action into national policy? In Denmark, one ProVeg grantee is showing how food-focused organisations can help shape government strategy, influence funding decisions, and build the foundations for long-term change.
Since 2019, ProVeg Grants has awarded more than 900 grants across over 90 countries, funding projects that reduce the consumption of animal-based products and promote sustainable food systems.
In this final article in a three-part series, we look at the work of The Vegetarian Society of Denmark.
The Vegetarian Society of Denmark: influencing national direction
The Vegetarian Society of Denmark began as a grassroots group. Today, it plays an active role in shaping national food policy. Operating in a country where animal agriculture holds significant economic and cultural weight, the organisation has developed the expertise and partnerships needed to move plant-based priorities into mainstream political discussion.
Support from the ProVeg Grants programme helped the organisation contribute to a major policy breakthrough in 2021, when Denmark became the first country to include plant-based food in its official climate strategy. As part of a broader agricultural agreement, the government committed DKK 675 million (around USD 105 million) to support plant-based food through research, innovation, and communication.
This achievement followed years of groundwork. The Vegetarian Society built relationships across government and civil society, developed clear policy proposals, and helped frame plant-based food as a practical response to Denmark’s climate targets. Funding from ProVeg helped the organisation to strengthen its policy team and increase capacity.
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Building momentum through collaboration
The organisation also coordinates the Network for Plant Proteins, a national platform that brings together more than 150 participants. These include researchers, producers, companies, and public institutions working to accelerate the development of plant-based foods in Denmark.
The network encourages cooperation between sectors, supports knowledge sharing, and provides a point of connection for people working on complementary issues. It has helped increase visibility for plant-based food in public debates and encouraged more consistent national support for the sector.
By combining direct advocacy with coordination across different stakeholders, the Vegetarian Society is helping to make structural change more achievable.
A long-term approach to change
This example shows how carefully targeted advocacy can shift the political conditions that shape national food systems. The work of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark has already influenced policy and funding decisions and laid the foundations for future progress. It offers a model for how relatively small organisations can help move plant-based solutions into the mainstream.
The ProVeg Grants programme supports organisations like this that take a long-term view, working at both strategic and structural levels to reshape how food systems are planned and governed.
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Support the movement
This groundbreaking work in Denmark started with a single grant – this is the power and impact of the ProVeg Grants programme. We find and fund the most effective and high-impact initiatives around the world that are reshaping food systems.
Every contribution you make goes directly towards funding initiatives like this and empowering global changemakers. You can help transform the most promising projects and ideas into tangible progress anywhere in the world. Your support is the key that makes this happen.
Simon Middleton
Senior Writer
