Food innovation: supporting the next generation of food system innovators
With our strong commitment to helping alternative-protein startups go further and faster, we launched the Incubator Fast-track To Impact program. With this new model, we’re supporting twice as many ventures across two cohorts this year. From 126 applications, 12 startups have already been selected – from creamy oat-based cheese to mycelium based meat alternatives.
In addition, Mö Foods was named winner of the Lidl Germany x ProVeg Incubator Cheese Alternative Innovation Competition, selected from 55 startups across 23 countries. Its oat-based Mö Greek plant-based feta and grated mozzarella, crafted with a zero-waste process, are already available in select Lidl stores – tasty proof that plant-based innovation is moving from niche to mainstream.
Corporate and institutional engagement: shaping retail and public food systems
This past quarter, we received recognition for our work transforming the food system, and working more closely with retailers to drive measurable change.
- ProVeg UK’s School Plates programme received the Association for Public Service Excellence in School Food Award for transforming school meals toward nutritious, lower-impact choices – a testament to the incredible caterers we work with, proving that there is appetite for change.Â
- We launched Superlist Europe 2026, ranking 27 supermarkets across eight European markets; two-thirds now see plant-rich diets as climate-critical, but few have measurable targets. Beyond ranking performance, Superlist highlights a clear pathway forward, helping retailers turn climate ambition into measurable impact.
- ProVeg Netherlands was named a promising Dutch charity by Effective Giving NL. Effective Giving NL identifies and supports the most impactful charities and organisations that take innovative approaches to tackling large-scale, neglected, and solvable problems.
Policy and advocacy: advancing plant-based protein strategies
In Portugal, the ProVeg-launched National Strategy for Plant-Based Protein Collaborative Group is growing fast. It’s now up to 67 members in under a year, including companies across agriculture, retail, and industry. Recently, major players in the food service and retail space, Eurest and Continente joined, publicly endorsing our nine strategic asks for plant-based protein. The collaborative’s joint document has been delivered in person to policymakers, including representatives from the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture.
On the global stage, at UNEA-7, ProVeg secured commitments on sustainable food systems in key UN documents. Our proposals for stronger language on food systems and diet shifts were adopted into the International Major Groups Consultation Recommendations as well as the UNEP Major Group and Stakeholders recommendations, shaping the way governments and organisations worldwide are thinking about food, diets, and the climate.
Movement building: growing global food system changemakers
Kickstarting For Good (K4G), our incubator for non-profits transforming the global food system, is now gearing up for its call for entries for the 2026 programme. Last year, K4G received more than 950 applications from 95 countries with only the top 3% of applicants selected for the incubator’s first phase.
Our alumni network is thriving: 12 initiatives from 2025 have already launched high-impact projects across policy, youth engagement, documentary support, and fundraising, collectively raising over $10 million in follow-on funding. K4G now sponsors an Entrepreneur in Residence in Brazil and recently hosted a two-week coworking retreat in Bengaluru with alumni Electric Sheep and Open Paws to foster collaboration and innovation.
Public engagement: raising awareness and inspiring action
ProVeg continues to engage audiences worldwide, from the Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit in Argentina to plant-based events and workshops in Czechia, Poland and Nigeria.
We were also featured in The Guardian, Czech national television TV Nova, Portuguese national broadcaster RTP, the German legal journal Recht, and Spanish public radio RNE, among more than 1,100 media mentions worldwide – further cementing ProVeg as a trusted voice on plant-based trends, sustainable diets, and the future of food.
Thanks to your continued support, ProVeg is driving measurable change across food systems, institutions, policy, and public awareness. Together, we are building a world where plant-based diets are accessible, sustainable, and embraced globally.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the ProVeg Highlights, showcasing your giving in action. Do you have any questions? Would you like to learn more? Please contact [email protected]
