Portuguese Vegetarian Association is now ProVeg Portugal in a move to accelerate food system change
Food awareness organisation, ProVeg International, today launched an office in Portugal, bringing the driving force behind pioneering changes to the country’s food system under a new banner.
The Portuguese Vegetarian Association, AVP (Associação Vegetariana Portuguesa), formally became ProVeg Portugal today, incorporating 12 staff from AVP’s team to accelerate the transition to more plant-based diets in a country that is already ahead of its European neighbours.
Portugal became the first country in the world to mandate plant-based meal options in all its public schools, hospitals, universities and prisons, following a campaign led by AVP.
“As ProVeg Portugal, we plan to step up the campaigning to further the alternative protein transition in our country with the power of an international organisation behind us,” Joana Oliveira, formerly co-Director of AVP and now ProVeg Portugal Director, said.
“Portugal went from the dietary backwaters to emerge as a beacon of hope for healthy eating in just a few years. We are now hoping that the role of plant-based agriculture will be incorporated into Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plan especially as the EU is already mulling an Action Plan for Plant-based Food,” Oliveira said.
ProVeg International has the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. In this mission, ProVeg Portugal will join 12 other ProVeg offices around the world situated in Germany, Spain, China, the UK, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, the US and Belgium.
“AVP’s pioneering work in Portugal has, for some time, been an inspiration to ProVeg,” Sebastian Joy, Founding President of ProVeg International, said.
“AVP has a history of successful campaigning, achieving impressive results in terms of policy and legislative changes, making it a natural fit for ProVeg. We are very excited about working with them as ProVeg Portugal,” Joy said.
More of AVP’s work so far
Since 2022, AVP’s public canteens project has revolutionised schools by making plant-based meals the default option. This year alone, 3,200 vegan meals were served weekly. AVP has also trained over 450 canteens chefs so far.
Separately, AVP has collaborated with policymakers to promote plant-based proteins, with three proposals already presented in Parliament based on an AVP’s initiative.
Its annual conference brings together more than 250 health professionals and students, advancing knowledge of plant-based nutrition in Portugal.
Verónica Larco, Senior Communications Manager at ProVeg Spain, has been following developments in neighbouring Portugal for a number of years.
“This new ProVeg office in Portugal is great news for the plant-based movement in the Iberian Peninsula. Its establishment will help elevate our corporate engagement work because many companies have departments that manage both Spain and Portugal at the same time,” Larco said.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media inquiries about ProVeg Portugal, contact Communication Manager, Catarina Chavinha, at [email protected].
For inquiries about ProVeg International, contact Peter Rixon at [email protected]
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet. ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040.
