Samenvatting

To feed the expected population of nearly 10 billion people by the year 2050, radical changes must be made in the ways that food is produced and in the types of foods that are consumed. Supplying the ever-growing demand for animal-based meat has caused the current global food system to produce negative effects on the environment and also on human health. Studies have shown that a global shift towards sustainable plant-based diets can positively impact both the environment and human health. Food-related policies should therefore encourage the reduction of animal-based food consumption and promote plant-based diets in order to truly transition towards a more sustainable food system. The EU has emphasized its goal of transforming the EU food system into the global standard of a sustainable food system. This is supported by the European Green Deal along with the Farm to Fork strategy which lays the framework of what must be done to drive the EU towards sustainable food production and consumption habits. Further strengthening this vision of sustainable food practices is the EU Promotion Policy’s 2022 work program which has a budget allocated towards funding the promotion of plant-based diets. Businesses can benefit from this funding as long as they align with the EU’s sustainability goals, promote the consumption of plant-based products, and do not infringe on the protected dairy terms laid out in the Common Market Organization Regulation. The plant-based food industry in the EU has seen significant growth throughout the last few years (+49%) with a variety of new plant-based businesses being established within the last 3 years.