Plant Food Summit highlights the importance of plant-based strategies for the future of food systems
The Plant Food Summit 2025 brought together more than 400 leaders and experts from 38 countries across Europe to explore how plant-based strategies can contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and health-supporting food systems. Denmark was presented as a leading example of cross-sector collaboration, sustainable policies and food innovation.
Organised as part of Denmark’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Plant Food Summit 2025 in Copenhagen marked a shared commitment to advancing plant-based initiatives as a key driver in transforming food production and consumption.
The event reflected a growing international alignment on the need for collaboration to accelerate Europe’s transition towards healthy and more sustainable food systems.
Denmark as an inspiration for plant–based food policies and innovations
The summit opened with “The Danish Approach”, highlighting how Denmark is the first country in the world to launch a comprehensive framework supporting plant-based transformation across the entire value chain – from farm to fork. The Danish Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods presents a model for public–private collaboration, scientific innovation, and dietary guidelines, driving healthier and more sustainable food production and consumption within planetary boundaries.
Over two days, participants experienced how Denmark connects research, business and policy in practice to support the plant-based transition. The programme combined high-level keynotes, breakout sessions and excursions to offer both strategic insights and practical examples. Topics ranged from Denmark’s long-standing collaboration between farmers, NGOs and policymakers to the role of plant-based food in enhancing biodiversity, attracting investment and engaging citizens and professionals in system-wide change.
As part of the opening, Fabrice DeClerck, Science Director of the EAT-Lancet Commission, underlined the importance of international collaboration and trade to ensure sustainable and healthy diets for all within planetary boundaries. By exchanging foods and ingredients based on regional strengths, countries can support healthy, environmentally balanced and more resource-efficient food systems within planetary boundaries.
Scalable solutions rooted in cross-sector collaboration
Denmark presented a range of plant-based solutions already in use – from advanced biosolutions to implementation in public kitchens. These products and solutions reflect Denmark’s strengths in food safety, clean-label innovation, and close collaboration across research, business and policy.
Novonesis presented biosolutions that enhance taste, nutrition, and shelf life, while Matr Foods demonstrated how fermentation and whole-ingredient use can reduce waste and support scalable production. Participants tried tastings from Organic Crave and Organic Plant Protein, offering a culinary experience of Danish-developed, organic products already reaching consumers. Meyers Madhus showed how plant-rich meals are entering public kitchens through chef training and seasonal, taste-driven menu development.
Together, these examples demonstrate how national ambition is being translated into scalable, market-ready solutions. Denmark continues to support the European transition by offering a tested model for implementing plant-based strategies. The Plant Food Summit 2025 reaffirmed this role by showing how coordinated national action can inform broader international progress towards sustainable and climate resilient food systems