Dutch coalition demands €65m fund to boost plant-based food

A coalition of 60 organisations from across the Dutch food and agricultural sector is calling on the Netherlands government to introduce an Action Plan for More Plant-Based Food, backed by a €65 million annual fund to accelerate production and consumption.

The coalition includes businesses, retailers, producer organisations, trade associations, NGOs, educational institutions and foodservice organisations. It presented its proposal to members of the Dutch House of Representatives Joris Lohman of the CDA and Anne-Marijke Podt of D66 at Nieuwspoort in The Hague on 10 September.

The plan is partly inspired by Denmark, where a similar initiative has been introduced to support the country’s plant-based food sector.

Five pillars for change

The organisations are calling for the government to work with industry and civil society to develop a national action plan focused on five areas: increasing demand and improving the food environment, supporting farmers and supply chain collaboration, using public procurement to increase plant-based meals, investing in research and innovation and strengthening exports and international branding.

The coalition says a coordinated approach could help the Netherlands achieve existing national and European targets while creating economic opportunities. In particular, it highlights the government’s target that at least 50 percent of protein consumption should come from plant-based sources by 2030.

According to the coalition, increasing demand for Dutch plant-based products could stimulate innovation, create jobs and strengthen the resilience of food supply chains. It also argues that diets containing more plant-based foods could contribute to improved public health, lower healthcare costs and reduced environmental and climate impacts.

€65m acceleration fund proposed

Central to the proposal is a public Plant-Based Acceleration Fund with an annual budget of €65 million. The money would support the entire value chain, from agricultural production and product development to demand creation and exports. One-third of the proposed fund would also be earmarked specifically for organic plant-based production.

The Netherlands is already a global leader in agriculture, food innovation and the development of plant-based proteins. With a public investment of €65 million per year, we can further build on this strong foundation, capitalise on new economic opportunities and mobilise the entire value chain. In doing so, we will strengthen our international competitiveness while simultaneously contributing to a healthier population, lower healthcare costs, greater food security and a more sustainable agricultural and food system.”

Jeroom Remmers, Director of the TAPP Coalition

The coalition says the proposal comes as the Dutch government and parliament consider policies to accelerate the protein transition. It also points to the Strategic Food Security Agenda and the European Protein Action Plan as evidence of growing focus on resilient plant-based food supply chains.

Lessons from Denmark

Drawing on Denmark’s experience with its Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods, the coalition now wants the government to work with businesses, farmers and other organisations to turn the proposal into a concrete national action plan.

With the Netherlands already pursuing targets around protein consumption, food security, climate and sustainable agriculture, the signatories argue that greater investment in plant-based food could help bring these ambitions together while strengthening the country’s position in a growing international market.

I am both proud and pleased to see such strong interest in the Danish Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods. Combined with the €170 million Plant-Based Food Grant, it is driving change across the food system, from field to plate.”

Rasmus Prehn, CEO of Organic Denmark and former Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries