Denmark has one of the world's largest animal food productions per capita — which is exactly why we believe change here sends a signal to the rest of the world. Our work spans policy, education, business, media, and research, all aimed at shifting Denmark's food system toward plant-based.
Read our 2025 annual report in English ↗
Programs — click any to learn more
Policy & law
Shaping legislation and using strategic lawsuits when needed.
Knowledge & value chain
Connecting farmers, processors, and buyers through shared data and the 160+ member Plant Protein Network.
Transforming foodservice
Upskilling canteen managers, chefs, and cooking schools in plant-based cooking.
Corporate outreach
Advising companies and retailers to bring more and better plant-based products to shelves.
Product labelling
Running Det Grønne Hjerte and certifying companies with the international V-Label.
Health & nutrition
Equipping doctors, nutritionists, and families with evidence-based guidance on plant-based diets.
Media outreach
Placing stories, correcting records, writing op-eds, and responding to hundreds of media contacts.
Individual outreach
Inspiring the public through social media, brochures, webinars, and festivals.
Youth education
In-depth sustainability and cooking workshops for secondary school classes across Denmark.
International
Sharing Denmark's plant-based policy playbook with organisations worldwide.
Stories that show the work in action
Danish Crown found guilty of greenwashing
After a landmark case DVF initiated, Denmark's largest pork producer was found guilty of misleading consumers with "climate-controlled" pork marketing — the first case of its kind in Denmark.
1.25 billion DKK invested in plant-based Denmark
Years of policy work helped catalyse an unprecedented government deal investing 1.25 billion DKK in the plant-based sector — sparking international interest in how it happened.
Veganism recognised as a protected right
A Danish court ruled that vegans are protected by human rights law — a precedent-setting win for DVF's ongoing lawsuit on the right to plant-based food in public sector kitchens.
Denmark's model goes to Europe
DVF participates in EU research projects and hosts international policy forums, actively helping other countries replicate Denmark's approach to plant-based public policy.
Animal Charity Evaluators — 2024
Recommended charity
ACE proudly recommends Dansk Vegetarisk Forening (DVF) as an excellent giving opportunity. DVF works to reform the food system and reduce animal product consumption, thereby reducing the immense suffering endured by the millions of animals who are exploited for food production in Denmark. DVF's work has already benefited a substantial number of farmed animals and has strong potential to impact many more. Our cost-effectiveness assessment indicates that they have been able to help a large number of animals at relatively little cost.
We are a registered charity in Denmark, meaning that donations to us are tax deductible (as per Danish law, if you have a Danish CPR or CVR number).
If you live outside Denmark or don’t have a Danish CPR-number
You can get a tax deduction within the US if you donate to us through an organization in the US, who offers to forward the money to us afterwards. More information about this coming here soon.
Alternatively, you can donate directly to us (no tax deduction), in either of the following ways:
- Donation by credit card through the form below
- Bank transfer to our account in Merkur Andelskasse, Vesterbrogade 40, 1620 Copenhagen V, Denmark. IBAN: DK2584010001760307. SWIFT: MEKUDK21.
If you live in Denmark or have a Danish CPR-number
- Donation by credit card through the form below
- Bank transfer to our account in Merkur Bank 8401 1760307
- MobilePay to 25419
Please remember to inform us about your CPR/CVR number , if you would a like a tax deduction.
We work in Denmark, however, we also engage in international collaboration and best-practice sharing in order to strengthen the movement globally.
Below you can find information on some of our international work.
IVU Plant-Based Public Policy Forum
Our Secretary-General is also Director for Policy Initiatives at the International Vegetarian Union (IVU). We have started a forum, where organizations from all over the world can share best-practices on plant-based public policy work. You can read more about this forum here.
Healthy Food, Healthy Planet
We are a member of the Healthy Food, Healthy Planet (HFHP) initiative, which aims to unite organizations from across Europe on transforming the food system. Our current project under this initiative is about engaging finance, retail, and health professionals. You can read more about HFHP here.
Divinfood
We are a partner in this EU-wide research project which aims to strengthen the diversity of crops being used in plant-based foods. You can read more about this project here.
CLEVERFOOD
We are a also a partner in a EU-wide research project which aims to transform the European food system so we can reach our climate targets. You can read more about this project here.
Here you can find some selected information that may be of interest to an international audience. If some information is not available here, please feel free to contact us by email.
Key Documents in English
Government documents:
The Danish Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods. Published by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in October 2023.
Multi-year strategy for the Plant-Based Food Grant. Published by the Danish Agricultural Agency in June 2023.
Background documents that preceded Denmark’s plant-based policies:
Plant-Based Foods: R&D Strategy for a New Area of Growth in Denmark’s Food Production System. Published by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council (the largest farmer’s association in Denmark) in collaboration with the think tank Frej and the Vegetarian Society of Denmark in November 2020. Healthy Food Healthy Planet financially supported the translation of the strategy in English.
You can also find the R&D strategy translated to:
Fra Foder til Føde. Danish version (English version expected to be published in second quarter of 2024). Vision report from five green NGO’s and the Danish Plant-Based Business Association in November 2020.
Inspirational documents and video on “How Denmark got plant-based policies on the political agenda’
Book chapter on “How to achieve national plant‑based
policies – The case of Denmark (page 254-260) in the book Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets.
Inspirational paper inspired by Denmark’s successful National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods that shows practical methods and policy proposals to transform our food system and promote healthy, sustainable diets. The inspirational paper is created as part of the EU-project CLEVERFOOD You will find the inspirational paper here.
Video: “How Denmark became a leader in plant-based policies”. Supported by Thrive.
Video: “Denmark’s Four Key Initiatives to Promote Plant-Based Foods” Supported by Thrive.
Why is Denmark an important country in the global transition towards less animal production and more plant-based production?
Denmark has for years hosted the largest animal production per capita, with two giants (Danish Crown and Arla) exporting large amounts of pork meat and dairy products. If a transition can happen in Denmark, it gives hope to the rest of the world, that it can happen anywhere.
In October 2021, the Danish Government and Parliament (including almost all parties) agreed on a reform of Danish agriculture and food production. A groundbreaking part of the agreement was the decision:
- To create a National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods
- To set up a Fund for Plant-Based Food Products with 675 million DKK over 8 years
How many vegetarians and vegans are there in Denmark?
Approximately 3 % of the Danish population are vegetarians, and of these approximately ¼ are vegans. Among young people between 18 and 34 years, 7 % are vegetarians, and the percentage is increasing steadily year by year.
An additional 17 % of the population are flexitarians (defined as eating vegetarian (no meat, no fowl, no fish) at least 3-4 days a week). Among young people between 18 and 34 years, 29 % are flexitarians (Coop Analyse & DVF 2023). The number of flexitarians, in the general population and among young people, is increasing steadily year by year.