Uniting Farmers, Green NGOs and Politicians in the call for more Plant-Based Foods
Monday, 10 Nov. 16.00-16.50 – Denmark’s Pavilion, D 127, Blue Zone
In this debate, we explore the challenges that exist in transforming the food system and the role that bridgebuilding between farmers, industries and green NGOs play. And could the plant-based initiatives taken by Denmark – the Plant-Based Action Plan and the Plant-Based Food Grant – be a model for inspiration in other countries?
Panel:
H.E. Jacob Jensen – Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Denmark
H.E. Paulo Teixeira – Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture, Brazil
Hon. Issifu Seidu – Minister of State, Climate Change and Sustainability, Ghana
Mr. Ryan Perkins – CEO at Global Pulse Confederation
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – President of the International Vegetarian Union
Moderator:
Mr. Lasse Bruun – Director of Climate and Food, UN Foundation
Plant-Based Diplomacy in the North and the South – Building bridges between diverse stakeholders across the world
Tuesday, 11 Nov. 10.00-10.45 – The Nordic Pavilion, Blue Zone
This debate explores how Denmark’s pioneering plant-based policies and funding mechanism can be adapted to different political, cultural and economic contexts and be relevant in southern countries.
With information of concrete policy tools from Denmark and their effect – we aim to inspire implementation of plant-policies on a global, regional and national scale. A way forward is highlighting the importance of bridgebuilding between all stakeholders of the value chain.
Panel:
Hon. Issifu Seidu – Minister of State, Climate Change and Sustainability, Ghana
Ms. Lea Wermelin – Member of Parliament and former Minister of Environment, Denmark
Mr. Jesse Schevel – Head of Brussels Office at Union of Dutch Greenhouse Growers, World Farmers Organization
Ms. Lara Gilmour – Director of Policy & Sustainability, Global Pulses Confederation
Moderator:
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Feeding the Future with forest friendly foods: How can we mobilize funding?
Tuesday, 11 Nov. 12.00-13.00 – Action on Food Hub, E156, Blue Zone
The objective of this debate is to explore how a Global Forest Friendly Food Fund, inspired by Denmark’s Plant-Based Grant could help create a stronger plant food sector and demand for more plant foods to support a secure food system. A transition towards a sustainable plant-based food system can potentially mitigate the deforestation driven by the current food system.
Furthermore, we will explore how stakeholders can build the case for plant-based funding as an essential climate and biodiversity tool which is able to connect local food policy to global environmental outcomes, while respecting cultures and traditions.
Panel:
Ms. Tyala Ifwanga – Forest Governance Campaigner, FERN
Mr. Claus Felby – Senior Vice President, Novo Nordisk Foundation
Mr. Lasse Bruun – Director of Climate and Food, UN Foundation
Mr. Matheus Alves Zanella – Senior Advisor, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
Moderator:
Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – President of International Vegetarian Union and Executive Director at the Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Bridging Left and Right – how to promote sustainable food systems across political differences
Thursday, 13 Nov. 10.00-10.50 – Denmark’s Pavilion, D 127, Blue Zone
The objective of this debate is to explore how Denmark’s pioneering plant-based policies can be relevant and adapted in different political, economic and cultural contexts. After learning how Denmark achieved cross-party and stakeholder support for the plant-based initiatives, we will explore how other nations can be inspired and adapt these initiatives to their own political landscapes, agricultural contexts and different cultural realities where famine and hunger might even be an issue.
Panel:
Mr. Rasmus Langhoff – Member of Parliament, Social Democrats, Denmark
Ms. Linea Søgaard-Lidell – Member of Parliament, Liberal Party, Denmark
Ms. Dina Raabjerg – Member of Parliament, Conservative Peoples Party, Denmark
Mr. Patrick Bonin – Member of Parliament, Bloc Québécois, Canada
Member of Parliament from Brazil – TBC
Member of Parliament from Portugal – TBC
Moderator:
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Saving forests through plant-based funding: If you had 1 billion USD for plant-based foods, how would you spend it?
Friday, 14 Nov. 12.30-12.55 – AgriZone, Embrapa
The objective of this session is to obtain a better understanding of what kind of funding would be necessary to drive a transformation of the global food system and thereby alleviate the pressure on the world’s forests.
We would therefore like to ask the question: how should global funding for the transformation towards a more plant-based food system look? What is needed and how should a fund – such as a Global Forest Friendly Food Fund inspired by Denmark’s Plant-Based Food Grant – look like? We would like to invite the audience to answer these questions and more in a speedy round of interactive brainstorming.
So, do you have ideas, then come give us your input on how a Global Forest Friendly Food Fund should be established?
Panel:
Ms. Gry Bossen – Project Manager for Forest Friendly Foods, The Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Moderator:
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – President of the International Vegetarian Union and Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Plant-Based Diplomacy: A deep dive on how Danish Farmers Came together with Green NGOs and the Government to make the Danish Plant-Based Action Plan.
Monday, 17 Nov. 16.40-17.55 – AgriZone, Embrapa
This roundtable will give an insight into how Denmark came to have the first ever Action Plan on Plant-Based Foods, supported by both farmers organization and green NGOs. It is exceptional that Denmark – who produces most meat per capita in the world- now has an action plan for plant-based foods, that is even backed and promoted by the farmers and farmers organisations. The Action Plan comes together with the Plant-Based Food Grant with 170 million Euros to develop the production and consumption of plant-based foods.
This will be a roundtable presentation of 5-10 minutes each, with plenty of time – 45 minutes – in the end for explorative questions from the audience in order to ensure the best and most relevant learnings.
Panel:
Mr. Niels Peter Nørring – Climate and EU Director in Danish Agriculture and Food Council
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark and President of the International Vegetarian Union
Government Representative from Denmark – TBC
Scientist – TBC
Moderator:
TBC
How funding Plant Food Systems can protect Nature
Tuesday, 18 Nov. 14.00-14.45 – Denmark’s Pavilion, Blue Zone
The objective of this debate is to examine the important connection between plant-based food investment and nature conservation, analyzing how government funding decisions on food systems can directly impact global biodiversity and climate outcomes through reduced pressure on forests and other ecosystems.
The debate will explore how funding inspired by Denmark’s Plant-Based Food Grant can address deforestation driven by the current food system. And whether funding can help incorporate food transition efforts into broader climate commitments.
Panel:
Ms. Eva Bisgaard Pedersen – Ambassador of Denmark to Brazil
Government Representative from the South – TBC
Forest Organisation Representative – TBC
Finance Representative – TBC
Moderator:
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark
Beyond Factory Farming: Accelerating Global Protein Transition for Climate and Forests
Tuesday, 19 Nov. 14.00-15.00 – Asia Climate Solutions Pavilion, D130, Blue Zone
The livestock sector is a leading driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and rising emissions, threatening global climate goals. Alternative proteins offer a viable path to meet rising protein demand while sharply reducing pressure on forests and land. Yet policy, regulatory standards, and investment for R&D remain far behind the pace of need. This session explores global and regional growth pathways to accelerate protein transition and advance low-carbon food systems.
Panel:
Mr. Bruce Friedrich – President and Founder, GFI
Mr. João Gonçalves – Global Director of Protein Transition, Mighty Earth
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Deputy Chair of Danish Government’s Plant-Based Food Grant
Moderator:
Ms. Eleonora Fasan – Program Officer of Forests & Land Use, SFOC
Low Carbon Diet: Portugal and Denmark’s Roadmap to Nature-Friendly Food Systems and the National Gains of Plant-Based Protein
Thursday, 20 Nov. 10.00-10.45 – Portugal’s Pavilion, Blue Zone
This session brings together key stakeholders from Portugal and Denmark to explore how public policy can drive sustainable and resilient food systems.
The session highlights how government action and international cooperation can accelerate the global transition toward more sustainable food systems. Drawing on examples such as Denmark’s Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods and Portugal’s integration of a strategy for plant-based protein within its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP or PNEC in Portuguese), the discussion will explore how similar initiatives can inspire progress around the world. The goal is to exchange insights, challenges, and opportunities for fostering greater alignment toward nature-friendly, resilient food systems.
Panel:
Representative of the Portuguese delegation – TBC
Government Representative from Denmark – TBC
Mr. Francisco Ferreira, President of ZERO
Moderator:
Ms. Juliette Tronchon, Head of UN Affairs at ProVeg International
Saving forests through plant-based action – How plant-based policies can work towards multiple SDGs
Friday, 21 Nov. 12.00-13.00 – SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone
In this debate we set out to explore if policies and initiatives that support the development of a plant-based food system could be an efficient tool to accomplish multiple SDGs. We also explore how plant-based initiatives can ensure that cultural diversity such as traditional food cultures and farming techniques are not only respected but also included whenever it can inspire and amplify a national and international food-system transformation. Finally, we will discuss how Denmark’s pioneering plant-based policies can be relevant and adapted in different political, economic and cultural contexts.
Panel:
Ms. Eva Bisgaard Pedersen – Ambassador of Denmark to Brazil
Ms. Lily Tanui – Climate Action Lead, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation representing World Farmers Organisation
Forest Rich Country Government Representative – TBC
Indigenous People Representative – TBC
Moderator:
Mr. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl – Executive Director of the Vegetarian Society of Denmark