Our work encompasses a variety of programs. Below we will just briefly explain each of our programs. You can also find an earlier illustrated annual report (2019) in English here.

Policy work and lawsuits

Through our policy work we inspire politicians to create new policies and secure government funding for a plant-based transition from farm to table.

The work consists of developing policy proposals and creating good relationships with politicians across the political spectrum, as well as establishing and maintaining a reputation among government professionals as well as other lobby organizations as a reliable organization that provides valuable input for policy development. This includes many meetings (in person, online, and via phone), organizing seminars and debates, attending major political events, conducting surveys and publishing the results ahead of elections, as well as an annual networking evening for plant-based professionals, including politicians.

The work is supplemented by some strategical lawsuits when we deem it necessary to ensure progress; currently this includes a lawsuit on the right to plant-based food in public sector kitchens, and a greenwashing lawsuit against pork giant Danish Crown.

Knowledge, data & network: Strengthening the value chain

This program is a core strategical program, which have had and still has effects across our other programs, as well as being a key driver in the ongoing plant-based development in Denmark, as it aims to bring together many stakeholders.

It revolves around Danish Center for a Plant-Based & Organic Future, a strategical partnership with Organic Denmark, the second-most influential farmer’s association in Denmark. The aim of the center is to pave the way for Denmark living up to the EAT-Lancet dietary guidelines and the UN’s SDGs through a plant-based transition from farm to fork, by gathering, sharing, and applying knowledge.

The activities of the center include Danish Network for Plant Proteins, a successful network with 160+ professional participants. It also includes collecting data from consumer surveys both in Denmark and from export markets, as well as collecting market data.

Institutional outreach: Transforming foodservice

This program aims to achieve higher level of knowledge about plant-based cooking (taste, satiety, product categories, legumes, nudging and best-practice) in the foodservice sector. Also, we aim to enhance exchange of experiences among stakeholders (e.g., what works in a canteen, better naming of dishes, how to build an including menu and increase sales of green dishes) as well as push for a much more plant-based focus at educational programmes for chefs and other kitchen professionals.

The interventions used include meetings, presentations, presence at food fairs for professionals, inspirational materials, partnerships and network, fund applications with, e.g., cooking schools about qualification of subject teachers. We target both at educational level (cooking schools), wholesalers, kitchen professionals in general, canteen managers, public procurement officials, and stakeholders from the value chain (farmers, processors, food companies, public procurement officials, etc.) to connect them with the foodservice sector.

Corporate outreach

The aim of this program is to ensure that more and better plant-based products are being developed and made available. This includes advising companies (including start-ups), as well as advising and influencing retailers to adopt more and better plant-based products on their shelves, e.g., by surveying supermarkets and giving out annual awards to the supermarkets that carry and promote a wide selection of plant-based products. It also includes organizing a plant-based expo with 50 vendor stalls.

Product labelling

We have our own labelling scheme called “Det Grønne Hjerte” (The Green Heart). We are also responsible for certifying Danish companies with the international V-Label.

Health & nutrition

This program aims to position health and nutrition more strongly in the public perception of and knowledge about plant-based diets. The program focuses on health professionals (e.g., doctors, nutritionists, established health organizations, etc.), but also strengthens awareness in the general public.

It also includes our work on publishing guiding materials to vegans and vegetarians, and specific guidelines for families with children.

Media outreach

This program covers our media outreach work, which aims to influence public opinion, including politicians, commentators and journalists, food business professionals, other organizations, and the general public. This includes sending press releases to hundreds of media contacts, contacting journalists directly with ideas for stories to be published, reacting on stories (correcting factual errors, adding new angles or data, commenting the proposals of others, etc), writing op-eds, receiving incoming media inquiries, etc.

Individual outreach

Our individual outreach aims to educate and inspire the general public (as well as professionals) and largely takes place through posts on social media (of course supported by our media outreach, through which we also reach a huge audience). This is supplemented by providing information at our website, distributing brochures, and organizing speeches on various topics, both physical and webinars. It also involves festivals and expos, where individuals are inspired.

Educational programs for children and youth

This program aims to educate children and youth on the importance of transforming the food system away from animals and changing diets towards plant-based diets. The core of the program is in-depth sustainability and cooking workshops for secondary school classes, accompanied by printed materials as well as digital learning platforms. This is supplemented by occasional presentations at farmer’s schools, butcher’s schools, as well as high schools.

International capacity building

The purpose of this program is, in the short-term, to facilitate best-practice sharing internationally on plant-based public policy. This includes organizing webinars, offering individual mentoring, facilitating a forum, and writing a white paper. Furthermore, the program includes our participation in EU-funded international collaborative research projects.

Mid- to long-term the aim is to contribute significantly to strengthen international collaboration among veg*n organizations, particularly to help develop the world’s oldest global veg*n umbrella organization, the International Vegetarian Union (IVU), into a modern organization that could help strengthen the work of veg*n organizations from across the world.

This program was only established as a program recently, following Denmark’s unprecedented deal investing 1,25 billion DKK in developing the plant-based sector, which sparked widespread international interest in how this came about.

For more information about our work and programs, we refer to the upcoming review of our programs by Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE).

We are also proud to be recommended by FarmKind as one of the charities that do the most good with additional donations, based on the best evidence available. You can learn more about FarmKind here.

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.

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.

Donate to support our work

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.

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.

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.

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.

Articles and press releases from other media

This is only available if you live in Denmark.

Our more than 4,000 members are a solid foundation for our work. By becoming a member you:

• Support the core costs of our work
• Can vote at the annual general assembly, which elects our board members
• Get discounted access to our events (expos, speeches, social events, etc.)
• Get membership discounts in more than 100 restaurants and shops around the country, as well as many webshops
• Receive our beautiful membership magazine three times a year

Become a member through filling-in this form (in Danish).