Denmark Is Nudging an Entire Population into Plant-Based Foods

An often‑quoted statistic claims livestock supply chains account for roughly 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To help reduce these emissions, Denmark is investing significant resources in a green transition of its entire food and agriculture sectors.

Implicit in its goals is to turn Denmark into a world leader in plant-based foods.

Two Danish officials spoke on their country’s aggressive efforts to rely less on animal proteins and more on plant-based ones at the December 2025 “Global Forum for Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins,” held in December at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC.

Kenneth Madsen, head of the department for trade, markets & geopolitics at Landbrug & Fødevarer (the Danish Agriculture & Food Council) was joined by Jeppe Petersen, special attaché for food and agriculture at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Petersen emphasized that while some components may not directly translate to the U.S., they may serve as inspiration.

In 2024, Denmark introduced the Green Tripartite Agreement — the world’s first comprehensive agricultural climate policy focused on transforming its farming practices and land use. The agreement brought together government, farmers and environmental non-governmental organizations, including the Danish Society for Nature Conservation.

“In October [of 2023], Denmark published the world’s first National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods,” says a document from the country’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Fisheries. “The programme puts forth a roadmap to radically increase the proportion of plant-based foods in the national diet, with a view to cutting the country’s carbon emissions, improving health outcomes for ordinary Danes and creating economic opportunities for the country’s food production sectors in a globally growing industry.”

One priority of the plan, Madsen and Petersen explained, was a national public procurement agreement to increase the use of organic and plant-rich meals. This resulted in approximately 1.03 million meals served daily across two regions and 77 municipalities.

According to Madsen, “133 new plant-based products were introduced to schools, which increased plant food consumption by 24%.”

A second priority is establishing a public fund dedicated to plant-based foods. Backed by 90.6 million euros from 2023 to 2030, the fund aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% and involves stakeholders from research institutions, universities, retail, foodservice and consumer communities.

Many components of the agreement are ambitious. For example, one goal — guided by 23 advisory boards of farmers and authorities — aims to restore 15% of Denmark’s farmland to its natural state, requiring the country to “produce more with less.”

The transition poses cultural and economic challenges. As in many regions of the U.S., Denmark has a deep-rooted, farm-based animal sector that plays a crucial economic role. The country exports approximately 80% of its agricultural output, including pork, beef, poultry, seafood and, in particular, dairy products.

Progress is underway. “The country has successfully negotiated a tax on farm emissions with key industry players,” Madsen said. However, farmers are now asking who will fund CO2-reduction systems — and how they can remain competitive with countries such as Poland.

Madsen believes Denmark could achieve roughly half of its emissions-reduction goal with existing measures but will require new technologies to achieve the rest. To continue advancing plant-based foods and sustainable production, public-private partnerships will be essential.