Opinion: Farmers and the plant-based transition: unlikely partners or perfect pair?
The agricultural sector is crucial to Europe’s heritage, supporting communities, generating employment, and providing food on our tables. But farmers are expressing anger and frustration over a range of reasons, from unfair trading practices and bureaucracy to environmental measures – as demonstrated by the recent waves of protests across the European bloc. Opinions are increasingly […]
Large survey of political parties across Europe shows increasing calls for more sustainable food and agriculture
In a newly published report, Plant-based Politics: the 2024 EU Election Guide, the European Vegetarian Union has compiled the largest survey of its kind, collecting answers from over 50 political parties across Europe and 7 Europarties, on where they stand on food policy issues. The report looks at the answers Europarties and national political parties […]
Upcoming Webinar: European parties’ views on the future of food policy
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) will host a webinar on 15 May at 10:30 CET, unveiling the upcoming report “Plant-based Politics: the 2024 EU Election Guide.” The event will feature insights from European political parties and Europarties on plant-based solutions and food policy recommendations. The discussions will focus on the Farm2Fork Strategy and the Plant-Based […]
Plant-based producers file legal challenge against ‘meaty’ term ban
In a significant legal challenge, key French producers of plant-based meat alternatives, including Umiami, La Vie, Nutrition & Santé, HappyVore, and Accro, filed, on Friday 22nd March, an interim injunction with the Conseil d’Etat against France’s latest decree banning ‘meaty’ terms for plant-based foods. Interim injunctions serve to prevent unfairness while awaiting a trial by […]
European Climate Risk Assessment report calls for shift to Plant-based diets
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) welcomed the publication of the first European Climate Risk Assessment report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) at the request of the European Commission, which alerts to the climate risks facing Europe and the need to urgently implement policies to better prepare the continent. The report is yet one more […]
Europe’s largest pork exporter found guilty of greenwashing
Danish Crown, Europe’s largest pork exporter, has been found guilty of using misleading climate advertising, marking a significant victory for the Vegetarian Society of Denmark (DVF) following a court decision in by the Western High Court in Viborg, Denmark. This ruling emphasises the urgency for transparency in the food industry’s environmental claims and challenges the […]
The EVU welcomes cross-party support for Plant-Based Manifesto
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) has welcomed the endorsement of the Plant-Based Manifesto by a broad spectrum of European leaders, candidates and members of the European Parliament, policymakers and researchers. The manifesto outlines detailed policy recommendations for EU policymakers ahead of the 2024 elections, aiming to guide the EU towards a sustainable and more plant-based […]
Despite legal concerns, France publishes a new ban on ‘meaty’ terms for plant-based foods
In a move that borders on the farcical, the French government has once more proposed a ban on the use of ‘meaty’ terms for plant-based alternatives. France has already attempted to propose such a decree before. The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) and the Association Végétarienne de France (AVF) brought the first decree to court, resulting […]
Veganism determined a protected belief by Danish court
In a landmark decision, a municipal court in Denmark has determined that veganism falls under the protection of belief as outlined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Hjorring court was ruling on a lawsuit initiated by the Vegetarian Society of Denmark and recognised that acts denying access to plant-based foods […]
Backtracking on climate ambitions to hurt farmers
As the European Union gears up for the June 2024 elections, the future of the European Green Deal hangs in the ballot. The European Commission has taken steps that weaken the ambitions of the Green Deal and other key EU legislation. The recent dilution of environmental standards in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), underscores a […]
