Denmark: The major pork producer trying to wean itself off eating meat

Denmark, a major producer of pork, is attempting to shift its dietary habits towards a more plant-based diet. Trine Krebs, a 47-year-old farmer and advocate for plant-based diets, is at the forefront of this movement. Despite her efforts, a significant portion of the Danish population, 57%, express no interest in reducing their meat consumption. This poses a challenge as the production of animal-based foods has been scientifically proven to have a greater environmental impact than plant-based foods, contributing to higher emissions and posing threats to forests and biodiversity.

In response to this, the Danish government has introduced a national roadmap for plant-based food. This comprehensive plan aims to normalize plant-rich diets and incentivize the production of more vegetables and alternative proteins. The roadmap covers the entire food chain, supporting everything from organic root vegetables to processed dairy substitutes and fermented fungi. Walter Willet, a professor of nutrition at Harvard University, commends Denmark's initiative, stating that no other government has implemented such a national-level plan.

However, the success of this plan may be hindered by Denmark's thriving meat industry. Other European countries that have attempted to curb or replace animal products to address climate change have faced significant pushback. Despite this potential obstacle, Denmark's plant-based policies have so far avoided serious backlash. The hope is that Denmark's example can inspire other affluent nations to follow suit, particularly as the UN's Food & Agriculture Organization is set to publish its own food roadmap advising Western countries to reduce their meat consumption.