A new EU-backed project aims to accelerate plant-based food adoption through farmer support, innovation, and national health initiatives.
A new European project called ISAAP (Innovative Strategies to Accelerate Adoption and Consumption of Plant-Based Food) has been launched with the support of the food innovation network EIT Food.
The €2.2 million project brings together a consortium of organizations from Portugal, Czechia, and Denmark to promote healthier, more sustainable food systems. It will build on Denmark’s national action plan for plant-based foods, aiming to implement similar strategies in Portugal and Czechia.
In Portugal, the project will train farmers to cultivate legumes and develop products such as legume-based cheese. In Czechia, plant-based catering options will be expanded and best practices will be shared across the sector, including through ProVeg’s New Food Forum event.
“The ISAAP project brings a unique opportunity to close the gap in local value chains and address the needs of all stakeholders working towards improved ecosystems, better health and diets, and stronger economies,” said Carla S. Santos, Doctorate Researcher at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. “At UCP, we are committed to translating science into practice, from supporting farmers to developing innovative plant-based foods, ensuring that these solutions contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Transforming food systems
In Denmark, the project will promote the health benefits of plant-based diets by creating a national knowledge network and resources for healthcare professionals. ISAAP aims to support EIT Food’s three missions: building a net-zero food system, supporting healthier lives through food, and creating a fairer, more resilient food system.
The project is coordinated by ProVeg Czechia, Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal, CERPRO – Organização de Produtores, S.A., ProVeg Portugal, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Dansk Vegetarisk Forening, and Catering Zdravě. These partners are said to bring expertise in advocacy, farming, catering, product innovation, and health.
“This project represents a unique opportunity to transform our food systems for the benefit of people and the planet,” said Linda Janatová, EU Project Manager at ProVeg Czechia. “By supporting farmers, innovating in food services, and engaging policymakers, ISAAP will accelerate the adoption of plant-based foods across Europe.”
ISAAP is part of the EIT Food Impact Funding Framework and will run from September 2025 until August 2027.
Original source: https://vegconomist.com
https://www.animalagricultureclimatechange.org/plant-based-denmark/
