A Majority Of Dutch People Support A Transition To More Plant-Based Diets

A recent survey in the Netherlands revealed that a majority of Dutch people support a transition to more plant-based diets. The research, commissioned by ProVeg Netherlands, found that two-thirds of people in the country are in favor of a shift towards more plant-based food systems. Additionally, one in five young people would like to give up meat, and half of Dutch people want to eat less meat.

The top reasons for supporting a plant-based transition include concerns about animal suffering, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the preservation of marine life. The Dutch government has set a target for people to get half their protein from plants by 2030, with efforts already underway to increase the proportion of plant-based protein sold in supermarkets and reduce meat consumption in the country. While taste and the belief that meat is necessary for health remain barriers to reducing meat consumption, the survey suggests that the desire to eat less meat is already present in the population, making it feasible to make the Netherlands more plant-based without first convincing people of the benefits.