Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl

I am the Secretary-General of the Danish Vegetarian Society and the Regional Representative for Europe at the International Vegetarian Union (IVU). I hold a Master’s Degree in Anthropology and serve as a board member of the Danish Government’s Fund for Plant-Based Foods, which supports various initiatives to increase the production and consumption of plant-based foods in Denmark, from farm to fork. Additionally, I am a member of the Steering Committee of Plant2Food, a research and development initiative launched by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. I have given presentations and conducted workshops on strategic policy work related to plant-based foods in numerous cities across Europe, as well as in the US and China.

In 2020, we at the Danish Vegetarian Society undertook several strategic initiatives involving many stakeholders in Denmark, from farmers’ associations to businesses. This collaboration paved the way for a landmark agreement between the Government and Parliament, which in 2021 resulted in 675 million DKK (later increased to 810 million DKK) being allocated to initiatives to develop the plant-based sector in Denmark. As part of the agreement, it was also decided that Denmark should establish a National Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods.

‘If we want to create a better world, we need a change in perspective regarding how we view the environment, animals, and our health. This means that we need to work on our mindset and our hearts. We need a holistic approach to understand ourselves and empower change – and SHAPE delivers exactly that. That’s why I am an advisor for SHAPE.’