Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Sid Mehta & Vijay Iyengar at Pulses 26/
“Towards pulses-friendly government policies across the world: Learnings from Denmark and Danish plant-based diplomacy”

This session explored how public policy can help expand pulse consumption, with a particular focus on Denmark’s pioneering national plant-based action plan. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Deputy Chair of the Danish Government’s Plant-Based Food Grant, outlined how collaboration between government, farmers, industry groups and civil society helped secure funding programs, dietary recommendations and market development initiatives designed to increase the production and consumption of plant-based foods.

Joining the discussion, GPC President and Agrocorp Chairman Vijay Iyengar, and Greenworks Founder & CEO, Nihkhah Co-Founder and SDG 12.3 Champion Sid Mehta, emphasized the role that policy can play in scaling pulse demand far beyond what individual marketing efforts can achieve. School meal programs, public procurement, food-service education and national dietary guidelines were highlighted as key tools for driving long-term consumption growth.

The speakers also stressed the importance of patience and collaboration, noting that policy change takes years to deliver results but can create lasting market expansion. The session concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between GPC and Denmark’s plant-based initiative, aimed at advancing cooperation on policies and programs that support greater pulse consumption worldwide.

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