TRENDS

Is more protein always better?

High-protein products are becoming increasingly common in supermarkets. In the United States, 61 percent of consumers increased their protein intake in 2024. In 2019, that figure was 48 percent. Manufacturers responded b..

Protein transition stalls at 39%

02 March 2026

The protein transition in the Netherlands is showing little movement. The share of plant-based proteins in the Dutch diet remains stuck at 39 percent. This keeps the ratio at 61 percent animal-based and 39 percent plant-...

Supermarkets measure their impact on biodiversity

02 March 2026

Biodiversity is becoming less of an abstract concept. It is being translated into numbers. And those numbers are confronting. A recent study by the University of Jyväskylä in Finland makes clear how significant the impac...

Excise gap drives consumer across the border

27 February 2026

The differences between the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium are widening. Businesses in border regions in the Netherlands feel it every day. According to MKB-Nederland and a broad coalition of trade associations, the li...

Less dependency requires control of the supply chain

26 February 2026

Geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions are increasing pressure on international supply chains. For the Dutch food industry, that presents a tangible risk. Many producers depend on raw materials, ingredients, and ma...

Behavior determines the success of circular packaging

25 February 2026

A circular system can be technically flawless. Yet it only works if people participate. That was the central message at PACtalk 2026, organized by Verpact at Naturalis in Leiden. Policymakers, companies, municipalities, ...

Odin and Vegetariërsbond launch Budget Vegan Challenge

23 February 2026

Organic and plant-based food is still often seen as expensive. Odin and the Vegetariërsbond want to challenge that perception. With the ‘Odin Budget Vegan Challenge,’ they aim to show that organic, plant-based eating doe...

New campaign aims to accelerate the protein transition

23 February 2026

Wissel ’ns Wat! launches on March 2. The new nationwide campaign takes over from the National Week Without Meat and will now be active year-round. The focus clearly shifts toward behavioral change in everyday practice. ...

Climate gains start with eating behavior

20 February 2026

The climate challenge is often framed in terms of technology and innovation. The Wetenschappelijke Klimaatraad (WKR) emphasizes something else: behavior. According to the council, the potential of behavioral change remai...

The real impact of PFAS on the food chain

18 February 2026

The societal costs of PFAS pollution in Europe run into the billions. This is evident from the European Commission report The cost of PFAS pollution for our society. The findings are directly relevant to the Dutch food i...

Lidl: 46% of sales within the Disc of Five

17 February 2026

Lidl is stepping up its commitment to healthier eating. The supermarket has set a new target for 2030. By then, at least 46% of food sales must fall within the Disc of Five guidelines. The ambition applies to the entire ...

New sugar tax hits 20% of supermarket assortment

13 February 2026

A new sugar tax is putting supermarkets on edge. The government intends to introduce a levy from 2030 on pre-packaged foods containing more than 6% sugar. That currently affects nearly one in five supermarket products. T...

ING: Food inflation eases in 2026

12 February 2026

Consumers remain concerned about their grocery bills. Still, new projections point to easing price pressure in 2026. This offers food companies and retailers some cautious relief, although demand remains fragile. Infl...

These 33 crops are resilient, healthy and future-proof

12 February 2026

Dutch agriculture relies heavily on a limited number of dominant crops. WWF-NL and the Louis Bolk Instituut aim to change that. They present a list of 33 food crops that, according to their research, make the strongest c...

Shorter waiting time for electricity connection

11 February 2026

The queue for an electricity connection has been a persistent headache for years. Food companies sometimes wait a long time for a new or upgraded connection. As a result, expansion plans and sustainability projects are d...

Better for Nature & Farmers wins Agribusiness Award 2026