The final report “Sustainable food and citizen participation” documents a deliberative citizens’ dialogue aimed at promoting more plant-based diets – a key priority for the 2030 Agenda as well as for climate and biodiversity protection. A diet with a stronger focus on plant-based foods can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource use in the food system, while also improving health – provided that food environments such as canteens are redesigned accordingly. 

Participants in the citizens’ dialogue on sustainable food were selected to be as socially representative as possible. The project team recruited them from across Germany using random sampling. Supported by experts, the citizens developed 13 concrete recommendations for political action to enable a dietary shift – including the promotion of plant-based meals in communal catering according to the quality standards of the German Nutrition Society (DGE) and the Planetary Health Diet, the introduction of environmentally friendly taxes and subsidies on food products, and an environmental and health labelling scheme. 

The participation process, which took place between 2022 and 2024, included a citizens’ workshop in Kassel and a real-life trial phase in which participants tested the Planetary Health Diet, a bonus system and price adjustments. Other components were an online mid-term meeting, a citizens’ forum contributing to the German Federal Government’s Food and Nutrition Strategy, a workshop to finalize the recommendations, outreach engagement targeting hard-to-reach groups, and an expert review. An external evaluation by the Research Centre Democratic Innovations at Goethe University Frankfurt examined the quality of deliberation, inclusivity, and changes in participants’ attitudes. It delivered an overall positive assessment and particularly highlighted the inclusiveness and diversity of the participation process. 

View report (DE)