The Finnish Parliament recently celebrated its first Veggie Day, or in Finnish, “Eduskunnan vegepäivä,” which marked a significant step forward in promoting sustainable and plant-based foods and solutions for the food industry in Finland. The event, organized by Member of Parliament Mai Kivelä, the parliamentary vegetarian food network, aimed to increase the understanding and political support for plant-based food. At BioMush, we are passionate about showcasing the delicious possibilities of plant-based cuisine, and we brought our A-game to the event with samples that tantalized everybody’s taste buds!
The excitement of the first Veggie Day was palpable. The event, hosted at the Parliament of Finland and supported by WWF Suomi and the European Union, symbolized a collaborative effort towards a greener, healthier future for all. Hundreds of parliamentarians, ministry and corporate executives, organizations, research institute representatives, and food industry players attended.
“Vegetarian food is good for nature, the climate, animals, and human health. Agricultural land is most efficiently used when it produces food directly for humans rather than animals. Plant-based food is the future, which is already here.” – Mai Kivelä, Member of Parliament
The organizers built the Veggie Day event to showcase different plant-based food producers and innovations in a fair-like space. The atmosphere was lively, and attendees enjoyed a variety of delicious plant-based dishes flavored with plant-based chavre, vegan milk, roast biif, umami wonders, and other successful products and other exciting novelties that showcased the diversity of vegetarian gastronomy. In addition to BioMush, the participating companies included Raisio, Just Food, Fazer, MeEat Food Tech, VTT, Mö Kaurameijeri, Pro Vege ry, Valio, Karviaisten Tila, Marttaliitto and Xamk.
Exploring food-related innovation and increasing political support for mainstreaming vegetarian and plant-based foods
Eduskunnan vegepäivät wasn’t just about showcasing food technology innovators and their solutions of today and tomorrow. It was a platform for inspiring change and sparking exciting conversations about the future of food. By exploring the vast potentials of plant-based food, including its economic, health, and environmental benefits, the event aimed to ignite a spark of curiosity and innovation among Members of Parliament, paving the way for a more sustainable and delicious future.
As Finland embraces the vegetarian food revolution, it signals a shift towards a more sustainable and fair food system. Veggie Day’s resounding success, with its many attendees and wide range of plant-based offerings, demonstrates the increasing momentum behind plant-based diets and highlights the potential of sustainable eating practices. It’s a testament to our collective efforts and a cause for celebration.
The vegetarian food revolution is the future of food production. And this future is already here.
