HAK is one of the founding members of the Green Protein Alliance (GPA). This movement is committed to accelerating the recovery of the protein balance, whereby society will obtain its protein requirements mainly from sustainable, plant-based sources. According to GPA founder and spokesman Jeroen Willemsen, the impact of this goes far beyond just public health. Five questions to the man who is also called the new 'national protein commissioner'.
The Green Protein Alliance is a broad social movement consisting, in addition to producers and providers of plant-based protein, of knowledge partners, scientists, educational institutions and government authorities. But isn't it no more than logical for suppliers and producers of plant-based protein products to advocate an acceleration of the protein transition?
"We desperately need the business community, as well as the knowledge partners, scientists and government authorities. The producers and retailers that are members of the GPA are the front-runners in a development that will have to take place in any case. And they are prepared to invest time, energy and resources. Which won’t amount to hundreds of thousands, but to millions of euros in the years to come. The members act on the basis of a strong, shared vision – namely that it is crucial to stimulate the demand for plant-based protein. Parties close to consumers – the manufacturers and suppliers – play an all-important role in this. It is, after all, a question of changing behaviour. They do this, incidentally, despite their mutually competitive positions in areas such as product development and marketing."
