Climate change is threatening our planet, our way of life and the future of generations to come. But did you know that something as simple as changing what you eat can make a huge difference? Adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet is one of the most effective ways to fight deforestation and global warming. That is why the Belgian development cooperation funds the Andermaal project, led by the NGO BOS+ and its partner ProVeg, aimed at training the chefs of tomorrow in vegan cooking.

How does a plant-based diet help fight deforestation and climate change?

Production and consumption of animal products are responsible for 14 to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Livestock farming requires vast areas of land to graze cattle and grow livestock feed, which leads to the destruction of tropical forests, particularly in the Amazon. These forests are essential for absorbing CO and play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

Beef and mutton, as well as cheese and dairy products, have a significant impact on the climate. In comparison, vegetables, grains and legumes (such as beans, chickpeas and soy) have 10 to 50 times less impact on the climate. Interestingly, 80% of the soy produced worldwide is used to feed livestock, not humans.

By choosing a plant-based diet, you:

  • drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions (methane produced by ruminants is 28 times more harmful than CO);
  • protect hectares of forest from being destroyed to make way for pasture for meat and dairy production;
  • save enormous amounts of water: an average of 1,300 liters per day, the equivalent of 10 bathtubs full of water.

 

Pieter-Jan Lint

 

A real solution: training the chefs of tomorrow

Prejudices against vegan food persist: plant-based foods do not taste good, they are not filling, they are too expensive or it is hard to make them yourself. Some people also associate (consciously or unconsciously) eating meat with masculinity.

NGO BOS+ and its partner ProVeg launched the Andermaal project, funded by the Belgian development cooperation to show how delicious, accessible and varied plant-based cuisine can be. The goal? To raise awareness and train teachers and the chefs of tomorrow in preparing vegan meals like they do at the Hotel School in Ghent, featured in the video.

Workshops led by experts such as Pieter-Jan Lint, renowned chef of the Amaranth restaurant in Merelbeke, included:

  • discovering new products: nutritional yeast, miso, agar-agar, kala namak, etc.;
  • learning modern techniques like making vegan chocolate mousse or tofu croquettes wrapped in nori;
  • tasting delicious and indulgent dishes, debunking the myth that plant-based cuisine is bland or complicated.

 

Ecole Hôtelière de Gand

 

The role of forests and biodiversity

The NGO BOS+ takes concrete action to conserve, restore, and plant forests in Belgium and around the world with the support of the Belgian development cooperation.

Forests play a crucial role: they purify the air, regulate the climate and shelter exceptional biodiversity. However, each year thousands of hectares disappear mainly due to land conversion for livestock farming and the cultivation of fodder crops.

By adopting a plant-based diet, you help reduce the pressure on these ecosystems.

 

Forest

 

The Belgian development cooperation also supports projects within Belgium

Development cooperation is not limited to actions in the Global South. In Belgium, it is particularly embodied through Global Citizenship Education (GCE). Within this framework, the Andermaal project, led by Bos+ and ProVeg, receives funding.

Global Citizenship Education (GCE) helps citizens understand the issues related to inequality, extreme poverty, injustice, migration, various societal crises, global geopolitics, and international relations. GCE goes beyond the educational framework: it mobilizes citizens to take part in innovative solutions based on solidarity, and it supports initiatives that promote a society that respects living beings and their environment. It also plays a key role in political advocacy, strengthening the coherence of policies in favour of sustainable development. Through this approach, it promotes active and critical citizenship, which is essential for tackling the complex challenges of the 21st century.

 

Changing what we eat may seem trivial, but it is a powerful and tangible action in the face of today’s environmental and social challenges. Every vegan meal, every preserved forest, and every training session contributes to building a fairer world.

What about you? Are you willing to take action, one meal at a time?

 

Sources

Pro Environnement - ProVeg Belgium

Ontbossing - BOS+

Succesvol plantaardig! Op weg om je bedrijfskeuken te verduurzamen - BOS+

 

SDGs