New green growth team aims to remove VAT on organic products and phase out pesticides

It is time to raise the level of ambition for our food system. Danish companies should be put in the lead for innovative food production, and we need to develop stronger business models that can prepare Denmark for a new reality. This is the message from 12 green organizations and companies, published on Friday in a joint press release from a new alternative green growth team, which presents nine recommendations for the future of Danish food production. Denmark has the knowledge, companies, and farmers that can help create a food production system with greater regard for climate, nature, biodiversity, and animal welfare. But this requires changing the political framework to make it easier and more attractive to produce and demand organic and plant-based foods. This is the main message from the Green Growth Team, which consists of various green organizations and companies. The growth team is thus a green alternative to the Growth Team for future agriculture, food, and biosolutions, which the government established on May 9, 2025. One of the concrete recommendations from the Green Growth Team is to remove VAT on organic foods. According to the team, a lower price could increase demand for organic products and simultaneously contribute to better animal welfare, health, and a more plant-based food production. The growth team also wants to change the way support is provided to agriculture. Instead of primarily paying based on the number of hectares, farmers should be rewarded more for tangible results in areas such as climate, water environment, biodiversity, and animal welfare. Organic farming is a cornerstone "We see organic farming as a cornerstone in a holistic strategy for climate, biodiversity, and animal welfare. As a financial institution for a significant part of Denmark's organic and biodynamic agriculture, we want politicians to focus on those farms that produce with respect for nature, and to provide incentives for even more to join," says Charlotte Skovgaard, CEO of Merkur Cooperative Bank, which is part of the Green Growth Team. Public kitchens should also play a significant role by creating a larger market for green food production. The state, regions, and municipalities should require that kitchens follow dietary guidelines and use at least 90% organic or low climate-impact foods, the recommendations state. Animals' Protection believes that Denmark should generally lead as a sustainable pioneer country. "Denmark has a very large potential to become a leader that shows the way globally in developing a food production that creates life in the countryside, better conditions for both farm animals and wild animals, and much greater biodiversity," says Britta Riis, director of Animals' Protection and a board member of the Organic Association. Young people should have access to land The Organic Youth Movement also sees a need to steer food production in a greener direction: "Developing Danish agriculture and the food system towards a holistic, nature-oriented, and agroecological food system is crucial for the climate, the environment, animals, and ourselves. Young farmers, chefs, consumers, and food professionals work towards this development every day. But if we want to succeed, political action is also required," says Rasmus Dose Sandorff, chairman of the Organic Youth Movement. Danish Organic Land also supports the nine recommendations, and Director Kim Qvist endorses the entire package, describing it as good and relevant suggestions. However, when increasing organic production, he considers sustainable generational change, easier access to land, combined with new ownership models, as essential prerequisites for creating greener agriculture, and he believes the state should take a central role in this.