VUB students want to move to 80% plant-based catering by 2032

May 21, 2026

Brussels, 21 May 2026 - The student council of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) wants to substantially increase the supply of plant-based food on campus. With a new action plan, in addition to the existing offer, students are aiming for 80 per cent plant-based catering by 2032. The approach must remain feasible, affordable and attractive to all students.

Worldwide, food production is responsible for almost 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. To meet the climate goals, change is also needed on our plates. Whereas the Flemish Green Deal ProteinShift aims for 60 per cent vegetable proteins by 2030, the VUB student council wants to go a step further.

The plan envisages a 15 per cent annual growth in sales of plant-based meals, mainly through better quality, smart pricing and more attractive alternatives.

Cheaper, tastier and more accessible

The student council proposes concrete and easily accessible measures. For instance, vegetarian alternatives would be offered as standard with popular snacks such as sausage rolls. They also want to experiment with 'hybrid meat', where part of the meat is replaced by plant proteins without sacrificing taste.

"We don't want to ban anyone from eating meat," says initiator and student council member Oskar Bonte. "But the sustainable choice should become the most logical choice: tastier, healthier ánd cheaper."

According to the student council, sustainability does not have to be expensive. Through economies of scale and targeted product choices, plant-based meals can remain affordable for students.

Broad support on campus

That the proposal is popular among students is shown by a recent student council survey. More than a quarter of respondents consciously choose plant-based meals for environmental reasons, while animal welfare is also often mentioned as a motivation. In addition, more than 1,000 students already signed a petition for a greener menu on campus.

Climate expert Prof Wim Thieryalso thinks the initiative deserves the university's full support: "Scientific research clearly shows that the agricultural sector, and livestock farming in particular, contributes substantially to global warming. The transition to a climate-neutral society is one in which we also drastically reduce emissions in agriculture. Rolling out a 'planetary health diet', as recommended by the EAT-Lancet Commission, is an important step in this. Knowledge institutions in rich countries, such as the VUB, can take the lead in this."

Co-initiator Marieke Lobert also argues that healthy and sustainable eating should not be a luxury. "Students are ready for more ambitious climate measures. Now it is up to the university to take that step with us".

Finally, Merel Thijs, coordinator of the Plant Based Universities action group on campus, sees the proposal as a logical next step. “More and more students are asking for a food policy that aligns with climate science. Now is the time to turn that demand into concrete policy,” she says.