Generation Z is the Key to Change in Sustainable Food Systems

Ebru Akdağ, Chairperson of the Board of BİTKİDEN Association, who moderated the "Plant-Based Food Industry Forum and Youth Forum" panel organized by the International Plant-Based Foods Working Group, highlighted the importance of young people in the journey toward sustainable nutrition. Akdağ stated, "In a world facing complex challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and the urgent need for sustainable practices, we believe that our youth are carrying the torch of innovation and action."

The "Role of Plant-Based Foods in the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems" conference, organized by the International Plant-Based Foods Working Group (IPBWG) in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, was held with significant participation. The conference, conducted in a hybrid format, was also attended by the Plant-Based Foods Association (BİTKİDEN), a member of IPBWG. 

Ebru Akdağ, Chairperson of the Board of BİTKİDEN Association, co-moderated the "Plant-Based Food Industry Forum and Youth Forum" panel at the conference alongside Stephanie Maw, Policy Manager for Food Systems Transformation at the United Nations and the European Union. The panel addressed topics such as the Gen Z generation's heightened awareness of environmental issues and how they can lead the adoption of plant-based diets.

"Youth are vital on the path to sustainability."

In her speech at the panel, Ebru Akdağ stated that they have embarked on a journey to unite generations within a plant-based sustainable food system. She expressed: "This is a journey that promises to place plant-based foods at the center of food systems with a sustainable and scientific approach. In a world facing complex challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and the urgent need for sustainable practices, we believe that our youth are carrying the torch of innovation and action. Sustainability, plant-based diets, and the role of our youth in addressing climate change through international law are of critical importance. Our young people are vital in shaping the path we walk toward a sustainable and equitable world. By coming together to promote plant-based eating habits in society—where individual and environmental factors are balanced—we can build a future strengthened for a happy, healthy, peaceful, and sustainable life."