The Plant Based Foods Institute was launched as a subsidiary of the Plant Based Foods Association this past week.  The objective will be to lobby the public sector to be more receptive to plant based foods, to modify agricultural practices and to promote regenerative and sustainable food systems.

The Plant Based Foods Institute will obviously attempt to influence federal policy on diets including the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” in addition to legislation including the Farm Bill.  The Plant Based Foods Institute will also promote alternatives to livestock products for schools, hospitals and the food service sector. 

The Board of the Institute will comprise Dr. Jaime Athos of the Tofurky Company, Matt Dunaj of Follow Your Heart, Liz Ross, founder of Rethink Your Food, Audrey Lam of the Center for Energy, Tyler Whitley of Mercy for Animals and Dr. Garrett Broad of Rowan University.

It is evident that the Plant Based Foods Association will become more active in both promoting products manufactured by their membership but also in opposing foods from the intensive livestock industry.  This will require commensurate action on the part of livestock and poultry associations to counter what will evidently be a program of questionable veracity emphasizing health, welfare, sustainability and environmental considerations.