Year in review: what happened during the third year of NÉGYOSZ
It may be hard to believe, but we are already closing our third year. We feel it is worth taking a look back at previous years, but especially at this year’s events.
Our first year was about developing NÉGYOSZ’s strategy and work processes and introducing our organization to Hungarian industry players, whether they be government agencies or domestic plant-based food producers.
In our second year, we forged closer ties with industry players. We made it clear that plant-based foods have a place in the market, and we established relationships that allowed us to be present at conferences, professional consultations, and negotiations, where our position counts.
So what did we do in our third year, 2025? Here is our summary:
Another year for the future of plants – What did NÉGYOSZ do in 2025?
If we had to describe NÉGYOSZ’s year in 2025 in one word, it would probably be “presence.” Presence in domestic professional discourse and on the international stage, in research, at conferences, during the festival season, and among people who are open to a more sustainable, health-conscious food system.
For the National Association of Plant-Based Food Producers and Distributors, 2025 was not a year of quiet background work, but rather one of active communication and connection.
Our membership has also grown, with three new producers joining us.
Goals for 2025
One of our goals was to promote easy-to-understand dialogue about plant-based diets. An important step in this direction is to spread knowledge and information beyond professional circles. This is why we opened up to new formats, such as our podcast collaboration and our festival outreach.
The news and analyses featured on our blog also served this purpose: to show how demand for plant-based products is developing, what direction retail is moving in, and what European consumer trends are revealing. It is clear that more and more people are open to new solutions and alternative proteins, whether in terms of trying them out or making longer-term lifestyle changes.
The year was not just about conferences and writing professional articles. Personal presence and community were also important, and face-to-face meetings approached the topic of plant-based foods from a completely different angle. Community, gastronomy, relaxation, reflection, and humor came together at the events, clearly demonstrating that a plant-based approach is not about sacrifice, but can also be an inspiring and human experience.
NÉGYOSZ activities in 2025, month by month:
January
On January 14, we participated in the inaugural meeting of the National Chamber of Agriculture’s Free-From Working Group, which started with a record number of participants and clear professional demands. The three focus areas of our joint work are education, tax burdens, and market research, of which NÉGYOSZ places primary emphasis on education and taxation issues.
On January 31, we celebrated NÉGYOSZ’s second birthday. We spent three meaningful hours with our colleagues, members, and supporters, engaging in professional and less formal conversations, sharing funny stories, and summarizing the past years and future goals.
February
On February 9, the amendment to the EMMI decree on public catering came into force, which included an important legislative step forward in ensuring plant-based meals in hospitals. The change was initiated by NÉGYOSZ, which aims to increase the availability of plant-based diets in the long term and support sustainable food options in healthcare institutions.
On February 11, NÉGYOSZ participated in the “Sustainable Future with Legumes” professional workshop organized as part of the LegumES project, where experts, producers, and stakeholders examined the role of legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas, etc.) in sustainable agriculture and food systems. NÉGYOSZ, in agreement with the other participants, emphasized that the production and consumption of legumes can bring economic, environmental, and health benefits, and therefore supports their dissemination and integration into the national food strategy.
March
On the 27th, we presented the work and research of NÉGYOSZ, domestic plant-based trends, and the role of food industry innovations in a lecture held for dietitian students at the University of Pécs. Dietitian Szilvia Magyarvári presented the OkosFehérje public education program and encouraged students to use their professional knowledge to help people make informed nutritional decisions.
April
At the Radnóti Cooperation Festival held at ELTE Radnóti High School, more than 100 students were introduced to the concept of plant-based nutrition as part of the OkosFehérje (Smart Protein) project. Vegan chef Gergely Zsolnay’s inspiring presentation was followed by a lively discussion on the ethical and sustainability aspects of different diets, and the program concluded with a highly successful plant-based tasting.
May
On May 15, our CEO, István Miskolczi, spoke at the roundtable discussion entitled “Will the advance of alternatives continue?” at the Trade magazine’s Innovation Day conference. During the discussion, we were able to debate the future of plant-based alternatives with key industry players.
On May 29, our CEO participated in the second meeting of the NAK Mentes Working Group.
On May 30, as part of the NÉGYOSZ Smart Protein project, we gave a presentation at the training session of the Prison Service in Pilisszentkereszt in front of 55 food service managers. We presented how plant-based solutions can contribute to more sustainable and health-conscious public catering, and the presentation was followed by a joint plant-based dinner. The event was an important step in shaping attitudes in one of the key areas of public catering.
June
At the event of the Hungarian Dietetic Association, we also had a stand (4th Health Professional Day). It was a pleasure to see that representatives of the dietetic profession welcomed our members’ plant-based products with open arms and keen interest. We received numerous questions and had inspiring conversations, which raised the possibility of further cooperation in the future.
On June 11, a packed conference in Brussels discussed the possibilities of the EU’s action plan on plant-based foods, in which NÉGYOSZ also participated. The event made it clear that plant-based foods can play a key role in Europe’s future from an economic, health, and environmental perspective. According to the participants, with the right policy decisions and support, the EU could even become a world leader in this field.
A vision for the EU’s Plant-Based Action Plan was born, which NÉGYOSZ, as a member of EVU, supported by signing it. On June 11, István Miskolczi personally attended the event at the European Parliament.
Our first festival appearance took place at the Water Music Flower Festival between June 25 and 27. Over the course of three days, we introduced nearly 200 interested visitors to the versatility of legumes and shared our recipes. In addition, we represented the plant-based diet at a panel discussion at the Krisna Valley Fair, building professional relationships and promoting domestic and international experiences with tastings and publications.
We also tried our hand at new formats, participating in a three-episode podcast series with Gergely Litkai. It is important to NÉGYOSZ that professional knowledge does not remain confined to closed circles. One way we did this was with the Zöld Válasz (Green Answer) podcast, which talked about plant-based diets and sustainable lifestyles in a way that was easy to understand but still credible, covering misconceptions, scientific findings, and practical experiences. The podcasts aired in June, August, and October.
August
From August 15 to 17, NÉGYOSZ and comedian Gergely Litkai collaborated on a three-day Vegan Weekend in Mátra. The event provided a special space for deepening sustainability, plant-based eating, and personal connection, while offering a genuine community experience. Dietitian Szilvi Magyarvári and executive chef Gergely Zsolnay also contributed to the success of the program with their professional knowledge and inspiring presence. The event clearly demonstrated that initiatives based on plant-based diets can be professionally credible, experience-oriented, and community-building at the same time. NÉGYOSZ plans to organize similar events in the future.
This summer, NÉGYOSZ also held its first election of officers.
September
From September 11 to 14, we were in Warsaw at the CARE Conference, an international, diverse forum where animal welfare advocates, researchers, activists, and industry experts discussed sustainability and the future of food systems. NÉGYOSZ emphasized the role of plant-based foods and alternatives in sustainable nutrition and built valuable international relationships for the Hungarian plant sector.
On the 20th, we set up a stand at the 26th professional conference of the Hungarian Dietetic Association. This time, the event focused on plant-based diets. Our plant-based tasting was a great success, with dietitians often unable to distinguish the plant-based products from their traditional counterparts. We met hundreds of interested visitors during the day and established numerous new professional contacts. Thanks to NÉGYOSZ’s presence, many professionals encountered these products for the first time.
October
On October 20-21, representatives of NÉGYOSZ participated in the Plant Food Summit in Copenhagen, where they discussed the future of plant-based foods with international experts, industry players, and decision-makers. Our presence, representing Hungary’s plant-based sector, strengthened our professional network, showcased Hungarian practices, and provided inspiration for domestic market and educational initiatives.
November
On November 6–7, NÉGYOSZ had its own stand at the MOTE II congress, which provided an opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with doctors, researchers, and other professionals about the role of plant-based diets in healing and the professional work of NÉGYOSZ.
On November 26, we held our policy conference entitled “The Place of Plant-Based Foods in the Food Economy,” which invited stakeholders in the domestic food economy to a day-long dialogue on the future of sustainable food. The event had a special focus on the Danish example: Marie-Louise Boisen Lendal, founder of the Danish Frej Think Tank and chair of the Danish Plant-Based Food Fund, presented how the world’s first plant-based action plan came about and how it became part of a broad social and political consensus. The conference provided an inspiring international perspective for participants from ministries, industry, and research, and confirmed that plant-based solutions have a real place in the food economy of the future.
We consider it a milestone that the event, which brought together decision-makers, researchers, industry players, civil society organizations, and agricultural experts, expressed the intention to launch the development of a national Sustainable Food Strategy.
The NÉGYOSZ OkosFehérje project is now one year old. The initiative aims to promote legumes as a sustainable source of protein and to educate the public. The project got off to a strong start, with numerous collaborations, a wealth of content, blog articles, recipes, and even presentations. The Okosfehérje social media content has generated more than 1 million organic views. We are moving forward with enthusiasm and plans for the coming year.
December
A joint delegation from NÉGYOSZ and the Hungarian Soy and Protein Plant Association (MSZFE) held professional consultations in Brussels with members of the European Parliament and staff from the Hungarian Permanent Representation. The discussions focused on the situation and economic potential of the plant protein sector and the opportunities offered by the Common Agricultural Policy. The aim of the meetings was to ensure that domestic interests and the aspects of a sustainable food industry are given prominence in EU decision-making.
The MSZFE represents approximately 350 farmers engaged in protein crop production, and we have been in a contractual partnership with them since 2025. Our common goal is for protein crops to receive greater support and policy attention and to be recognized as an independent sector. The next 1-2 years will be particularly important as the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) takes shape. The MSZFE’s expertise is key to supporting decision-making and helps us better understand the sector’s operations and challenges.
Veggie burger ban: The EU has postponed its decision on restricting the naming of plant-based products until 2026, due to strong social and professional opposition. This is an important sign of the growing acceptance of plant-based alternatives. NÉGYOSZ also represented its position that banning names does not serve the interests of consumers or the development of the food industry. Clear labeling is sufficient, and regulation should support innovation and sustainable solutions.
Of course, there is much more consultation, organization, professional dialogue, legal analysis, etc. going on in the background, and as soon as any of the results can be made public, they will be included in our news.
Our domestic and EU policy work
It is important to mention that for a young organization such as NÉGYOSZ, this is a huge undertaking: our association is putting a lot of effort into domestic and EU policy work. Some of these projects and our contributions are visible, while others are less so – for now, at least.
Lessons learned in one year
In 2025, NÉGYOSZ worked consistently to make plant-based foods understandable, visible, and taken seriously. Not only for the industry, but also for the wider public. Its international presence, educational content, and community events all pointed in the same direction: toward a food system that is more sustainable, flexible, and open to the challenges of the future.
If one thing is certain at the end of 2025, it is that plant-based foods are no longer on the periphery, and NÉGYOSZ has played a visible role in this process. This is also evidenced by the fact that our Manifesto has been signed by many people again this year, bringing the total number of signatures to 544 so far.
We will continue our work in 2026!