Plant-based meat is already cheaper than animal-based meat in the Netherlands

According to recent research, plant-based meat is cheaper than animal meat in the Netherlands.

In February, ProVeg International commissioned supermarket researcher Questionmark to conduct a cost analysis. At that time, animal meat was found to be cheaper. But a further analysis conducted in June found that animal meat had increased in cost significantly. This makes vegan options cheaper.

The research results are attributed to inflation and rising input costs causing meat products to increase in price. Plant-based items are largely unaffected by this.

For some time now, consumers in the Netherlands have been moving away from meat products in favor of plant-based alternatives. But demand has yet to be addressed as a potential factor in the price war.

The trend changes from meat to plant proteins

Researchers compared meat and plant-based products across rigorous metrics. All selected items have the lowest prices, and vegan alternatives are suitable for similar servings of animal products.

A total of 36 products were compared. ProVeg acknowledges that there will still be large differences between supermarket chains, and that consumers will have different goals. However, the overall results confirm that animal meat has become more expensive than vegan meat across the board.

In February, plant-based burgers were found to be 56 cents per kilogram more expensive than meat alternatives. Last month, vegan sandwiches were 78 cents/kg cheaper than similar products.

Similarly, vegan chicken pieces, which were previously more expensive (on average €1.16 per kg compared to meat products), have become 37 cents cheaper.

Previously, plant-based minced meat was 29 cents/kg more expensive than meat. Last month it cost €1.36 less per kilogram.

Price is no longer the advantage of meat

Cost is often cited as an obstacle to going vegan. Consumers fear having to pay more for products they are unfamiliar with, but the assumption that plant protein always costs more than meat seems to be a misnomer.

Oxford University says that misunderstandings often stem from comparing regular meat with vegan alternatives, or takeaways.

The organization has conducted research showing that vegan and vegetarian diets are the most cost-effective options in high-income countries.

Dr Marco Springmann, a researcher at the University of Oxford, said: “We think the fact that vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets can save you a lot of money should make people happy. surprised people".

Despite heavy subsidies, the meat industry now faces rising costs that are directly affecting consumers. ProVeg says meat increased in price by an average of 21% from February to June. Meanwhile, plant-based protein only increased in price by about two percent.

“Meat has always been a product that requires a large amount of raw materials. To make one kilogram of meat, you need ten kilograms of grain. Now, in times of scarcity, that comes at a high cost,” said Pablo Moleman of ProVeg Netherlands.

“Due to the high use of raw materials, meat prices are much more sensitive to disruptions in world markets than vegan options,” he continued.

“Plant-based meat is clearly better in terms of efficiency, and now we see that reflected in the price.”