Evaluation of the multi-actor partnership Flemish Green Deal 'Protein Shift on our plate'

This paper evaluates the Flemish Green Deal Protein Shift on our Plate (GDPS), a multi-actor partnership launched in 2021 to promote a dietary transition towards a 40/60 ratio of animal- to plant-based proteins and reduce overall protein intake by 2030. Using and adapting a transdisciplinary evaluation framework, we assessed the GDPS in terms of context, process, and intermediate outcomes. Data collection combined document analysis, semi-structured interviews (n=7), and an online questionnaire (n=28), representing 39% of the signatories. Results highlight strengths including a well-structured institutional setup, broad and diverse participation, constructive leadership, transparent communication, and valuable social learning. Intermediate outcomes included enhanced capacity building, strengthened networks, and improved systems, target, and transformation knowledge, with tangible impacts such as the co-created ‘halfhalf’ narrative. Challenges identified were limited resources, unequal commitment among signatories, risk of greenwashing, and difficulties in translating partnership outcomes into measurable consumer-level dietary change. Overall, the GDPS contributed to awareness raising, organisational change, and incremental steps in the protein transition, while underscoring the complexity of achieving systemic dietary shifts. Insights from this evaluation provide guidance for designing and strengthening future multi-actor sustainability partnerships.