—The “Longest Table” project in Brøndby, which the Novo Nordisk Foundation is supporting with 6 million Danish kroner, aims to spark a movement toward greater enjoyment of food and eating habits that are better for the climate, nature, and individual health. The initiative is led by entrepreneur Claus Meyer in collaboration with Meyers Madhus, the Municipality of Brøndby, and the business-oriented foundation Democracy x.
With 50 liters of green pea soup, 300 rolls, and liters of homemade elderflower lemonade, “The Longest Table” kicked off this week with a community meal at Kulturhuset Brønden in Brøndby Strand. More than 100 local enthusiasts, representatives of organizations, and food-loving residents turned out to learn more about the project—and to taste the delicious soup prepared by Claus Meyer and local volunteers.
Over the next two years, Brøndby Municipality—with a population of just over 40,000—will serve as the setting for one of the largest food experiments in Danish history, in which residents themselves—through their associations, clubs, and other everyday communities—will work to promote greener and healthier eating habits among one another.
“Brøndby is the first municipality to serve as an ‘incubator’ for a project of this magnitude. We dream that in two years, 4,000 of Brøndby’s 40,000 residents will be able to say: We like vegetables more than we did before we started, we eat a more plant-based diet today, and we do so with joy. “We want to share this revelation with our neighbors, family, friends, and colleagues,” said Claus Meyer, the entrepreneur and mastermind behind “The Longest Table,” as he addressed the packed hall at the cultural center during the informational meeting that kicked off the project.
Eating habits are based on norms and experiences. The core idea of the project is therefore to promote healthy eating habits through communal meals organized by and for residents—and by developing new food and meal-preparation skills through cooking and baking classes taught by both local residents and national experts. The project will also support local communities and passionate individuals in making their own dreams a reality—whether it involves foraging trips, kitchen gardens, or breathing new life into the city’s industrial kitchens and community centers.
“It’s very much in the spirit of Brøndby to mobilize everyone—from businesses to neighbors and community groups—to work together to develop our food culture and create something that’s the ‘longest.’ I’m therefore very much looking forward to ‘The Longest Table’ helping to strengthen the communities that form when people sit together at the dinner table. So that we in Brøndby can eat our way to happier, healthier, and stronger communities,” says Maja Højgaard, Mayor of Brøndby Municipality.
Great community dinners with high turnout and strong engagement don’t just happen on their own. That’s why the for-profit foundation Democracy x will train the project’s participants in hospitality and community leadership. Democracy x is also behind Denmark’s National Climate Action Day, which in three years has mobilized 250,000 Danes to take action themselves and participate in the green transition. Rune Baastrup, Director of Democracy x, says:
“We shouldn’t force healthy food down anyone’s throat. On the contrary, we build on the communities’ own wishes and sense of initiative. After all, many people want to strengthen their communities, live healthier lives, and protect the climate. When we build on people’s genuine motivation, new eating habits can spread quickly and become the new ‘normal.’ That is the impact we want to create—and one that other municipalities will be able to replicate.”
Judging by the number of empty soup plates and the lively chatter in the hall, “The Longest Table” has now taken a solid first step toward sparking enthusiasm for cooking and giving vegetables a slightly more prominent role than before in Danish food culture.
Peter Rønn-Petersen, CEO of Meyers Madhus, says:
“The joy of food and great taste are magical ingredients that we need to make it easy for the people of Brøndby to experience. When the shift toward a greener food culture hasn’t quite taken hold yet, it’s largely because we need shared culinary experiences that can inspire us—just as we need the basic skills to build upon so we can create greener meals even in our busy daily lives. We have a truly unique opportunity to achieve all of this in Brøndby with “The Longest Table.”
Read more about the project information session on the Brøndby Municipality website
For further information, please contact:
Project Manager Sif Juhl Jacobsen at sjj@demx.dk or by phone at 31589855
