Tænketanken Frej

What Tænketanken Frej does

Tænketanken Frej is a Danish non-profit think tank (forening, CVR 37905739) founded in 2016 and headquartered at Vartov in Copenhagen, with a secondary contact point in Aarhus. Its mission is to bridge citizens, farmers, and policymakers (Borgen) in order to accelerate the sustainable transformation of the Danish food system. The organization operates as a neutral convening platform rather than an advocacy NGO, using a multi-stakeholder workshop methodology that brings together industry, researchers, NGOs, and politicians to co-develop policy recommendations on thematic areas including biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, genetic technology, climate, proteins, dietary guidelines, packaging, and fisheries.

Frej's core 'product' is a portfolio of thematic projects and a Danish-language knowledge library (vidensunivers) distributed through a multi-channel content ecosystem: a primary website (taenk-frej.dk), monthly newsletter, Instagram, a podcast (Frejs Fødevarefrekvens), YouTube explainer videos, debate articles in Altinget Fødevarer, press releases via Ritzau, and high-profile in-person stormøder at Christiansborg where recommendations are delivered directly to lawmakers. The organization also coordinates flagship collaborative programs such as the Bælgfrugtspartnerskabet (Legume Partnership) and the May 2025-launched Partnership for Regenerative Agriculture with Forenet Kredit, Yara, Nestlé, and Agrovi. A 21-person secretariat manages a partner ecosystem of more than 60 organizations spanning food-sector corporates, industry associations, research institutes, and NGOs.

There is no commercial revenue model: outputs are provided free of charge. Operating funding comes primarily from project grants from foundations, most notably a multi-year Novo Nordisk Fonden grant underwriting the 'Sæt lys på løsningerne' program (genetic technology in 2023, regenerative agriculture in 2024, dietary guidelines in 2025), with supplementary grants for specific projects from PlanDanmark and others. The organization is governed by a bestyrelse with an advisory board and discloses financial and conflict-of-interest information on its website under 'Økonomi og interessekonflikter'.

Name

Tænketanken Frej

Legal name

Tænketanken Frej

Website

https://taenk-frej.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tænketanken Frej is a Danish non-profit think tank, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Copenhagen, that convenes citizens, farmers, researchers, and policymakers to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for a sustainable Danish food system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy research and food-system consulting

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG)

Keywords

• Food policy research
• Sustainable food systems
• Multi-stakeholder convening
• Agricultural partnerships
• Knowledge dissemination

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation and grant funding: As a non-profit think tank founded in 2016, Frej operates primarily through project grants from foundations such as the Novo Nordisk Fonden. The organization receives funding for specific thematic projects spanning multi-year periods, e.g., the 3-year 'Sæt lys på løsningerne' (Shine a Light on Solutions) project in collaboration with Novo Nordisk Fonden.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tænketanken Frej is an independent non-profit think tank that develops multi-stakeholder policy projects, analyses, and convening partnerships to promote a sustainable Danish food system. Its deliverables include thematic projects (regenerative agriculture, legumes, biodiversity, fisheries, forestry, genetic technology, dietary guidelines), a knowledge univers covering food-system topics, policy recommendations presented at stormøder on Christiansborg, and educational content distributed through podcasts, videos, longreads, and newsletters.

Product overview

Tænketanken Frej is a Danish non-profit think tank focused on sustainable food systems. Rather than a commercial product company, Frej offers knowledge-based initiatives, policy research, and educational content. Their portfolio consists of thematic projects (vidensunivers) covering topics such as biodiversity, climate, packaging, proteins, soil health, genetic technology, and forestry, along with collaborative partnerships like the Bælgfrugtspartnerskabet (Pulse Partnership), Partnerskab for regenerativt landbrug (Regenerative Agriculture Partnership), and Frejs Landbrugsnetværk (Frej's Agricultural Network). They produce reports, policy recommendations, explainer videos, podcasts, and debate events to bridge stakeholders across the food sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bælgfrugtspartnerskabet (Legume Partnership) A multi-stakeholder partnership coordinated by Frej that increases Danish legume cultivation and consumption through collaboration with plant breeders, culinary institutions, and agricultural producers.
• Partnerskab for regenerativt landbrug (Partnership for Regenerative Agriculture) A partnership programme co-launched by Frej with Forenet Kredit, Yara, Nestlé, and Agrovi in May 2025 to integrate regenerative agriculture into Danish agricultural policy and supply-chain practice through knowledge sharing and close collaboration.
• Frejs Landbrugsnetværk (Frej's Agricultural Network) An agricultural-producer network run by Frej to engage Danish farmers in sustainable practice, including the 'Grønt Landbrug på Unge hænder' (Green Agriculture in Young Hands) initiative.
• Kostråd i Kurven (Dietary Guidelines in the Basket) A retail-focused project developed with Plantebaseret Videnscenter to promote healthy and climate-friendly foods in Danish grocery stores, producing a policy paper delivered at Christiansborg.
• Fra branchen til borgen (From Industry to Parliament) An umbrella project under which Frej develops cross-sectoral policy recommendations and delivers them to Parliament (Christiansborg) through high-profile stormøder.
• Frej Forklarer (Frej Explains) Frej's accessible educational content series that explains food-system topics to general audiences.
• Future Food A collaborative initiative on future food systems positioned under Frej's project umbrella.
• Vidensunivers (Knowledge Universe) Frej's comprehensive Danish-language knowledge library covering biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, genetic technology, proteins, climate, packaging, soil, fisheries, and forestry.
• Frejs Fødevarefrekvens (Frej's Food Frequency Podcast) Frej's podcast and explainer-video series covering food-system topics including packaging, proteins, climate, and meat.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 new recommendations on biodiversity presented at a stormøde on Christiansborg (October 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forenet KreditcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2025Frej partnered with Forenet Kredit, Yara, Nestlé, and Agrovi on 26 May 2025 to launch a partnership aimed at making regenerative agriculture a central part of Danish agricultural policy and practice. The partnership is built on knowledge sharing and close collaboration and is being established as of 2025.
• YaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2025Co-launch partner in the regenerative agriculture partnership with Frej, Forenet Kredit, Nestlé, and Agrovi, announced 26 May 2025. Yara contributes agricultural expertise to the partnership aimed at integrating regenerative agriculture into Danish policy and practice.
• NestlécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2025Co-launch partner in the regenerative agriculture partnership with Frej, Forenet Kredit, Yara, and Agrovi, announced 26 May 2025. Nestlé's participation signals corporate commitment to sourcing from regenerative agriculture as part of Frej's multi-stakeholder initiative.
• AgrovicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2025Co-launch partner in the regenerative agriculture partnership with Frej, Forenet Kredit, Yara, and Nestlé, announced 26 May 2025. Agrovi, a Danish agricultural advisory firm, provides practical farming expertise to the initiative.
• Agrovi (biodiversity project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Fra branchen til borgen: Biodiversitet' project, contributing to the biodiversity recommendations and workshop activities.
• AquapriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project, hosting a workshop on 19 March 2025 focused on partners' impacts on nature and biodiversity.
• BioMarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project and the 'Fra Båden til Borgen' fisheries project.
• CropLife DanmarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project contributing industry perspective on plant protection and agricultural sustainability.
• Danmarks Restauranter og Cafeer (DRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project representing the foodservice sector.
• MUSHOLMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project, representing Danish aquaculture.
• Danmarks Fiskeriforening POminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in both the biodiversity project and the fisheries project 'Fra Båden til Borgen'.
• DLR KreditminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project and also listed as partner in the forestry project.
• DM (Fagforening og fagligt fællesskab)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project, representing the academic/professional union perspective.
• SEGES InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project and the forestry project, contributing agricultural innovation expertise.
• Teknologisk InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project and the 'Fra Båden til Borgen' fisheries project, contributing technological expertise.
• HedeselskabetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the forestry project, bringing 150+ years of experience in forest establishment and management. Hosted the fishing workshop and co-authors recommendations with Frej.
• Danmarks NaturfredningsforeningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the forestry project, contributing the perspective of Denmark's largest green organization with 130,000+ members.
• Sorø AkademiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the forestry project; hosted the workshop that produced recommendations for the future of Danish forests.
• DSL (Dansk Skovforening)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the forestry project representing private forest owners.
• BIO (Biofagfolk)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the forestry project.
• Dansk FiskeriforeningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Fra Båden til Borgen' (From Boat to Parliament) fisheries and aquaculture project.
• Danmarks Pelagiske Producentorganisation (DPPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the fisheries project representing pelagic fisheries interests.
• Danish AquacultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the fisheries project representing the aquaculture sector.
• MUSHOLM (fisheries project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the fisheries project, representing Danish sea farm operations.
• DM (fisheries project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the fisheries project, bringing union and professional community perspective.
• Rema 1000minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the fisheries project representing the retail perspective.
• Bælgfrugtspartnerskabet (Legume Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA flagship partnership coordinated by Frej focused on increasing legume cultivation and consumption in Denmark. Partners include Turbo Plant, Culinary Institute by Vejle Erhverv, and Bjerre Herred Landbrugsselskab. A population survey (February 2025) found 51% of Danes want to eat more legumes.
• Plantebaseret VidenscenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in the 'Kostrød i Kurven' (Dietary Guidelines in the Basket) project focused on promoting healthy and climate-friendly foods in grocery stores.
• Future FoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project under Frej's umbrella; a collaborative initiative on future food systems.
• Culinary Institute by Vejle ErhvervminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Legume Partnership (Bælgdagen event) contributing culinary expertise to promoting legumes in Danish gastronomy.
• Turbo PlantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Legume Partnership focused on plant breeding and legume cultivation innovation.
• Espe GodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project, representing a private Danish estate with agricultural operations.
• Kattrup GodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project; hosted a workshop on 16 May 2025 focusing on aligning green aspirations with the realities of the food sector.
• RosenfældetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project.
• Dansk CaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the biodiversity project representing the catering sector.
• DI BIOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Frej on a consumer survey mapping Danes' attitudes toward genetic technologies in plant breeding (2023).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Food Tank: Global food think tank focused on sustainable agriculture, food policy, and systems change — comparable in producing knowledge products, recommendations, and convening diverse food-system stakeholders.
• Concito: Denmark's leading climate think tank, with a similar neutral convening function targeting Danish policymakers and producing research-based recommendations — the most direct analogue to Frej's food-system-specific model.
• Food and Land Use Coalition: Multi-stakeholder coalition of organizations working to transform food and land use systems globally — highly comparable in convening across industry, research, and policy to produce shared recommendations.
• IPES-Food: International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems producing evidence-based policy recommendations through a multi-stakeholder expert panel — directly comparable independent think-tank model.
• EAT Foundation: Global food systems initiative convening science, policy, and business to transform food systems — comparable in mission, multi-stakeholder convening approach, and policy-recommendation orientation.

Regional players

• Sustain (UK Alliance for Better Food and Farming): UK alliance of ~100 organizations working on better food and farming policy — directly comparable multi-stakeholder advocacy model but operating in UK policy environment.
• Nordic Food Policy Lab (Nordic Council of Ministers): Nordic Council of Ministers initiative promoting sustainable Nordic food policy — comparable in regional food-policy convening function and sustainability focus, though operating at intergovernmental Nordic level.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization with a major Food Program producing data-driven food-system research and policy recommendations — much larger scale but overlapping mission and evidence-based approach.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global foundation working on circular economy, including food and biological systems — broader scope but overlapping mission around sustainable food and partnerships with major food companies.

Emerging players

• Good Food Institute (GFI): Global non-profit working on alternative proteins and cellular agriculture — adjacent focus on sustainable food systems transformation, but narrower scope (alternative proteins only) and a global rather than national convening model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tænketanken Frej