Even though the food system is responsible for a significant part of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a transition to a sustainable food system is needed, the growing body of literature on sustainability transitions has paid little attention to the food processing sector. We expect transition dynamics in the food processing sector to differ from the typical dynamics portrayed in transitions literature due to particularities in required technological knowledge and government intervention. To better understand dynamics in the food processing sector we apply the Technological Innovations Systems (TIS) framework to an in-depth case study of the plant-based meat substitutes industry in the Netherlands. Results illustrate that, contrary to many other transitions, consumers and changing informal institutions are the driving forces of this process. We show how strengthening cognitive and normative legitimacy can lead to growing markets for sustainable products.

尽管粮食系统在全球温室气体（GHG）排放中占了很大一部分，并且需要向可持续粮食系统过渡，但有关可持续性转变的文献越来越多，对食品加工部门却很少关注。由于所需的技术知识和政府干预的特殊性，我们预计食品加工行业的过渡动态与过渡文献中描述的典型动态不同。为了更好地了解食品加工行业的动态，我们将技术创新系统（TIS）框架应用于荷兰基于植物的肉类替代品行业的深入案例研究。结果表明，与许多其他过渡相反，消费者和不断变化的非正式机构是这一过程的驱动力。我们展示了增强认知和规范合法性如何导致可持续产品市场的增长。