ProVeg says the EU Protein Plan opens the door; the food protein agenda comes next
The European Commission has today published its Action Plan for resilience, strategic autonomy and sustainability of the EU protein system (the ‘EU Protein Plan’), alongside the EU Livestock Strategy, framing protein dependency as a question of strategic autonomy and security.
The non-binding Communication introduces a range of measures designed to strengthen Europe’s protein supply, improve farmer resilience, and reduce dependence on imported proteins. It includes actions on protein crop production, public procurement, school food, research and innovation, value-chain development and investment.
ProVeg International welcomes the Plan as an important step towards a more resilient European protein system and says it provides a strong foundation for the next phase of implementation.
“Europe has clearly recognized that protein resilience matters,” said Lucia Hortelano, EU Senior Policy Manager at ProVeg International.
“This Plan contains several encouraging measures, including stronger support for protein crops, improvements to public procurement, investment in value chains and greater recognition of plant-based foods as part of Europe’s future protein landscape.”
“The opportunity now is to build on this foundation. If Europe wants genuine protein resilience and strategic autonomy, it should look not only at the proteins we grow for feed, but also at the proteins we grow directly for people.”
What the Plan delivers
The Plan contains several positive measures that ProVeg has consistently advocated for, including:
- Greater support for European protein crop value chains
- Recognition of carbon and nature-credit incentives for legume-based systems, opening a farmer-income route into protein diversification
- Recognition that locally produced pulses align with the announced ‘best value’ public procurement approach
- Stronger promotion of pulses through schools and awareness campaigns
- Potential use of lower VAT rates for plant proteins
- Support for producer organizations and long-term value-chain development
- Increased investment in research and innovation
- Recognition of plant-based foods as an important market opportunity.
Where it falls short
While the Plan sets a clear target to increase EU-produced protein used in animal feed from 25.8% to 35% by 2035, it does not include comparable ambitions for protein grown directly for human consumption. This leaves significant opportunities untapped.
On the food side, the measures are real but left largely voluntary and to national discretion: taxation, procurement and promotion are framed as options for Member States to consider rather than commitments at EU level. The ambition on feed is concrete and measurable; the same firmness does not yet match the ambition on food.
Producing more protein crops for food can strengthen food security, create new markets for farmers, reduce pressure on land and imported feed, and support Europe’s competitiveness.
Rather than viewing protein for feed and food separately, both should be part of the same resilience agenda with equal ambition.
The Plan itself points to the Danish Action Plan on Plant-Based Foods as a model for Member States. A dedicated plan to scale plant-based foods for human consumption, already emerging at national level, remains absent at EU level. That gap is the natural next step, not a separate agenda.
The files that will decide it
As a non-legislative Communication, the Protein Action Plan will now be implemented through future policy initiatives, including:
- Post-2027 CAP negotiations
- CMO proposal on reserved terms for meat products (COM(2024) 577), currently before the co-legislators
- Announced strengthening of public procurement
- Biotech Act II
- National protein plans and Protein Dialogs.
ProVeg emphasizes that these implementation processes will determine whether Europe fully realizes the economic, environmental and food security opportunities identified in the Plan.
“This is the beginning rather than the end of the conversation,” added Hortelano.
“We look forward to working with EU institutions, Member States and industry to ensure that Europe’s protein future is diverse, resilient and competitive.”
-ENDS-
Contact details for press officers:
Gemma Chapman | Advocacy Communications Manager, ProVeg International | [email protected]
Editor’s notes:
- About ProVeg International: Our vision is a world where the food we eat is good for all people, animals, and our planet. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable global food system by making plant-rich foods and alternative proteins more accessible and appealing.
