MEPs last night interviewed Christophe Hansen, Commissioner candidate for the Agriculture and Food portfolio
ProVeg International has called on the EU Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food, Luxembourg’s Christophe Hansen, to make the realisation of the proposed EU Action Plan for Plant-based Foods a priority during his term of office, if he is confirmed on 27 November.
Hansen, who is set to take over from Poland’s Janusz Wojciechowski, was quizzed last night by the Greens and European Free Alliance MEPs on his views on the Action Plan, which was presented to the European Commission earlier this year.
Whilst Hansen dwelt more on agriculture than food during the interview, he did talk of adopting a more “holistic” approach to food systems in order to tackle current challenges and to increase their resilience.
“Plant-based diets offer a multi-pronged solution for Europe as it faces the climate crisis, health crisis and growing concerns about food security,” Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg, said.
“Now that the Commission has been presented with a specific recommendation to draft an action plan to accelerate the shift to greater plant-based food production and consumption, we expect Mr Hansen to be a champion of the plan and ensure its rapid and full adoption and implementation.”
The European Commission was called upon to develop, by 2026, an EU Action Plan for Plant-based Foods to strengthen the plant-based agri-food chains, from farmers all the way to consumers.
Hansen was asked about his stance on plant-based diets in light of the huge benefits for the environment, health and food security. Specifically, he was asked if he would commit to draft the recommended EU Action Plan on Plant-based Foods by 2026.
He responded by saying that the Commission should not have a top down approach towards saying what people should eat. Hansen took the stance that meat is “part of a balanced diet” and that “everything should be eaten in moderation”.
“There is broad scientific consensus now that plant-based diets are the most sustainable diet and that Europe should be shifting to these diets to ensure we have a fighting chance to bring down emissions from agriculture,” Soizic Larcher, EU Policy Officer at ProVeg, said.
“EU member state Denmark has already led the way on implementing a plant-based action plan and we urge Mr Hansen, should he be appointed, to follow suit,” Larcher added.
Hansen also told MEPs that Europe was importing too much feed and that the bloc needed to produce more protein for livestock. But ProVeg takes the stance that more crops should be grown within Europe to feed into the growing market for plant-based food instead.
According to the EU-funded Smart Protein Project, most Europeans are reducing their intake of meat already, a development which should be actively supported by policymakers.
The EU Action Plan for Plant-based Foods was included in a Strategic Dialogue outcome report published in September, following the launch of the high-level forum called the “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture”. Key elements of the report include new rules for public procurement, updating the food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), enhanced labelling, educational programmes, and increased availability of plant-based foods.
More on the Action Plan
The report recommending the Action Plan recognises the growing trend towards plant-based diets and calls for strong support to make these options more accessible and affordable.
Key actions and policy updates include the following:
- Review and update EU food labelling rules to ensure consumers can make informed choices regarding nutritional value and sustainability of food;
- A multi-tiered animal welfare label (voluntary in a first stage, then evaluation if to be made mandatory);
- Food makers should step up reformulation efforts to make products healthier and greener;
- Updated EU rules on public procurement to stimulate healthy diets;
- Fiscal incentives (e.g. VAT reductions) on sustainable food;
- Financial/social support for lower-income groups to ensure food remains affordable to all.the EU and
- Member States should adopt, or when already existing, update their food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) with a view to integrating sustainability and develop strategies to foster consumer uptake of diets in line with FBDG
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media inquiries, email Peter Rixon at [email protected]
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet. ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040.
