According to a recent publication, the European Union allocated almost 54 million euros to promoting meat and dairy in 2021. Despite the fact that last year was International Year of Fruit and Vegetables, only 35 million euros were spent on advertising fruits and vegetables.
In 2021, the Commission launched an initiative to overhaul its spending, “with a view to enhancing its contribution to sustainable production and consumption, and in line with the shift to a more plant-based diet, with less red and processed meat and more fruit and vegetables.” A heated debate followed.
“Unfortunately, these figures suggest that although the Farm to Fork strategy recognizes the benefits of consuming more plant-based products, in 2021 the European Union continued to spend millions more on diets that harm our health and our planet,” commented Jasmijn de Boo, Vice-President at ProVeg International.
“We truly hope that from 2022 onwards, the Commission will stick to its original goal of promoting sustainable diets, will increase its spending on promoting plant-based diets, and end the promotion of meat and dairy. European citizens should be incentivised to make healthier and more sustainable dietary decisions in line with the Farm to Fork strategy. This can only really happen if Europe has the courage to act on the science, shift the EU agri-promotion budget towards more plant-based diets, and end the promotion of harmful products.”
Notes for editor
ProVeg International is a leading food awareness organization. In 2021, our This Makes No Sense campaign created awareness around the EU’s agricultural promotion policy.
For more information contact:
Lara Pappers, Director of Communications at ProVeg International [email protected]
ProVeg International
ProVeg is an international food awareness organization working to transform the global food system by replacing conventional animal-based products with plant-based and cultured alternatives. ProVeg works with international decision-making bodies, governments, food producers, investors, the media, and the general public to help the world transition to a society and economy that are less dependent on animal agriculture and more sustainable for humans, animals, and the planet. ProVeg has permanent-observer status with the UNFCCC, is accredited for UNEA, and has received the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Award. www.proveg.com
