Over 130 organisations have written to Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, asking him to develop an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods by 2026.
The groups represent several interests, including farmers, health professionals, consumers, animal welfare, and the environment. Among them are BEUC, ProVeg International, Greenpeace, IFOAM, Rainforest Action Network, Compassion in World Farming, and Freshfel.
The signatories are calling for a plan to strengthen the entire plant-based agri-food chain, from farmer to consumer. They have urged the Commissioner to ensure the plan’s development is included in the Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food, which is expected in late February. Hansen has previously failed to commit to drafting the plan by 2026.
It is suggested that the plant-based action plan would have numerous benefits, including:
- Achieving strategic autonomy in proteins
- Providing new business opportunities for farmers
- Improving health
- Protecting the climate and environment
- Saving money.
“The missing puzzle piece”
The news comes after a report resulting from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture — a forum of 30 organisations including green NGOs, consumer groups, farmers’ unions, and industry actors — recommended an action plan for plant-based foods last year. The report was the outcome of seven months of negotiations and calls for more robust support to make plant-based options more accessible and affordable.
It has been suggested that the plan could be based on Denmark’s Plant-Based Action Plan, which was released in 2023 and includes steps such as upgrading personnel in public and private kitchens and promoting plant-based diets in educational settings. Denmark was the first country worldwide to develop a plan of this kind.
“By changing what they eat, consumers can be key agents of change in the transition to sustainable food systems. For this to happen, healthy plant-based foods must become more attractive, affordable, and available to be a real option for consumers,” said Agustín Reyna, Director General at The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC). “The Commission’s upcoming Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food needs to be bold on the demand side and pave the ground for an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods. It is the missing puzzle piece to make progress towards diets that will benefit people and the planet.”
