EU

Mosa Meat

© Mosa Meat
Approvals

Mosa Meat Requests First EU Market Authorisation for Cultivated Fat

Netherlands-based cultivated beef producer Mosa Meat has submitted its first request for Novel Foods market approval in the EU, seeking authorisation for its cultivated fat ingredient. The fat is designed to be blended with plant-based ingredients to create beef-style products such as hamburgers, meatballs, and bolognese. Following the regulatory submission, the cultivated fat will be evaluated by The European Commission (EC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The submission is an important step towards introducing cultivated meat products to the European market; EU laws do not allow cultivated products to be assessed as a whole, but instead require cultivated ingredients to be submitted individually. This is only the second time a cultivated product has entered the EU’s Novel Foods process — the first was …

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female farmer spraying veg

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Agriculture / Agribusiness

ProVeg Calls for Restructuring of EU Agriculture Subsidies to Prioritise Sustainable Crops

In a new policy brief, ProVeg International has called for the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies to be restructured to prioritise sustainable crop production. According to the policy brief, subsidies should incentivise farming that enhances nature, improves rural livelihoods, and minimises social and economic costs. ProVeg notes that some agricultural practices have consequences such as deforestation, soil degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss; in response, production may be intensified even further, creating a vicious cycle of harm. Along with incentives for sustainable crop production, the policy brief also recommends “true-cost accounting” for food production. It argues that if subsidies were allocated according to the true cost of food — accounting for factors such as environmental impact and the economic and human cost of …

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Fruits/ Vegetables/ Healthy Food

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Studies & Numbers

Study Recommends Reforming VAT Rates to Increase Affordability of Sustainable Foods

A study led by researchers from the Environmental Change Institute and the Oxford Martin School has recommended that VAT (value-added tax) rates on food should be set based on health and environmental considerations. The authors suggest that meat and dairy products should be subject to full VAT rates, while fruits and vegetables should be zero-rated. They say this would help consumers choose healthier and more sustainable diets; on average, it is expected that fruit and vegetable intake would increase by around a portion per week, while meat consumption would decrease by the same amount. The researchers estimate that these reforms could reduce cases of diet-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes by 170,000 per year in the UK and EU. Meanwhile, greenhouse gas …

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DELICIOUS project

Image: DELICIOUS/cluster food+i
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

€5M DELICIOUS Project Uses Microbial Fermentation to Enhance Sensory & Nutrition Properties of Dairy Alternatives

A European innovation project called DELICIOUS has officially launched with the aim of accelerating the transition towards plant-based dairy alternatives. The project will develop a new technology that integrates microbial fermentation with plant-based raw materials to create affordable and tasty alternatives to dairy products such as cheese and kefir. It will bring together 17 entities from nine countries, including research centres, universities, SMEs, large companies, clusters, and associations, under the Horizon Europe programme. The four-year project has a budget of €5 million and will use cutting-edge technologies such as high-throughput screening and machine learning under the leadership of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Its work will enhance the sensory properties and nutritional value of plant-based dairy, while creating a production process with a carbon footprint …

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Kern Tec

© Kern Tec
Fairs & Events

BettaF!sh and Kern Tec Among the Winners of EIT Food’s Marketed Innovation Prize 2024

EU-supported food innovation community EIT Food has announced the winners of its Marketed Innovation Prize, which recognises food startups that have successfully brought products or services to market. The prize grants €10,000 to the best-marketed innovations in each of three regions (North-East, West, and South), and €5,000 to the best-marketed innovation in five subcategories. It aims to reward startups that are supporting the transition to a more healthy, sustainable, and resilient food system. The winners BettaF!sh, a producer of fish alternatives made from regeneratively cultivated seaweed, has received the prize for Best Alternative Protein-based Solution. Meanwhile, the company’s Managing Director and co-founder Deniz Ficicioglu has received the Woman in Innovation award. Kern Tec GmbH, which upcycles waste fruit pits into high-value ingredients, was named Best …

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has deemed Impossible Foods' precision fermentation-derived heme — soy leghemoglobin — safe for consumption.

© Impossible Foods
Company News

Impossible Foods Approaches EU Approval Following Second Positive EFSA Opinion

Impossible Foods has moved another step closer to selling its products in the EU after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms ruled that its soy leghemoglobin (heme) is safe to eat. The heme is produced using a form of modified yeast, which is cultivated in tanks using precision fermentation. It enables Impossible Foods’ plant-based meat to “bleed” and provides a meaty taste. Impossible Foods initiated the approval process back in 2019, and the heme finally cleared its first EFSA food safety hurdle earlier this year. The ingredient is now pending final approval by the European Commission and EU Member States. Following this publication, there will be a 30-day public consultation period where scientific comments and suggestions can be submitted and …

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cows factory farming

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Sustainability & Environment

Report: EU Livestock Farming Has “Major Negative Consequences”, Consumption Patterns Must Change

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) recently hosted its annual Mansholt Lecture, which aims to “inspire European policymakers and stakeholders on critical societal issues, particularly those related to sustainable agri-food systems and the living environment”. This year’s lecture focused on land use, and is accompanied by a report titled Key dilemmas on future land use for agriculture, forestry and nature in the EU. A significant theme is the negative impact of livestock farming and the need for a change in consumption patterns. The report discusses five key dilemmas: Self-sufficiency While the EU has a high level of food security, it is highly dependent on imported raw materials such as fertilisers, energy, and animal feed. The region could produce more protein crops and oilseeds, but it would …

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The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has released a study that highlights Europe's animal-based protein balance and argues for the growing interest in alternative proteins. 

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Politics & Law

New EU Agri Commissioner Urged to Prioritise Proposed Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods

ProVeg International has called on the EU Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food, Luxembourg’s Christophe Hansen, to prioritise the proposed EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods during his term in office. Hansen is set to take over from Poland’s Janusz Wojciechowski if he is confirmed on November 27. Earlier this week, he was interviewed by MEPs about the Action Plan concept, which was presented to the European Commission in September in a report titled Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. The report was the result of seven months of negotiations by organisations including green NGOs, consumer groups, farmers’ unions, and industry actors. It calls for a reduction in the consumption of animal-based proteins and support to make plant-based options more affordable and accessible. Additionally, …

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wehende Fahnen vor dem Europa Parlament in Brüssel

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Politics & Law

France or Any Member State Can’t Ban Meaty Terms in Plant-Based Food Labels, EU Top Court Rules

Burger, sausage, and steak are now legal names for vegan marketing in the old continent. The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that France or any Member State cannot prohibit using “terms traditionally associated with animal products” for plant-based alternatives, provided the ingredients are clearly shown on labels. In a press release published today, the court explains that states must refrain from prohibiting producers from using customary or descriptive names for plant-based foods in the absence of an adopted legal name (a law defining what a sausage or a burger is). According to ProVeg International, adopting legal names would create massive confusion for consumers and the single market because defining these terms depends on cultural and linguistic references. Jasmijn de Boo, Global …

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market.

© The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Politics & Law

EFSA’s Call for Pre-Submission Advice for SMEs on Novel Food Applications Ends Soon

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market. As stated by EFSA, the initiative aims to support SMEs with no or limited experience by providing general pre-submission advice (GPSA) at two stages of their novel food development and application process: At the very early stage of developing the novel food, even before starting the studies that will be included in the application. At the latest stages of the application’s preparation, when most of the information that will be included in the application is already available to the SME. Selected SMEs will receive valuable advice from EFSA, from …

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Cattle in a farming land in the Netherlands

© Hans-stock.adobe.com
Politics & Law

EU Approves €700M Dutch Scheme for Voluntary Closure of Livestock Farms

The European Commission has approved a €700 million Dutch State scheme to compensate farmers who voluntarily close livestock farming sites in some regions of the Netherlands. The Dutch government is looking to improve the quality of the environment and promote more sustainable and environmentally friendly production in the livestock sector with this initiative. The scheme will apply to priority areas, including peatlands, sandy soils, stream valleys, and areas in and adjacent to Natura 2000. It will be open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers operating in any eligible areas until the 1st of October, 2029. The aid provided under the scheme will consist of direct grants and subsidized advisory services. It will cover up to 100% of eligible expenses, including compensation for the loss of production …

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cultivated foie gras

© Gourmey
Approvals

Gourmey Becomes First Company to Apply to Sell Cultivated Meat in the EU

Gourmey, a French startup producing cultivated foie gras, has become the first company to apply for regulatory approval to sell cultivated meat in the European Union. The startup has also submitted applications in Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Before it goes on the market, the cultivated foie gras will need to be approved by the European Commission. Authorisation will be governed by the Novel Foods Regulation, said to be one of the most robust food safety frameworks in the world. The process is likely to take at least 18 months, and will include a thorough assessment of the safety and nutritional value of cultivated meat. The potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the product will also be considered, with input from member …

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mosa-meat-steak-tartare

Cultivated Steak Tartare ©Mosa Meat
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Hungarian Council Presidency Tells EU That Novel Foods Are a Threat to European Food Traditions

The Hungarian Council Presidency has invited EU agriculture ministers to discuss the impact of novel foods such as cultivated meat and plant-based foods on European food traditions. According to Euractiv, the presidency sent a note to EU delegations saying that meat and dairy consumption is an important part of the “European way of life”, implying that plant-based or cultivated alternatives could pose a threat to European culture. The note also claimed that many Europeans are not enthusiastic about novel foods, despite increases in plant-based food consumption. The subject will be discussed by ministers over lunch at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting next week. It comes amid a controversial start to Hungary’s turn at holding the EU council presidency, which rotates every six months. With …

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microbial protein Formo cheese sandwich

© Formo
Studies & Numbers

Study Finds Consumers Less Likely to Buy Fermented Plant-Based Foods When CHEAPER Than Animal Counterparts

A study conducted by the EU-funded HealthFerm project has come to a surprising conclusion — making fermented plant-based foods cheaper than animal products could actually make consumers less likely to buy them. Study participants preferred fermented meat and dairy alternatives to be priced at parity with their animal-based counterparts, likely due to the perception that cheaper products are of lower quality. For example, 52.8% of respondents said they would buy a fermented milk alternative that was priced the same as dairy milk, but only 46.3% would buy a product that was cheaper than dairy. Just 9.6% would be willing to pay more for a plant-based alternative. The same pattern was observed for meat alternatives, though there was only a 1.2% difference in willingness to purchase …

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RisingFoodStars Programme Lead Narjis Chakir

RisingFoodStars Programme Lead Narjis Chakir. Image supplied.
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

RisingFoodStars Reveals Cohort of 14 Scaleups Addressing European Food Sustainability

EIT Food RisingFoodStars, a non-profit organisation funded by the EU and the agri-food tech community, has revealed the 14 scaleups selected for the latest cohort of its three-year program. RisingFoodStars aims to solve environmental and social challenges such as reducing net emissions by 90% by 2040, halving food waste, achieving food self-sufficiency, and improving the availability of healthy, nutritious foods. Selected startups have access to a network of over 50 investors and 160 industry leaders, along with workshops, coaching, and mentorship. The new cohort features: SeedForward GmbH — a German startup substituting synthetic agrochemicals with biobased alternatives, with an emphasis on seed treatments, biostimulants, and plant protection. The aim is to facilitate the transition towards regenerative agriculture. Notpla — a UK-based sustainable packaging producer that …

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a plate with a steak takes center stage, representing the connection between meat consumption and environmental degradation Generative AI

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Sustainability & Environment

Meat and Dairy Lobbyists Are Using Fossil Fuel Industry Tactics to Stall Climate Policies

New reports by independent think tank InfluenceMap and The Union of Concerned Scientists have found that meat and dairy lobbyists are weakening climate policies in the EU and the US respectively. The InfluenceMap analysis finds that the European meat and dairy industry is mirroring the tactics of the fossil fuel industry through strategic narrative building and detailed policy engagement. Both sectors have used public messaging to promote misleading narratives, sowing doubt about the necessity of curbing emissions. This is despite the fact that meat and dairy are estimated to be responsible for 85% of Europe’s agricultural emissions. According to InfluenceMap, these tactics have significantly impacted EU climate policymaking; a third of policies included in the report have been seriously weakened and half have stalled altogether …

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Oatly and Patagonia mobilise EU citizens to Voat for the Planet

Image: Oatly
Politics & Law

Oatly & Patagonia Mobilise EU Citizens to Vote for the Planet

Oatly has partnered with outdoor clothing brand Patagonia to mobilise EU citizens to vote in a way that benefits the planet in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The move comes as research indicates that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising at twice the global rate. The two companies are granting their combined 1000 EU employees — including factory teams, retail staff, regional employees, and more — time off to cast their votes. Educational programs are also being organised to encourage employees to talk about voting within their own networks. Additionally, both businesses are calling for stronger environmental protections, and for the EU to deliver on its green commitments in the next mandate. They are also working to engage their communities across Europe regarding …

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ALEHOOP produces proteins from seaweed and legume byproducts

© ALEHOOP
Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

European Project Uses Biorefineries to Extract Proteins From Seaweed & Legume Byproducts

ALEHOOP, a European project funded by Sustainable Bio-Based Europe, has successfully used pilot-scale biorefineries to recover sustainable proteins from macroalgae (seaweed) and legume byproducts. The recovered proteins could be used to produce high-value food and feed products, including meat alternatives, snacks, and sports drinks. The project has conducted numerous safety tests to ensure that the proteins address any regulatory requirements and market barriers. Consistently high-quality Seaweed is a highly sustainable protein source as it requires no additional land or freshwater to grow and can benefit marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, legume processing generates byproducts such as seed coats, hulls, broken seeds, and leaves, which would normally be discarded; proteins made from these byproducts therefore have a very low carbon footprint. One challenge faced by the ALEHOOP project …

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Europa-Flagge im Wind

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Politics & Law

EU Election Guide Finds High Levels of Support for Plant-Based Policies After Surveying 50+ Political Parties

With European elections scheduled to take place from June 6-9, The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) has surveyed over 50 political parties across Europe to determine their stance on plant-based policies. Said to be the largest survey of its kind, the results have been published in a document titled Plant-Based Politics: The 2024 EU Election Guide. Europarties and national political parties from several EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, and Spain) were given a questionnaire based on the policy recommendations made in the EVU’s Plant-Based Manifesto. The survey included questions about financial incentives, health and environmental issues, subsidies, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Overall, the results indicate that political support for the EVU’s suggested policies is high. The most popular policy involves …

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The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has released a study that highlights Europe's animal-based protein balance and argues for the growing interest in alternative proteins. 

© M-SUR - stock.adobe.com
Protein

Europe’s 60% Reliance on Animal Proteins Challenged in New EU Alt Protein Research

The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has released a new study evaluating the potential of algae, insects, microbial fermentation, and cultivated meat to improve food security and reduce the environmental impacts of food production within the EU.  However, to make the case for the growing interest in these alternative proteins, the report explains Europe’s current protein balance. According to the authors, plant-based protein intake in the wider world accounts for 57% of total protein consumption. However, in Europe, animal protein still makes up the majority, somewhere between 55 and 60% — exceeding plant-based protein consumption since the 1970s and the recommended daily intake by about a third. Moreover, with this impressive demand for meat, the region faces a deficit in local feed production, importing 61% of …

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