A new report on the future of farming, presented to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week, urges the EU to support a plan for plant-based foods, asks for increased funding for nature and climate-friendly farming, and calls for a change in farm subsidies.
The report results from seven months of negotiations by a forum of 30 organizations, including green NGOs, consumer groups, farmers’ unions, and industry actors, to agree on the future of Europe’s agri-food sector. Called “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture,” the forum was set by von der Leyen in January amid farmer protests and climate warnings.
Action plan for plant-based foods
The report urges the European Commission to develop, by 2026, an “EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods” to strengthen the sector’s agri-food chains, from farmers to consumers. It stresses the importance of reducing consumption of animal-based proteins (meat and dairy) in favor of plant-based alternatives and calls for more robust support to make plant-based options more accessible and affordable.
In addition, it calls for reviews of EU food labeling laws and marketing regulations and suggests campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of healthier and sustainable choices targeting children. It also proposes tax reductions and social incentives to make sustainable choices the default.
The non-profit ProVeg International said such a plan would accelerate the production and consumption of more plant-based food, aligning with the growing trend of reducing meat consumption.
” An EU-wide Action Plan for plant-based foods would […] represents a seismic shift for the plant-based food sector”
Jasmijn de Boo, the global CEO of ProVeg, said, “The recommendation by the forum to develop an EU-wide Action Plan for plant-based foods would, if implemented, represents a seismic shift for the plant-based food sector.
“The EU is listening to the science and is aware of the significant impact of climate change and how food can impact greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, water usage, and human health.”
Lucia Hortelano, Senior EU Policy Manager at ProVeg, said, “Denmark has already shown the way with the introduction of its Plant-Based Action Plan, so it is very exciting that this is being considered at the EU level as well.”
Addressing nature loss and emissions
According to the study, the agricultural sector is the most significant cause of nature loss and generates over 10% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from livestock.
To tackle this environmental problem, the report proposes an EU-wide benchmark for farm sustainability, including controversial environmental bills, such as laws to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, and a just transition fund outside the farm budget to facilitate a shift toward a more climate-friendly agri-food sector.
The report also suggests customized emissions reduction goals tailored to different types of agriculture and mechanisms like voluntary buyout schemes and reskilling programs to ensure a just transition.
Additionally, it emphasizes updating animal welfare rules, including a ban on farm cages with a species-specific transition period and further assessments.
Farm subsidies
The report calls for reforming the €300 billion-plus EU farm subsidy budget to focus on supporting small- and medium-sized farmers instead of the largest farms. It suggests an income-based support system without additional environmental compliance requirements and a separate ecological payment scheme.
“This report shows that there is broad consensus on the urgent need to transform how we produce and consume food to respect planetary boundaries”
However, it is worth noting that the recommendations are not final; von der Leyen promised to include them in a Vision for Agriculture and Food that she and her team would develop over the first 100 days.
The forum proposes forming a new consultative body, the European Board for Agri-Food (EBAF), to continue the dialogue.
Jeroom Remmers, Director of TAPP Coalition, said, “Today marks a pivotal moment for the future of EU food and farming. This report shows that there is broad consensus on the urgent need to transform how we produce and consume food to respect planetary boundaries.”
