At a recent event at the European Parliament, food industry stakeholders such as meat processors, plant-based companies, and farmers joined MEPs from various political parties to support protein diversification.
The event was centred around a new position paper from nonprofit organisation SustainableFoundations, which outlines how polarised views on the future of proteins could be reconciled to build a more sustainable future. The gathering was reportedly a great success, with over 90 stakeholders, commission members, and representatives in attendance.
Speaking at the event, MEP Cabral from the European People’s Party Group said the conservatives would work towards protein diversification, adding that it was important to collaborate to develop concrete solutions. MEP Friid of Renew suggested taking inspiration from Denmark, which became the first country to adopt an action plan for plant-based foods in 2023.
Additionally, farmers shared stories illustrating that it is possible to move towards a more sustainable protein landscape.
The position paper
The European Commission is currently writing its Food & Agriculture Vision for the coming years, and has been called on to include protein diversification. The position paper says this is a unique opportunity to position diverse, sustainable protein sources — including plant, animal, and novel — as complementary pillars of Europe’s future food system.
The paper describes how farmers across Europe are already diversifying towards more sustainable proteins through practices such as integrating animal and plant proteins, changing to methods that improve biodiversity and soil health, and embracing circular systems. However, it argues that targeted policies are needed to support effective production and establish a robust, sustained market that ensures fair remuneration.
Key recommendations
Eight recommendations have been identified to ensure sustainable protein diversification delivers maximum benefits:
- Facilitate access to finance for farmers to transition to sustainable practices.
- Support farmers and workers to benefit from sustainable protein diversification.
- Strengthen farmers’ position in the market.
- Increase rural resilience and preserve vibrant landscapes.
- Reduce zoonotic disease risks and antimicrobial resistance.
- Elevate the agri-food sector’s innovation to retain the EU’s global leadership.
- Support the development of a strong, diversified protein value chain.
- Improve the food environment to make healthy and sustainable choices the easy ones.
If implemented correctly, the paper argues that these steps would benefit farmers by providing new revenue streams and more resilient rural communities. Food security, public health, and the environment would also reap the benefits.
“As our coalition’s work shows, protein diversification is not about choosing tofu over steak. It’s about options, balance, and innovation — from regenerative grazing to better plant-based proteins, to precision fermentation and new business models for farmers,” said Marin Vandamme, who is involved with the work, on LinkedIn. “We need to rise above the polarization and embrace practical, win-win solutions for the future of food in Europe.”
