130 organisations call for EU-wide action plan on plant-based foods

The EU needs an action plan for strengthening the entire plant-based agrifood chain to help both farmers and consumers transition to a more sustainable food system.

That’s the message from more than 130 organisations representing farmers, health professionals and other climate advocates in an open letter to EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen.

The letter urges Hansen to create an action plan for plant-based foods similar to one that has already been adopted in Denmark, to support diversification for farmers and promote healthier diets among consumers.

Plant-based diets could save costs

The letter highlights that the EU has a deficit in plant protein production and relies on imports for 66 percent of its high-protein feed.

Meanwhile, the economic costs of animal protein production and consumption in the EU amounted to €3 trillion, and a transition to more plant-based diets could save 43 percent of those costs annually.

Currently, about 82 percent of EU agricultural subsidies go to animal farming, despite meat and dairy production accounting for 84 percent of agricultural emissions. This is also four times more support than what goes to plant-based agriculture.

"Plant-based foods must become more attractive"

The signatories of the letter include 30 national organisations, as well as other European and international bodies.

“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,” says Agustín Reyna, Director General at BEUC, The European Consumer Organisation.

He added that an EU action plan “is the missing puzzle piece to make progress towards diets that will benefit people and the planet.”

Calls for an action plan

The letter calls for an action plan that would address six main areas, including achieving strategic autonomy in proteins, providing new business opportunities for farmers and protecting the climate.

The groups point out that 71 percent of European farmland is currently dedicated to producing animal products.

“A shift to healthier, more sustainable, affordable and balanced diets is essential for a successful transition to a more sustainable food system – and plant-based foods are part of the solution,” the letter states. “Such an action plan should be accompanied by appropriate funding that boosts the production and consumption of plant-based foods, with a focus on organic and agroecological products.”

Could have a major impact on public health

Niklas Oppenrieder, founder of PAN International, an association of medical doctors signing the letter, says such a plan could also have a major impact on public health – and government budgets.

“Poor nutrition is a major contributor to the disease burden in the EU and a huge drain on national health budgets,” Oppenrieder says. “An action plan for plant-based foods would be a great preventive measure, helping to rebalance our diets to address the underconsumption of legumes, fruits and vegetables.”