Subject: Protein crop production in the EU
As part of the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, the Commission has undertaken to examine EU rules in order to reduce dependence on critical feed materials, including soya. It is to do that by focusing on EU- grown plant proteins and on alternative feed materials such as insects, marine feed stocks (e.g. algae) and bioeconomy by-products (e.g. fish waste). Furthermore, through research and innovation the Commission will be helping to increase the availability and number of sources of alternative proteins such as plant, microbial, marine and insect-based proteins and meat substitutes.
1. What steps have already been taken in this context and what results can the Commission present?
2. How will the Commission step up its efforts regarding plant and alternative proteins in its next protein strategy?
Submitted: 10.1.2023
Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission (24 February 2023)
1. The EU invested at least EUR 70 million with Horizon 2020 (H2020) between 2014 and 2020 in boosting EU plant-based proteins. Investments include a sustainability assessment tool for businesses (PathFinder (1)) provided by TRUE (2); a Legume Innovation Network (3) connecting businesses and non-profit organisations. Further results will emerge from the EUR 9 million project VALPRO Path (4) and the EUR 23 million new projects (5) funded under the Horizon Europe Work Programme (HE WP) 2021-2022 looking into the sustainability and competitiveness of protein crop systems, the value chains and the impact of a dietary shift. Moreover, four H2020 projects (6) jointly launched a platform (Horizon4proteins (7)) to deal with topics such as consumer acceptance, safety and regulatory challenges.
Under HE WP 2023-2024, the EU will also invest EUR 26 million in three topics concerning the valorisation of ecosystem services provided by legumes and the impact of novel foods on the EU food/feed system.
2. In the review of the policy identified in the 2018 report on the development of plant proteins in the EU (8), the Commission plans to identify levers and actions to develop a policy environment supportive to the development of plant-based, alternative but also novel sources of proteins.
Furthermore, the Commission will develop a guidance document on environmental performance in aquacultur e (9) that will also tackle the use of sustainable feed (10). Furthermore, the EU Algae Initiative (11) among its 23 actions foresees a development of guidance on how to replace fish-based feed with algae based.
The identification of additional policy actions must be further elaborated with stakeholders and Member States.
1 ∙ ⸱ http://pathfinder.ijs.si/
2 ∙ ⸱ https://www.true-project.eu/
3 ∙ ⸱ https://www.true-project.eu/legume-innovation-network
4 ∙ ⸱ https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101059824
5 ∙ ⸱ GIANT LEAPS: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101059632, LIKE A PRO: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101083961
6 ∙ ⸱ SMART PROTEIN: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/862957; ProFuture: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/862980; SUSINCHAIN:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/861976; and NextGenProteins (total EU contribution of EUR 32 million for the period 2020-2024) https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/862704
7 ∙ ⸱ https://nextgenproteins.eu/horizon4proteins/
8 ∙ ⸱ https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/crop-productions-and-plant-based-products/cereals/development-plant-proteins_en
9 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/LSU/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381 — see Annex.
10 ∙ ⸱ This means using feed ingredients that are sourced in the way that is most respectful of ecosystems and biodiversity and which, at the same time, are appropriate for
ensuring the health and welfare of animals. It also means limiting feed producers’ reliance on fish meal and fish oil taken from wild stocks (e.g. using alternative protein ingredients such as algae or insects or the waste from other industries). This also covers the use of feed supplements and efficient feed-management systems. 11 ∙ ⸱ Commission Communication — Towards a strong and sustainable EU Algae sector: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-
commission-towards-strong-and-sustainable-eu-algae-sector_en