Europe’s protein food systems are out of balance. High animal consumption and dependence on imported feed expose the EU to price shocks threatening food affordability. These trends, furthermore, heighten climate risks and drive biodiversity loss. Diversifying the protein mix – scaling plant-based, fermentation-derived and cultivated options while improving animal husbandry and reducing herd sizes – offers a credible route to lower emissions and land use, reduce external dependencies and strengthen competitiveness. Yet progress is slow, with policy fragmented and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) delivery uneven, innovation pipelines stalled and public trust in protein technology low.
This paper sets out how to move from intent to impact. It argues for a mission-oriented approach that links protein production and consumption with innovation, finance and trust-building – and that commits to a clear timetable. The EU should:
1. Make protein diversification a cross-cutting Green Deal priority at the core of the post-2027 CAP, linking climate neutrality, biodiversity recovery and food affordability, and setting clear expectations for member states and market actors;
2. Commit to time-bound delivery pathways with EU-level monitoring, translating EU goals into measurable indicators, tracking progress annually and taking corrective action when delivery slips;
3. Ensure policy coherence across agriculture, health, trade and innovation via inter-DG coordination on proteins in the European Commission so that CAP, bioeconomy/biotechnology, food policy and trade instruments pull in the same direction;
4. Crowd in public and private finance for scale-up, de-risking first-of-a-kind facilities and value-chain infrastructure and lowering barriers for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), co-operatives and farmer-led ventures;
5. Pair innovation leadership with public trust: maintain science-based, predictable authorisation processes; strengthen transparent risk–benefit communication and clear labelling; and use public procurement to normalise diverse, healthy protein choices.
Taken together, these steps shift the EU from piecemeal initiatives to a governed transition that aligns incentives, markets and public confidence – and delivers sustainability, economic opportunity and resilience to the agrifood system.
Read the full Discussion Paper here.
Michele Galli is an expert on agrifood policies and Strategic Council member at the European Policy Centre.
This Discussion Paper builds on the findings of independent research which was carried out in 2024-2025 with the support of The School for Moral Ambition. It explored how protein production and consumption can be diversified to improve the sustainability, competitiveness and resilience of Europe’s agrifood systems in line with Green Deal objectives. In particular, the project focused on opportunities for protein diversification and how EU policies can help unlock this potential.
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