1st meeting of the Thematic Group on Protein Crops – Scaling Production

This Thematic Group (TG) will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the different ways in which to scale-up the production of protein crops in the EU, identifying the conditions that need to be in place to make this happen, including the policy mechanisms required to enable more protein crop production and their uses both on farm and through the value chains. Through its Protein Plan, the Commission has committed to implementing measures that support the transition towards a resilient and sustainable protein system. This Thematic Group could help foster synergies between its activities and the Commission’s work to implement the Plan.

Over the past few years, growing attention has been given to the need for a transition towards more diversified and resource-efficient protein systems in the EU, both to enable an increase in the development of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy proteins, but also as a mean of reducing the EU’s dependence of imported feed materials for livestock.

As outlined in the European Commission’s Protein Plan a transition towards a resilient and sustainable protein system needs to support farmers to include more protein crops in the rotation, improve crop yields and quality and shift to more climate resilient varieties. At the same time farmers should be involved to a greater extent in the development of plant-based proteins as part of a strengthening of EU plant-based protein value chains.

Many policy areas are relevant for protein diversification, including agriculture, food, environment, climate, energy, trade, innovation and health. Alongside policy, other private initiatives, financial instruments and market-based mechanisms will be essential to encourage action, not just on farms but throughout the value chain. To be effective, these efforts need to be aligned and work together in an integrated and coherent way.

In this first meeting of the Thematic Group (TG), we will exchange on different approaches to incentivise protein crop production at the farm level, both those to be used for food and feed. This will include looking at practical examples in Member States and how they are incentivised. We will explore what factors contribute to successful scaling and what actions are required for developing sustainable value chains and stimulating demand.

Aims of the meeting