Thematic Group on Protein Crops – Scaling Production

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, and also as a means of reducing the EU’s dependence on imported feedstocks for livestock.

The current EU protein system is driven by the livestock sector's need for feed, since animal products account for the majority of adult protein consumption in the EU. This not only generates strategic dependencies, due to exposure to supply-chain disruptions for feed imports, market volatility, and geopolitical risks, but also causes major environmental and climate concerns. Reducing the EU’s dependence on imported protein feed materials by increasing the production of protein crops within the EU and diversifying their use is therefore an important component of strengthening the resilience and security of EU food systems. By focusing on protein crops, defined as both fodder and grain legumes, as well as more climate-resilient varieties, environmental and climate benefits can be achieved in relation to their nitrogen-fixing capacities and through the diversification of crop rotations.

As outlined in the European Commission 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 more involved in the development of plant-based proteins as part of strengthening EU plant-based protein value chains. Published in conjunction with the Commission’s Livestock Strategy, it is evident that this needs to go hand in hand with a transition to more sustainable livestock systems (e.g. rebalancing production to fit local conditions).

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.

As a major funding source for agriculture and rural areas, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and, in the future, National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), play a key role in supporting a transition towards diversified, sustainable, and resilient protein systems through various mechanisms, such as coupled income support,  sectoral interventions, agri-environment and climate actions (including the proposed new transition measure), investments, cooperation, marketing, knowledge exchange, and skills development. A wide range of these CAP tools are already used to support protein crops.

Within this context, this Thematic Group (TG) is an opportunity for you to be part of a committed group of experts and relevant stakeholders that will explore how to incentivise the sustainable and resilient production of protein crops (covering both fodder and grain legumes), focusing on the role the CAP/NRPPs can play as part of a coherent policy mix. In particular, the TG will discuss how the CAP can support a just transition of the protein system for farmers, e.g. by de-risking the transition to more protein crops in their rotation (both in terms of the crops grown, their on-farm uses for livestock farms, and their transformation into plant-based protein products) and developing sustainable protein crop value chains and resilient business models.

The objectives of this TG are to: 

 The TG will consist of a small (around 40) but dedicated cross-section of informed and engaged stakeholders, including policymakers and administrators at regional and national level (e.g. Managing Authorities and Paying Agencies), beneficiaries, such as farmers and farmers organisations, LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), Operational Groups EIP), advisers, researchers, National CAP Networks (NNs), and other rural, value chain, or environmental stakeholders. Participants will commit to engaging in two meetings and related activities, ensuring diverse perspectives and active contributions to achieving the TG's objectives.

There is no charge for attendance at these meetings. However, for the in-person meeting, travel and accommodation costs may be covered for TG members representing farmers, farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), European and national civil society organisations (including NGOs), and researchers/universities. All other TG members will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation costs. 

The meetings will be held in English without interpretation. 

Expressions of interest can be submitted through the button below.

Express your interest by 09 August 2026

Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:

Necessary

Desirable

Please note that when selecting the TG members from the expressions of interest, the EU CAP Network will – to the extent possible – also consider the need to ensure a balance of participants from EU Member States, sectors and topics, and gender. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation of participation as soon as possible and before 15 August 2026 at the latest. With the confirmation message, successful applicants will receive a registration link for the first meeting. Please make sure to register by the end of August and respond to the travel agency if your travel and accommodation are covered.

Since places are limited and in the interest of fairness, successful applicants are asked to commit to participate in the TG activities. In case of unforeseen circumstances, TG members must inform the organisers as soon as possible if they are unavailable to attend a TG meeting. Non-attendance without prior notice may result in exclusion from future TGs and other EU CAP Network events. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at thematicgroup1@eucapnetwork.eu. 

To follow the work of this Thematic Group, please visit this page regularly, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, and follow us on social media (#ProteinCrops, #ProteinDiversification,#ProteinTransition).