Green Card: An EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods
“European food security, safety and food sovereignty are non-negotiable,”
as stated
in the European Commission’s Vision for agriculture and food.
The EU is a key global producer of agricultural commodities and has a positive agricultural
trade balance. Farming and food, including fisheries, are strategic sectors for the EU, sup-
plying safe, high-quality food to 450 million Europeans while contributing to global food
security.
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However, as emphasised by both the European Commission and in the study
“The
dependency of the EU’s food system on inputs and their sources”
commissioned by
the European Parliament, Europe is dependent on the import of certain key products, which
in some cases, originate from a limited number of third-country suppliers. Among others,
Russia and Belarus account for a substantial share of the EU’s fertiliser imports.
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While the
overall availability of food in the EU is not considered to be at risk, the EU’s dependence
on certain products is.
Geopolitical tensions, recent crises, extreme weather events caused by climate change,
environmental degradation, and structural changes threaten the viability of the sector, the
agricultural productivity and the EU’s strategic autonomy. As Mario Draghi has pointed out,
“dependencies
are becoming vulnerabilities.”
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Through a combination of innovation and traditional knowledge, plant-based foods and
biosolutions offer significant potential to drive the transformation of the EU’s food system.
This transformation could provide new business opportunities for farmers and the broader
food sector and potentially inspire a new generation of farm entrepreneurs. Additionally, it
has the potential to enhance the EU’s preparedness for food security across the food chain,
boost synergies with organic farm practices, improve animal welfare, contribute to decar-
bonisation of the agri-food sector, and future-proof it to ensure it goes hand in hand with
nature.
We look forward to the European Commission’s new life science strategy. However, there
is still a need for Europe to step up when it comes to identifying solutions in the field of
agriculture that can drive the necessary transformation of the sector.
We therefore call on the European Commission to
present an action plan for plant-based
foods.
An action plan for plant-based foods must be based on a comprehensive approach to the
agricultural value chain as a whole, aiming to align national efforts, ensure policy coher-
ence, and serve as a strong component alongside the livestock sector. Additionally, it
should serve as a guiding input for the upcoming reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The action plan should, among other things, focus on:
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The potential for the EU’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
Both the demand and supply sides, including the promotion of healthy, plant-rich diets.
Education and information, including culinary training focused on plant-based cui-
sine.
Research and development, including transformative research and innovation.
Ensuring adequate funding and a fair share for farmers.
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European Commission’s »Vision for agriculture and food«, 19 February 2025
Research for the AGRI committee: “The dependency of the EU’s food system on inputs and their sources,” March 2024
The Draghi report on Competitiveness: “The future of European Competitiveness,” September 2024
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