Plants-Based Proteins

Welcome to the Plants working group!

Description of the WG main objective:

Regional coordination (since March 2024): Southwest Finland (FI), Småland Blekinge Halland South Sweden (SE), Province of Flevoland (NL).

The Plant-based proteins Working Group brings together European regions and their R&I ecosystem actors promoting plant-based proteins production and product development. The aim is to work on increasing the supply, demand and diversification of European plant-based proteins as well as impacting consumer awareness and choices. The activities of the working group include exchanging knowledge and best practices, facilitating project development and monitoring EU policy developments in this field.

Context

• In 2018, the European Commission published a report on the development of plant proteins in the European Union.
• At the heart of the European Green Deal (2019), the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F, presented in 2020), closely linked to the Biodiversity Strategy (2020), aims to enhance the sustainability of European food systems – to make them more fair, healthy and environmentally friendly. It addresses, among other fields, the development of plant proteins, including alternative feed materials.
• In March 2022, the European Parliament adopted resolution calling on the Commission to propose a comprehensive action plan to ensure food security and reduce dependency on third countries. In October 2023, the European Parliament adopted resolution calling for the European protein strategy.
• In that context, the Commission announced in its food security communication its intention to review its protein policy in the first quarter of 2024. However, the review has been put on hold after the European elections 2024. ERAFF Plant-based proteins WG provided an input paper for the review in July 2023.
• Increasing the availability and source of alternative proteins such as plant, microbial, marine and insect-based proteins and meat substitutes will be a thematic priority in programs with funding streams to research and innovation for the agri-food sector.
• Thus, there are many reasons for regions, and actors of the quadruple-helix, to prepare for upcoming European calls for projects on the topic and build strong interregional collaboration.