The European Commission is urged to introduce a series of measures accelerating the adoption of alternative protein sources in a policy briefing from Horizon4Proteins supported by ProVeg International.
Horizons4Proteins is a cluster of EU-funded alternative protein projects: NextGenProteins, SUSINCHAIN, ProFuture, Smart Protein, and LIKE-A-PRO.
The policy brief details eight key measures that seek to make it easier for plant-based foods to thrive on the EU market, including actions related to labelling, the regulation of novel foods and functional ingredients, as well as tax and funding.
“The development of alternative proteins has emerged as a powerful strategy to mitigate climate change, enhance food security, reduce food waste, and promote healthier diets,” Lucia Hortelano, Policy Manager at ProVeg International, which helped create the briefing, explains.
“Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the 2023 Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) have emphasized the role of plant-based diets in climate mitigation and adaptation.
The existing policy framework in the EU presents opportunities that could be further improved for future development in the alternative proteins sector,” Hortelano added.
The Policy Brief highlights a number of key actions:
Horizon4Proteins is made up of universities, research institutes, industries, and NGOs, focused on advancing the alternative proteins sector by exploring various avenues, including plant proteins, insects, microalgae and bacterial single-cell proteins.
The development of alternative proteins has emerged as a powerful strategy to mitigate climate change, enhance food security, reduce food waste, and promote healthier diets
Horizon4Proteins also advocates for the involvement of public food procurement processes to support the shift toward plant-based and sustainable diets.
This includes integrating plant-based foods into EU minimum criteria for sustainable public procurement and considering sustainability standards for fortified plant-based products.
Additionally, the consortium calls for an equal tax system, suggesting EU-wide equal VAT rates for plant-based and animal-sourced products, along with 0% VAT rates for fruit, vegetables, and legumes.
The policy brief emphasizes the need for increased research and development (R&D) funding for plant-based and alternative protein innovation.
The current funding allocation is considered insufficient, given the recognized importance of alternative proteins in achieving EU climate and sustainability goals.
The Policy Brief also recommends revisions to the Novel Foods Regulation to facilitate market entry for alternative proteins, including shorter approval processes and reevaluation of testing requirements.
