The EU’s Protein Action Plan: a welcome step, now let’s build on it together - Joint statement by the cross-sectoral coalition of European plant-based value chain stakeholders.

Brussels, 8 July – The European Commission yesterday presented its long-awaited EU. Action Plan for resilience, strategic autonomy and sustainability of the EU protein system. It recognises plant proteins as a strategic pillar for Europe’s food security, competitiveness and climate ambitions. For Europe’s plant-based food value chain, the Action Plan marks an important political milestone and creates a stronger foundation for future investment and innovation. We welcome this important initiative and commend the European Commission for introducing it after years of calls from across the sector.

Turning the Partners for Plant-Based Declaration into action: Action Plan goals need research, innovation, stronger value chains and demand-side measures

The publication of the Action Plan reflects the growing recognition that Europe’s future competitiveness depends on diversified and resilient protein value chains. This is precisely the vision that inspired the Partners for Plant-Based declaration (partnersforplantbased.eu) launched in 2025, that called for stronger leadership on plant-based foods to build a food system that is competitive, sustainable and resilient. Since then, the declaration has been supported by over 100 businesses, networks and institutions, demonstrating the wide support behind this agenda. With the EU Protein Action Plan, the Commission has now taken an important step towards translating that momentum into policy direction.

We particularly welcome the Action Plan’s emphasis on strengthening value chains, as well as real investment in research and innovation. Adequate seed breeding, processing infrastructure and technologies, including on-farm solutions, are necessary to add value to the production process and create new economic and business opportunities for the entire value chain.

At the same time, the Action Plan remains light on the demand-side measures needed to make plant-based foods easier for consumers to choose and for companies to scale. A stronger follow-up should strengthen the Single Market for plant-based foods and avoid
fragmented or restrictive national rules, while also supporting a food environment where healthy and sustainable plant-based options are affordable and accessible. Without these conditions, the Action Plan risks underdelivering on its own goals of competitiveness, transition to resilient food systems and protein diversification.

It’s time for Member States to act, the plant-based sector is ready to support

Europe’s protein diversification has taken a next step with the Action Plan. Now Member States have a central role in translating this strategic framework into concrete action. Dedicated national protein strategies, investments, support for research and innovation and measures that strengthen market demand will all be essential to unlock the Action Plan’s full potential.

As an example, Denmark’s Action Plan for Plant-based Foods demonstrates how coordinated public policies can strengthen cooperation along the entire value chain, increase plant-based food consumption, strengthen production and processing, and help invest in research and innovation. Similar ambition across Europe could reinforce the EU’s strategic objectives.

Our sectors, joining forces with actors across the EU plant-based food value chain, are ready to support this ambition. Ready to invest, ready to increase production and processing capacity, ready to build on this Action Plan with relevant authorities and stakeholders across the 27 Member States.

The following organisations are a cross-sectoral coalition representing Europe’s plant-based value chain and initiators of the Partners for Plant-Based Declaration: the European Alliance for Plant-based Foods (EAPF), Plant-Based Foods Europe, the European Vegetable Protein Association (EUVEPRO) and Starch Europe. Read and support the declaration at partnersforplantbased.eu