By The European Times | Created at 2026-06-23 06:40:27 | Updated at 2026-06-23 23:22:35
17 hours ago
Broadening the range of proteins that Europe produces and consumes could strengthen food security, improve resilience, enhance competitiveness and reduce environmental pressures, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report. The benefits depend on treating protein diversification as a deliberate, long-term strategy.
Proteins are essential to human nutrition and health, and interest in healthier and more sustainable diets is growing across Europe. Average protein intake among adults in the EU is around 80 to 85 grammes per person per day, more than most population groups require, and animal-based products make up roughly 60% of total protein intake. This suggests there may be scope to rebalance the mix of protein sources while maintaining adequate nutrition.
Europe’s current protein system is associated with significant environmental pressures, shows the report ‘Protein diversification — strategic risks and opportunities for sustainable food systems‘, published today by the EEA. Livestock production accounts for more than 65% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and grazing and feed production together take up more than half of its agricultural land. Nitrogen associated with livestock and fertiliser use contributes to water pollution and eutrophication, and agriculture was responsible for around 94% of the EU’s ammonia emissions in 2023 – a major source of fine particulate air pollution.
Figure 1. Median greenhouse gas emissions and land-use requirements of selected food products
The livestock system also relies heavily on imported feed. The EU imports nearly two-thirds of the high-protein feed used in livestock production, with supply concentrated in a few countries, mainly Brazil, Argentina and the United States. Soybean imports alone amount to around 30 million tonnes a year, mostly for animal feed. Soy expansion is linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss in parts of South America. Geopolitical tensions in recent years have repeatedly pushed up energy and fertiliser prices and disrupted supply chains have highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with these dependencies and the importance of strengthening the resilience of European food systems.
A gradual rebalancing, not a replacement
Not all livestock systems carry the same environmental footprint. Extensive grazing on grasslands can support biodiversity conservation, landscape management, and around one in three protected habitats in Europe depend on grazing. This is one of the reasons why the report presents protein diversification not as a replacement for livestock farming but as a gradual rebalancing of Europe’s protein supply and consumption patterns, pursued alongside more sustainable livestock systems and designed to protect rural livelihoods and regional economies.
Protein diversification is also not a single solution, but a portfolio of complementary pathways. Alongside established plant-based foods such as pulses, legumes and meat and dairy alternatives, the report assesses emerging options including insects, biomass fermentation, precision fermentation and cultivated meat. These pathways differ in terms of technological maturity, environmental performance, economic viability and social acceptance.
Plant-based proteins currently offer the most immediate environmental benefits. Supported by established production systems, mature markets and relatively high consumer familiarity, they have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen pollution and land-use pressures while creating opportunities for nature restoration and new value creation across farming and food systems. Emerging diversification pathways may nevertheless offer environmental, technological or strategic advantages in specific applications, including feed diversification, reduced land dependence and new opportunities across food and feed value chains. However, many continue to face challenges related to production costs, infrastructure requirements, regulatory complexity and uncertain levels of consumer acceptance.
Figure 2. Consumption of alternative proteins by protein source
Diversification also opens economic opportunities. Global consumption of alternative proteins could increase more than sevenfold by 2035, while the market for plant-based proteins alone is projected to grow from around USD 24 billion in 2025 to USD 35 billion by 2030. Europe is well placed to compete in higher-value segments spanning plant-based foods, fermentation-derived proteins and more sustainable feed ingredients.
Building up home-grown protein crops could also strengthen the resilience of European food systems. Modelling by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre suggests that a coordinated shift towards more diversified protein sources could reduce reliance on imported feed and lower EU agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by around 5% by 2035.
Because protein diversification is expected to unfold gradually rather than through abrupt structural change, there is scope to manage adjustment costs, support innovation and provide targeted assistance to livestock-dependent regions. The report highlights the importance of ensuring that the transition remains socially fair, economically viable and environmentally robust.
The report points to an EU protein strategy, signalled in the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, as a means of providing strategic direction and policy coherence. It sets out three priorities: safeguarding environmental integrity and ensuring sustainability outcomes; strengthening resilience and strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on imported feed while maintaining diversified trade relationships; and supporting a just transition that protects affordability, regional cohesion and rural livelihoods.
