On the 7th of July, 2026 the European Commission published its long-awaited Protein Action Plan, aiming to deliver a resilient and sustainable protein system that makes Europe more sovereign and independent. It underlines that the EU has an “interest in being a global leader and driving innovation that supports competitive, sustainable and resilient food systems.”
The Danish Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods is put forward by the Commission as an example of how Member States can bring together tools at different levels of governance to support the value chain for plant-based foods.
The EU Commission is not directly encouraging Member States to make such Action Plans for Plant-Based Foods, but it does encourage Member States to support diversified diets and work with demand, while also stating that a coherent transition depends on ensuring that public policies and private initiatives work together across the entire agri-food chain, from production to consumption.
National Action Plans for Plant-Based Foods could help with exactly this. And in combination with a dedicated funding mechanism such as the Danish Plant-Based Food Grant, Member States would have a key tool to deliver on the high ambitions in the Protein Action Plan – from stimulating demand to stimulating supply and helping to strengthen the value chain.
Plant-based foods and more sustainable diets put forward as part of the solution
The plan covers both food and feed, while livestock is covered in more depth in the livestock strategy that was released on the same day.
On the subject of plant-based foods, there are many positive elements in the plan. And even though the plan itself is not legally binding, it sets the stage for how the European Commission intends to work with protein diversification in this mandate, as well as serving as a signal to Member States on what the Commission expects them to do.
On proteins for food, the EU Commission recognises that reducing barriers, building robust value chains and generating demand are key factors in delivering change, and that varied and more balanced diets would help build viable value chains for plant-based products, ultimately benefiting the farmers that produce them.
Member States and value chain actors are encouraged to act
The EU Commission leaves much of the work to the Member States and the value chain actors, but at the same time, it points to funding possibilities and ways to work.
According to the Commission, planning and financing under the future National Regional and Partnership Plans (NRP Plans) offer opportunities to help develop value chains through investments that will strengthen the infrastructure, storage and processing capacity needed to link supply to demand. The European Competitiveness Fund, Horizon and the current possibilities in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are also mentioned as funding tools.
What is needed – and what are the solutions?
The Protein Action Plan underlines that plant-based protein products face several challenges that will have to be overcome before they can be more widely adopted and integrated into EU diets and become a good business case for farmers.
There is a lack of dedicated knowledge, skills and inputs, and the value chains are underdeveloped. Infrastructure needs to be developed, e.g. through storage and processing investments, and there needs to be closer cooperation among stakeholders to de-risk transition decisions.
The EU Commission encourages Member States to integrate protein diversification into their generational renewal strategies and young farmers’ starter pack measures; to support investment, innovation, marketing, storage and risk management for protein crop production; and to design taxation policies to contribute to the transition to a resilient food system.
The EU Commission also underlines that it has put forward several proposals for strengthening the sector, such as allowing standards for protein crops to be introduced, better informing consumers about product origin, and making it mandatory for Member States to recognise Producer Organisations for protein crops. The EU Commission also finds that the announced proposals to strengthen public procurement, as put forward in the Vision for Agriculture, will benefit local production of plant-based products – especially pulses – and that the EU Commission will support EU campaigns highlighting the health and sustainability benefits of pulses.