Law & Policy Active Updated Jul 9, 2026
The EU protein policy gap
The European Commission's 2026 Protein Plan bound member states to a 35% domestically sourced feed-protein target by 2035 but left every food-side measure voluntary, drawing immediate criticism from GFI Europe and ProVeg as a missed opportunity. The fight is whether the EU will extend binding targets to human-consumption protein, which Systemiq projects as a €111 billion economic opportunity, or whether Brussels confines its protein ambition to feed security while competitors like China set 55% alt-protein consumption targets for 2050.
The story so far
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Jul 9, 2026 Latest
The European Vegetarian Union published a response calling the voluntary food-side measures insufficient, with EVU policy manager Rafael Pinto arguing the binding 35% feed-protein target could be met simply by increasing human consumption of plant proteins since current import dependency is caused by imbalanced diets, and renewing the EVU's call for a standalone EU plant-based action plan [117]. GFI Europe cited Denmark's EUR 68 million protein-crop farmer bonus as the kind of concrete funding mechanism absent from the EU plan [117].
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Jul 8, 2026
The European Commission published its Protein Plan, setting a binding 35% domestic feed-protein target for 2035, up from 25.8% today, while leaving all food-protein promotion measures voluntary. GFI Europe called the plan a missed opportunity to position Europe as a global leader in sustainable protein. Systemiq estimated the full protein transition at €111 billion in economic value; China has projected 55% of protein from alternative sources by 2050.
Green Queen
vegconomist the vegan business magazine
GFI Europe
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