Europeans are already embracing plant-based food and are eager for more. However, there are still barriers that will need to be overcome in accessibility, affordability and familiarity.
The week of October 18 was of enormous consequence for the European Union’s food and agricultural systems. In the span of four days, Parliament voted on reports on the EU Farm to Fork strategy and the EU methane strategy.
The Federal Council in Germany has called on the federal government to advocate towards the EU for the inclusion of plant milks in the school milk scheme.
Denmark has shown us that meaningful legislation can be implemented that has the potential to create a sustainable agricultural sector and shift diets towards plant-based proteins.
EuroCommerce, the principal European organisation representing retail and wholesale, has signed a joint statement with the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) and FoodDrinkEurope asking the European Commission to issue definitions for voluntary vegan and vegetarian food labelling.
With a view to the knowledge gaps and the questionable effects and uses of insect farming, the EU should rather promote and concentrate on the transition towards a plant-based food system.
Fit for 55 fails to fully embrace the transformational possibilities of plant-based diets
The IPCC report emphasizes the threat of climate change. Switching to plant-based diets and sustainable farming play important roles in reducing emissions.
On 21 June 2021, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published a special report on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and its efforts to curb agricultural emissions. The report came only a couple of days before negotiations on the reform of the CAP concluded.
