European Union Launches Protein Action Plan to Strengthen Sustainable Feed Supply

The European Commission has launched a Protein Action Plan aimed at strengthening the resilience, sustainability and strategic autonomy of the European Union's protein system. The initiative seeks to reduce the EU's dependence on imported high-protein feed materials by expanding domestic production of oilseeds and protein crops while supporting a more sustainable agricultural sector.

Under the Action Plan, the European Union aims to increase the share of protein from oilseeds and protein crops produced within the EU and used as animal feed from around 25% in 2025 to 35% by 2035. The strategy includes measures to encourage sustainable cultivation, diversify protein sources and strengthen value chains across agriculture, food, feed, energy and industry.

The plan also promotes innovation in alternative protein sources, research and breeding programmes, improved processing capacity and stronger collaboration across Member States. By reducing reliance on imported protein, particularly soy, the European Commission aims to improve food security, enhance supply chain resilience and create new economic opportunities for farmers and rural communities.

The Protein Action Plan complements the European Union's new Livestock Strategy and broader Vision for Agriculture and Food. Together, these initiatives are intended to support a more competitive, climate-resilient and sustainable food system while advancing the EU's long-term objectives for environmental protection, strategic autonomy and rural development.

The EU Protein Action Plan reshapes how European agriculture-and-food companies think about feed-supply resilience - moving from soy-import dependence toward domestic protein cultivation and alternative-protein innovation. Our supply-chain-and-operations and nature-based-solutions teams help agri-food clients evaluate protein-transition opportunities and disclosure implications, particularly under EUDR and CSRD.