PRESS RELEASE
EVU welcomes proposal for an EU Action Plan for Plant-based Foods by 2026
Brussels, 4 September 2024
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today presented the conclusions from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture. The report includes a series of joint recommendations, agreed unanimously by some 29 organisations, including farming representatives and NGOs.
The EVU was pleased to see that moving towards a higher plant-based diet was recognised as a crucial factor in the recommendations, both as a consumption trend, but also as a mitigating solution to the climate crisis we face. Importantly, the report calls for an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods to be developed by the European Commission by 2026. This echoes the call the EVU made in its Plant-Based Manifesto, published ahead of the EU elections. It was a move moreover supported by almost 60% of political party respondents to the EVU’s EU election questionnaire.
Rafael Pinto, EVU’s Policy Manager commented that: “We highly welcome the proposal to develop an EU Plant-Based Action plan. This is a key opportunity to improve sustainability and reward good practices in farming, develop our economy and protect people’s health. The Plan could help support a significant amount of jobs, drastically reduce our environmental impact and reduce disease burdens ”, adding that “We now hope to see ambitious concrete measures, targets and funding included in the content”.
The proposal comes after the successful development of a similar Action Plan in Denmark which the EVU asks the Commission to “use as a source of inspiration”. That Action Plan notably addresses various critical areas, including increasing plant-based food consumption in public sector kitchens, professional education, export initiatives, production and processing, agricultural raw materials, and research and development.
On the overall recommendations of the report, the EVU believes “The Commission is steering in the right direction with the recognition of the role of plant-based diets and the need to promote its consumption’’ while adding that ‘’Nevertheless, we were saddened to see that the measures adopted earlier this year to weaken the CAP’s environmental controls will keep being supported by the Commission.’’
Another key recommendation supported by the EVU included in the report is the need to review the rules on public procurement to ensure healthier and more sustainable options in public canteens and catering.
For media inquiries, please contact: communications@euroveg.eu
About the European Vegetarian Union:
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is the umbrella association of 46 civil society organisations in 28 countries. The EVU represents the voice of the growing number of European consumers shifting towards a more plant-based diet. As such, we advocate for a favourable food environment that makes it easier to choose more plant-based foods and dishes. www.euroveg,eu
