European Union

Written by Nera Kuljanic

Proteins are the building blocks of our bodies. They are also important for bodily function and regulatory processes. We get these essential nutrients from food. Is there enough protein to feed everyone? Where does it come from? Looking at the future, will there be enough sustainable and diverse protein, considering the growing population, climate change effects and geopolitical tensions? Is there room for some new protein sources on our plates and how easy are they to find on the market today?

The Parliament has been active on this topic in recent years. In 2021, the Parliament highlighted the potential of non-plant based alternative protein sources in the EU. After the COVID‑19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted supply chains and highlighted dependencies on foreign suppliers for agricultural inputs and commodities in 2022, Parliament invited the European Commission to propose ‘a comprehensive European protein strategy in order to increase European protein production and reduce the EU’s dependency on third countries in this regard’. Parliament also demanded measures to ‘facilitate access to markets of alternative proteins’. Most recently, in October 2023, the Parliament outlined its own vision for a European protein strategy. The Commission is currently putting together a legislative proposal on sustainable food systems (it was due by the end of 2023). 

In this context, the European Parliament Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) commissioned a study on the future role of alternative protein sources in sustainable animal and human nutrition, as proposed by STOA Panel member Martin Hlaváček (Renew, CZ). The study examines the current and projected protein balance, focusing on conventional and alternative protein sources (algae, insects, microbially fermented products, and cultured meat), analyses the current state-of-the-art of the alternatives and challenges and opportunities for their adoption, and describes policy options to support the development of those alternatives.

Protein balance

The data shows conventional proteins dominate the current protein balance. While globally most dietary protein comes from plants (57 %), in Europe most human dietary protein comes from animal sources (55‑60 %). Total alternative proteins consumed represent only a small fraction (2 % of the animal protein market). The sources of protein used in animal feed are both non-edible for humans (such as grass) and edible (mostly grains, including cereals and pulses). The EU is 77 % self-sufficient in feed protein sources, and has an ample supply of roughage, which is the primary feed protein source (but relatively low in proteins). However, the EU only produces a quarter of the high-protein oilseed meals it requires to feed its livestock sector.

Looking to 2050, the demand for proteins will increase and there are strong reasons – population growth, health, climate, environment, geopolitics – for questioning whether the current distribution of animal and plant-based proteins, and their relative contribution to the overall intake globally and in the EU can and should be maintained. Alternative proteins offer potential to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient protein balance. However, their current contribution is minimal and data on their usage, particularly in an EU context, are limited and sometimes outdated.

Closer look into alternative protein sources

While alternative proteins generally require less water and land and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional animal proteins, there are variations and complexities within each alternative that necessitate further research and optimisation. For example, the energy use in producing some alternative proteins can be equivalent to or even higher than their conventional counterparts, and specific feed sources for alternatives such as insects and algae can result in higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to soybean. Alternative proteins generally tend to generate less waste, with some even offering circular economy benefits by utilising waste as an input, the full extent of their sustainability potential requires further investigation.

The potential of alternative proteins to replace conventional protein sources hinges on their nutritional contribution to people and animals’ diets. In human nutrition, some of the alternative protein sources offer a beneficial macronutrient profile when compared to conventional animal-based proteins, although research on their bioavailability depending on type of alternative protein, and how they are produced and processed, is ongoing. Similarly, for their micronutrient content, the impact of different production processes and processing deserves further investigation. Moreover, there are also questions of price, regulation, and consumer acceptance. The level of investment in R&D, commercial and technological maturity and industrial capacity further point to how the future of alternative proteins may play out.

Future support for the alternative proteins sector

While alternative protein sources present opportunities to strengthen European food security and sustainability, they face considerable obstacles in scaling up technologies, achieving commercial viability against subsidised conventional sources, and navigating complex regulations and legislative barriers. The study lays out complementary policy options to help scale up alternative protein development and production in the EU. Proposed interventions include 1) targeted research funding to advance technologies and address knowledge gaps, 2) industrial policy investments in infrastructure and processing facilities, 3) incorporating environmental considerations into regulatory approval processes, and 4) enhanced coordination across policies and stakeholders.

Read the interview with Professor Arnold van Huis about entomophagy (the human consumption of insects), and with Professor Mark Post about lab-grown meat.

Your opinion counts for us. To let us know what you think, get in touch via stoa@europarl.europa.eu.

Following a final plenary vote, rapporteurs Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (S&D, PT) and Samira Rafaela (Renew, NL) will discuss new rules banning products made with force labour.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Following a final plenary vote, rapporteurs Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (S&D, PT) and Samira Rafaela (Renew, NL) will discuss new rules banning products made with force labour.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

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