Report on the development of plant proteins in the European Union

Summary:

On 22 November 2018 the European Commission presented a report on the development of plant proteins in the European Union.

Further information:

The production and sourcing of plant proteins for the agri-food sector has repeatedly stimulated political debate at EU level. This report is intended to meet the Commission’s commitment taken during the adoption process for Regulation (EU) 2017/2393, to review the supply and demand situation for plant proteins in the EU and to explore possibilities to further develop their production in an economically and environmentally sound way.

The report summarises the work carried out by the Commission in response to this commitment, by analysing the protein sector in the EU. This process involved stakeholders and representatives of Member States by means of a survey; four expert workshops in Belgium, Romania, France and the Netherlands; bilateral discussions in Member States as well as an external study on the market potential for EU-grown plant proteins.

The report focuses on protein rich plants with a crude protein content of more than 15% (oilseeds: rapeseed, sunflower seeds and soya beans; pulses: beans, peas, lentils, lupins etc.; and fodder legumes: mainly alfalfa and clover), accounting for about 1/4 of the total crude plant protein supply in the EU.