EU Farmers Tell Brussels Diversification Into Plant Crops Needs Real Policy Backing

Farmers across the EU are calling on policymakers to support agricultural diversification, particularly into plant-based production. At a recent event at the European Parliament, MEPs and farmers discussed the need for real policy backing to encourage farmers to diversify. The release of the Growing Resilience report, which showcases examples of producers successfully diversifying into plant-based production, further emphasized the benefits of diversification, such as improved quality of life for farmers and attracting younger entrants into the sector.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen expressed the Commission's support for diversification, highlighting the importance of making EU agriculture more resilient through diversity. The report outlines various recommendations, including investment support for on-farm processing under the next Common Agricultural Policy, reforms to origin labelling and VAT rules for plant-based foods, and EU funding for consumer education and chef training. The push for an EU Plant-Based Action Plan is gaining traction, with a focus on emulating successful national level approaches, such as Denmark's plan, at the EU level to promote the shift towards plant-based production.