Foodrise has revealed that the European Union spent significantly more subsidies on high-emissions beef and dairy compared to legumes and nuts in 2020. The breakdown of funding showed that meat and dairy production received over 10 times more subsidies than fruit and vegetable production, despite being major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.

The disparities in subsidies come amid calls for reform to support a shift towards healthy sustainable diets and reduced livestock numbers. Foodrise is urging EU policymakers to introduce a Plant-Based Action Plan and an Agri-food Just Transition Fund to promote plant-based foods and support farmers in the transition. The adoption of healthy sustainable diets could have numerous benefits, including reducing agricultural emissions, boosting agricultural incomes, and preventing diseases in Europe.