In a leaked document, the bloc's executive looks at Ukraine to cut import dependence
A draft of the EU’s upcoming protein strategy indicates concerns over a trade deficit spanning Brazil to China, and calls for increased domestic production to strengthen strategic autonomy in food, feed and fuels.
The European Commission is expected to unveil the strategy on 1 July alongside its roadmap for a more resilient livestock sector.
The EU remains heavily reliant on imported plant proteins – around 13.9 million tonnes in 2024/2025, most of it used for animal feed – and Brussels has pledged to boost domestic production.
In the draft obtained by Euractiv – still unfinished and littered with placeholders – the Commission mainly sets out recommendations for member states on how to use the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding and other tools to encourage protein crops production.
