Europe protein diversification could cut feed imports and lower agricultural emissions, EEA says

Broadening the range of proteins produced and consumed across Europe could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen food security, and lessen the region's dependence on imported animal feed, according to a new report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

• The EEA reported that livestock production accounted for more than 65% of EU agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and relied heavily on imported protein feed.
• The report found that plant-based proteins offered the most immediate environmental benefits, while emerging technologies such as biomass fermentation and cultivated meat presented longer-term opportunities.
• European Commission modelling suggested that a coordinated shift toward more diversified protein sources could reduce imported feed dependence and cut agricultural emissions by around 5% by 2035.

The report, Protein diversification: strategic risks and opportunities for sustainable food systems, examined how Europe could gradually rebalance its protein supply by expanding the role of plant-based foods and emerging alternative protein technologies alongside more sustainable livestock production systems.

According to the EEA, protein diversification should not be viewed as a replacement for livestock farming but as part of a broader strategy to improve resilience and sustainability across Europe's food system.

The agency noted that proteins are essential to human health and nutrition, but that current consumption patterns leave room for change. Average protein intake among adults in the European Union was estimated at 80-85g per person per day, exceeding the requirements of most population groups. Animal-derived products accounted for approximately 60% of total protein consumption.

The report highlighted the environmental burden associated with Europe's current protein system. Livestock production was responsible for more than 65% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions across the EU, while grazing and feed production occupied more than half of the bloc's agricultural land.

The EEA also pointed to wider environmental impacts linked to livestock and feed production. Nitrogen losses associated with livestock farming and fertilizer use contributed to water pollution and eutrophication, while agriculture accounted for approximately 94% of EU ammonia emissions in 2023, a significant source of fine particulate air pollution.

Beyond environmental concerns, the agency identified supply chain vulnerabilities arising from Europe's dependence on imported feed. The EU currently imports nearly two-thirds of the high-protein feed used in livestock production, with supplies concentrated among a small number of exporting countries, primarily Brazil, Argentina, and the USA.

Soybean imports alone total around 30 million metric tons annually, most of which is used for animal feed. The report noted that soybean expansion in parts of South America has been linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss.

According to the EEA, recent geopolitical disruptions and volatility in energy and fertilizer markets have exposed the risks associated with such dependencies, underlining the need for a more resilient protein system.

The report evaluated a range of alternative protein pathways, including established plant-based foods such as pulses, legumes, and meat and dairy alternatives, alongside emerging technologies including insects, biomass fermentation, precision fermentation, and cultivated meat.

Each pathway was assessed according to its environmental performance, technological readiness, economic viability, and consumer acceptance.

Among the options reviewed, plant-based proteins were identified as offering the most immediate opportunities for environmental gains. The EEA cited their established production systems, relatively mature markets, and growing consumer familiarity as factors supporting near-term adoption.

According to the report, wider use of plant-based proteins could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower nitrogen pollution, ease pressure on agricultural land, and create opportunities for ecological restoration and new value creation across farming and food production systems.

The agency noted, however, that emerging alternative protein technologies may offer distinct advantages in specific applications. Biomass fermentation, precision fermentation, cultivated meat, and insect-derived ingredients could contribute to feed diversification, reduce dependence on agricultural land, and create new opportunities across food and feed value chains.

At the same time, the report acknowledged significant barriers facing many of these technologies, including high production costs, infrastructure requirements, regulatory complexity, and uncertain levels of consumer acceptance.

The EEA also highlighted the economic potential of protein diversification. Global consumption of alternative proteins could increase more than sevenfold by 2035, according to projections cited in the report. Meanwhile, the global plant-based protein market is expected to grow from approximately US$24 billion in 2025 to US$35 billion by 2030.

The agency suggested that Europe was well placed to compete in higher-value segments of the market, including plant-based foods, fermentation-derived proteins, and sustainable feed ingredients.

In addition to commercial opportunities, the report argued that expanding domestic protein crop production could strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy.

Modelling conducted by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre indicated that a coordinated shift toward more diversified protein sources could reduce the EU's reliance on imported feed while lowering agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5% by 2035.

The EEA emphasized that diversification is expected to occur gradually rather than through rapid structural change. This would provide time to support innovation, manage adjustment costs, and assist regions with strong economic dependence on livestock production.

The report stressed the importance of ensuring that any transition remains socially fair, economically viable, and environmentally effective.

It also pointed to the proposed EU protein strategy, referenced in the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, as a potential mechanism for providing policy direction and coordination.

According to the EEA, future policy efforts should focus on three priorities: ensuring environmental sustainability, strengthening resilience and strategic autonomy through reduced dependence on imported feed, and supporting a just transition that protects affordability, rural livelihoods, and regional cohesion.

The report concluded that protein diversification should be treated as a deliberate long-term strategy rather than a single technological solution, with a mix of complementary approaches likely to play a role in shaping Europe's future food system.