European Parliament vote sets stage for Biotech Act and streamlined food innovation rules

The European Parliament has voted in favor of a report charting the future of the EU’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector, marking a significant step toward new legislation known as the Biotech Act. The decision signals growing political momentum to expand Europe’s biotech capabilities, including in food innovation, with the aim of strengthening sustainability, competitiveness, and food security across the bloc.

The report emphasizes the strategic role biotechnology and biomanufacturing play in delivering on a wide range of EU policy goals, from sustainability and public health to economic resilience. It explicitly calls for more focused investments in key areas of biotech, including the food sector, and proposes regulatory reforms that could accelerate the development and approval of new products.

“The adoption of the report creates opportunities for the EU to support innovations in plant-based foods and fermentation as part of a diversified protein system, which can boost Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and food security,” commented Pauline Grimmer, Policy Manager at the Good Food Institute Europe.

One of the report’s central recommendations is for the European Commission to urgently streamline, simplify, and shorten the approval process for biotech materials and products. The aim is to make the system more efficient without compromising existing EU standards for safety and quality. Lawmakers have highlighted the need for Europe to learn from best practices in other regions while ensuring high consumer protection and regulatory rigor.

In addition to regulatory reforms, the Parliament’s report calls for coordinated public investment in strategic areas of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Members of the European Parliament stressed the importance of using funding tools such as Horizon Europe and of developing European Investment Bank instruments specifically designed to reduce financial risks in the biotech sector. Such measures could help emerging biotech companies overcome barriers to scaling up innovative technologies and bringing new products to market.

Infrastructure also featured prominently in the Parliament’s recommendations. MEPs pointed to the need for shared facilities such as pilot plants and research centers that can support smaller companies and startups, helping to lower costs and speed up innovation cycles. The report also highlights the value of public-private partnerships in driving technological progress and ensuring that Europe remains competitive in the global biotech race.

Food innovation stands out as one of the strategic applications identified in the report. Policymakers are increasingly looking at biotech solutions, including fermentation-derived ingredients and plant-based alternatives, as essential tools for building a sustainable and resilient food system. The push comes as Europe seeks to diversify its protein sources and reduce its environmental footprint, all while maintaining food security for a growing population.

The forthcoming Biotech Act is expected to incorporate many of the report’s recommendations, shaping a more coherent and supportive legal framework for biotech across the EU. Though details of the legislation are still under development, the Act is anticipated to address both regulatory processes and funding mechanisms, aiming to give European innovators a clearer path to market.

For companies working on alternative proteins, precision fermentation, and other biotech-based food solutions, these policy shifts could ease some of the hurdles that have historically slowed progress. Long approval timelines and fragmented regulatory rules have been cited as significant challenges for businesses seeking to launch new products in the EU market.

Grimmer noted that regulatory modernization and investment support will be crucial to help Europe compete globally. She said that enabling innovation in plant-based and fermentation technologies can deliver benefits not only for sustainability but also for economic resilience and public health.

Industry observers are watching closely as the European Commission prepares to draft the Biotech Act in the coming months. The Act could define how quickly new food technologies come to market and how competitive Europe remains in a sector that many see as critical to future food systems.

As the EU pushes forward with its biotech ambitions, stakeholders across the food and biotech sectors are preparing for the potential opportunities—and challenges—that new legislation will bring. For now, the Parliament’s vote signals a clear political will to advance biotech as a strategic pillar of Europe’s economic and sustainability agenda.