On Tuesday 9 April in Genk, a large number of EU agriculture ministers called for the adoption of an ambitious European strategy to boost plant protein production and reduce dependence on imports.
The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council organised a debate at the informal meeting of EU ministers on plant protein production in the EU. David Clarinval, the Belgian minister, pointed out that the EU was importing too much soya from the United States. We need to put in place an EU strategy to ensure protein self-sufficiency, he argued.
The Austrian Minister, Norbert Totschnig, who is very much at the forefront of this issue, stated that the EU must ensure that the security of supply of plant proteins is strengthened. “We need to reduce our dependence on imports from third countries such as the United States, Brazil and Argentina, and to do that we need to develop a European working strategy”, he said. He regretted that the Commission had not yet tabled a proposal.
“There is a search for strategic autonomy in terms of plant proteins”, emphasised Marc Fesneau, the French minister, who deplored that Europe was lagging behind in this area. The aim is to double the acreage in France and prevent us from importing proteins from agriculture that leads to deforestation, added Mr Fesneau. He said he hoped that the Commission ”will be able to deploy its strategy on the issue of proteins”.
Adam Nowak, from the Polish Ministry of Agriculture, wanted to discuss relations with Ukraine on protein imports (soya) and the need to support renewable energy sources (biofuel, biodiesel).
According to Cem Özdemir, the German minister, “we have a massive problem of dependence when it comes to plant proteins”. In his view, the EU must therefore strengthen its independence. Germany has a strategy for protein crops, particularly with regard to the development of organic farming.
Luis Planas, the Spanish minister, suggested increasing the degree of self-sufficiency in all sources of protein, focusing on those that are most lacking (soya cake or meal), by increasing Community production. He also stated that priority should be given to trade policy and the negotiation of trade agreements on access to these products. For Spain, it is important to increase the consumption of legumes, in line with the Mediterranean diet, and to respect the traditional presentations and denominations of the meat sector. Mr Planas also called on the EU Council to finally adopt a position on the use of new genomic techniques.
Slovakia considered it important to introduce “correct and complete labelling of plant proteins”.
Other countries are not necessarily calling for new initiatives, such as Sweden, claiming it is “important not to disrupt the market, for example by giving disproportionate support to specific sectors”. The country also stressed that the development of new types of protein on the market must be accompanied by the maintenance of the EU’s high food safety standards.
The ministers said they were looking forward to the Commission’s next report on plant proteins.
“We need to increase our protein production in the European Union”, acknowledged the Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski. He called for a strategic approach to protein production. He outlined his vision for the future of agricultural policy, “which should help mixed farms”, that have both types of production (crop and livestock).
Simplification. Germany and Austria again complained about the red tape involved in the regulation to fight deforestation. “Twenty Member States share Austria’s view”, said the Austrian minister. According to Norbert Totschnig, the regulation has repercussions for soya production in Europe. Every year, the EU imports around 13.5 million tonnes of soya beans and around 15.1 million tonnes of soya meal, mainly from the United States, Brazil and Argentina. “And we are concerned that this extra bureaucracy in soya production will lead to a reduction in production in Europe”, added the Austrian minister. Austria has almost tripled its area under soya between 2010 and 2022. At the EU ‘Agriculture’ Council of 26 March, Austria called for a targeted revision of the regulation on fighting deforestation (see EUROPE 13380/5). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)