[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":86},["ShallowReactive",2],{"pages-686bca47ebae028a1164448f":3},{"_id":4,"state":5,"name":6,"category":7,"theme":8,"components":9,"keywords":77},"686bca47ebae028a1164448f","active","Subsidy for plant protein production","discover","european_food_system_dashboard",[10,21,30,37,44,51,59],{"type":11,"index":12,"variation":13,"imageURL":14,"title":15,"description":16,"button":18},"header",0,"image_left","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/8acbb2a1-7483-43c5-a3c4-5f587e5f3010",{"en_GB":6},{"en_GB":17},"- Food system activity: Production\n- Governance level: National\n- Cluster: Stay within planetary boundaries\n- Origin: EU\n- Type of policy intervention: Financial",{"label":19,"URL":20},{"en_GB":20},"",{"type":22,"index":23,"variation":24,"imageURL":25,"title":26,"description":28},"image_and_text",1,"image_right","https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/1c0aace6-2325-4a53-96d6-5d50235b85c7",{"en_GB":27},"Intervention Details",{"en_GB":29},"This intervention, which was put forward in the Brussels-based summit, revolves around providing targeted subsidies for the production of plant-based proteins, such as legumes, soy, fava beans, and lupins, which has emerged as a key strategy to reduce dependence on imported feedstock and promote healthier diets. This intervention involves offering direct payments, eco-scheme rewards, and rural development funding to farmers who cultivate protein-rich crops. The aim is not only to support environmental outcomes like nitrogen fixation and soil health but also to shift agricultural incentives away from livestock-heavy systems and toward more plant-based value chains, aligned with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy (Moraine et al., 2020; European Commission, 2020). This intervention was proposed at the EU-level food system policy summit in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), i.e. to realign CAP subsidies to ensure that the EU becomes self-sufficient in plant protein. ",{"type":22,"index":31,"variation":13,"imageURL":32,"title":33,"description":35},2,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/c32b40e5-d2c2-44bb-a1ed-0e0d2ba39795",{"en_GB":34},"Examples of implementation",{"en_GB":36},"Like the policy intervention on subsidy for local crop diversification, this intervention could fit the current CAP framework (2023-2027)’s newest addition of voluntary eco-schemes that support farmers to adopt pro-environmental practices and help them evolve to more sustainable farming models. Member states have the flexibility to customize these eco-schemes in their CAP Strategic Plans. Under the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plans, many member states have incorporated plant protein support into their eco-scheme portfolios, making this a widely adopted but diversely implemented policy intervention. For instance, France’s “Plan Protéines Végétales” allocates over €100 million (2014–2022) to promote legume cultivation and reduce dependence on imported soy (Ministère de l’Agriculture, 2021). Similarly, Germany’s Protein Crop Strategy (*Eiweißpflanzenstrategie*) funds research, extension services, and subsidies for the cultivation of peas, beans, lupins, and soybeans under eco-schemes (BMEL, 2022).",{"type":22,"index":38,"variation":24,"imageURL":39,"title":40,"description":42},3,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/afec88ea-040b-4549-a51c-f75cc9a63be5",{"en_GB":41},"Key implementation challenges",{"en_GB":43},"Despite its policy momentum, the expansion of domestic plant protein production faces implementation challenges. There is a strong tension within CAP subsidies themselves regarding animal agriculture versus plant-based protein production. Kortleve et al. (2024) found that over 80% of CAP subsidies support emissions-intensive animal agriculture and animal feed, effectively making animal products artificially cheap and disadvantaging plant-based alternatives. This systemic bias in subsidy distribution deters investment in plant protein production and means that policies aiming to redirect funds face strong resistance from agricultural and livestock sector stakeholders. To address this imbalance, future CAP reform should introduce targeted ring-fencing of funds specifically for plant protein production and sustainable cropping systems, while progressively phasing out subsidies for environmentally harmful livestock practices—paired with just transition support for affected farmers to diversify and adapt (Baldock et al., 2025).",{"type":22,"index":45,"variation":13,"imageURL":46,"title":47,"description":49},4,"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/b466ae36-722e-4837-9540-cd11b3d71ab9",{"en_GB":48},"Expert Evaluation",{"en_GB":50},"Experts rated the effectiveness of this policy intervention at an average of 3.33/5.00 (SD = 1.06), reflecting a moderately positive assessment and ranking 11th overall. Survey respondents highlighted the intervention’s potential to promote upstream food system change, as well as the environmental benefits of protein crops, including reduced deforestation pressures associated with large EU imports. However, they also argued that without sufficient consumer demand the intervention would be ineffective. The average feasibility score was 3.79/5.00 (SD = 0.85), indicating a positive assessment (ranked 4th out of 20 interventions). Experts pointed to existing policy frameworks, such as the CAP, and the conceptual clarity of the intervention as reasons for its feasibility. Survey respondents identified synergies with interventions aimed at driving the demand, as well as a trade-off with the policy “bans and restrictions on hazardous pesticides”. ",{"type":52,"index":53,"variation":54,"imageURL":20,"title":55,"description":57},"title_and_text",5,"title_image_description",{"en_GB":56},"List of References",{"en_GB":58},"•\tBaldock, D., Muro, M., Fraas, E. & Højte (2025). Bridging the gap: Why the EU needs a just transition funding mechanism for agriculture. *Institute for European Environmental Policy.* Retrieved from [https://ieep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Why-the-EU-needs-a-just-transition-funding-mechanism-for-agriculture-IEEP-2025.pdf](https://ieep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Why-the-EU-needs-a-just-transition-funding-mechanism-for-agriculture-IEEP-2025.pdf) \n\n•\tBMEL. (2022). *Protein crop strategy (Eiweißpflanzenstrategie).* German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture. [https://www.bmel.de/EN/topics/farming/plant-production/protein-crop-strategy.html](https://www.bmel.de/EN/topics/farming/plant-production/protein-crop-strategy.html)\n\n•\tKortleve, A.J., Mogollón, J.M., Harwatt, H. and Behrens, P. (2024). Over 80% of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy supports emissions-intensive animal products. *Nature Food* 5: 288–292 (2024). [https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-00949-4](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-00949-4)\n\n•\tMinistère de l’Agriculture. (2021). *Le Plan Protéines 2021–2022.* [https://agriculture.gouv.fr/plan-proteines-vegetales](https://agriculture.gouv.fr/plan-proteines-vegetales) ",{"type":60,"index":61,"variation":62,"title":63,"contact1":65,"contact2":71,"contact3":74},"contacts",6,"title_top",{"en_GB":64},"CONTACT",{"imageURL":66,"name":67,"description":69},"https://planeateu.retool.com/api/file/771281e8-fca5-4ec7-a45c-0addca312f67",{"en_GB":68},"Jeroen Candel",{"en_GB":70},"Associate professor of food and agricultural policy​",{"imageURL":20,"name":72,"description":73},{"en_GB":20},{"en_GB":20},{"imageURL":20,"name":75,"description":76},{"en_GB":20},{"en_GB":20},[78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85],"production","national","stay within planetary boundaries","planetary","boundaries","EU","financial","policy intervention",1776157872553]