On 7 July 2026, the European Commission adopted an Action Plan to increase the resilience, strategic autonomy, and sustainability of the EU protein system. The plan targets the EU's high dependence on imported protein feed—74% of high-protein feed is imported, with 94% of soya protein coming from the US, Brazil, and Argentina—and aims to expand sustainable domestic production, improve competitiveness, and strengthen value chains. It affects farmers, the feed industry, and the wider agri-food sector, but explicitly excludes fisheries and aquaculture.
The plan, published as COM(2026)355, sets out four main objectives: reducing import dependency by incentivising farmers to adopt diversified production systems with lower fertiliser needs; improving competitiveness through research, innovation, and scaled-up investments; strengthening EU protein value chains by improving market attractiveness and promoting local solutions and short supply chains; and enhancing preparedness of the wider protein system. The Commission notes that Ukraine could play a larger role in supplying plant-based protein imports, potentially increasing EU self-sufficiency from 76% to 86% in a prospective accession scenario.
The Action Plan complements the livestock strategy also adopted on 7 July 2026. It does not cover fisheries and aquaculture, which are addressed separately. The plan is a comprehensive approach to reduce import dependencies, boost domestic production, and foster innovation across the EU protein system.
Farmers may benefit from new incentives for diversified production, but could face transition costs. The feed industry may see reduced import reliance but could face higher costs for domestic alternatives. EU consumers may gain from more sustainable protein sources, while import-dependent countries like Brazil and Argentina could see reduced demand. The plan's exclusion of fisheries and aquaculture limits its scope for the broader protein sector.
The Commission will now present the Action Plan to the European Parliament and the Council for discussion. Member states and stakeholders will be consulted on implementation measures, including potential legislative proposals on protein crop support and market measures.