On June 2025, AAFT joined a broad coalition of health, consumer, and sustainability organisations to launch a Blueprint for an EU Action Plan on Plant-Based Foods – a concrete roadmap calling on EU policymakers to finally take the plant-based shift seriously.
The call is clear: Europe needs an ambitious, coordinated strategy to boost plant-based diets and reduce the overconsumption of animal products – not just for the climate, but for public health, food security, and fairness to farmers.
We urge the European Commission to:
- Develop an EU Action Plan on Plant-Based Foods under the Farm to Fork Strategy;
- Align dietary guidelines and public procurement with sustainability and health goals, including more plant-based meals in schools, hospitals, and canteens;
- Support farmers in diversifying their production towards protein crops and growing pulses, legumes, and vegetables;
- Ensure fair labelling and market access for plant-based alternatives, not censorship or unfair restrictions.
Why now? Because the science – and the urgency – is crystal clear. According to the European Environment Agency, food systems account for over 30% of EU greenhouse gas emissions, and animal agriculture is the main driver. Shifting toward plant-rich diets is one of the most effective actions we can take to stay within planetary boundaries.
Instead of supporting this shift, EU policies still over-subsidise intensive animal farming and fail to create an enabling environment for sustainable, plant-based innovation. This Blueprint offers a way forward. It’s practical, evidence-based, and reflects growing public demand. Sales of plant-based food are rising, farmers are ready to diversify, and citizens are asking for healthier, climate-aligned options.
We are very pleased to support this effort and we will continue to push for a just food transition that supports animals, people, and the planet. The Commission doesn’t need to start from scratch. The recipe is here. Now it’s time to cook.
