As the European Commission prepares its Anti-Poverty Strategy, expected in May 2026, the challenge is clear: poverty cannot be tackled through income alone. It also depends on access to services, opportunities, and crucially, good food. In a letter to Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Commissioner for Social Rights, Animal Advocacy & Food Transition called for a strategy that recognises food affordability as a core dimension of inequality.
Across the EU, millions of people live in food environments where the cheapest options are often the least healthy. Ultra-processed foods and animal products dominate many low-cost diets, while fresh, nutritious foods remain less accessible. This creates a vicious cycle: poverty fuels poor nutrition, which then deepens health inequalities. Making healthy food affordable through structural measures, such as lower VAT on plant-based products, is not a secondary issue. It is central to social justice. Public procurement must also be part of the solution. Schools, hospitals, and public institutions can lead by prioritising nutritious, plant-rich meals and using public spending to improve both health and equality.
However, this issue is not only about food. It is also about jobs. Animal welfare policies are often viewed as a cost, but they can create employment opportunities in areas such as animal care, veterinary services, and auditing. These sectors offer meaningful, future-oriented jobs while supporting inclusion through training and reskilling. The fast-growing plant-based food sector also offers significant employment potential across the value chain, from farming and processing to retail. For many regions, especially rural areas, this transition provides an opportunity to build more resilient and inclusive local economies.
This transition must remain fair. Farmers need support to adapt, invest, and diversify, ensuring that higher standards do not increase inequality. Animal welfare can also act as a powerful lever for social inclusion. Through education, community programmes, and support for vulnerable households, animal welfare policies can help strengthen empathy, social cohesion, and well-being, particularly in communities facing greater exclusion.
If the EU is serious about fighting poverty, it must embrace this broader vision. The upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy can set a new standard by recognising that dignity, equality, and inclusion depend not only on income, but also on what is on our plates, how we treat animals, and the jobs and communities we build around these choices.
