Building Trust for Protein Diversification: A Path Towards Europe's Food Future

Event Description

The discussion surrounding protein—from its production to its consumption—has generated significant interest among various stakeholders and policymakers in European food policy.  On one side, there are concerns about the environmental footprint and health implications of current protein systems. On the other, there are legitimate questions about how evolving food traditions and new market dynamics will shape the future of rural livelihoods, and what this means for different types of farmers, from livestock producers, feed producers, to those already focused on growing crops for human consumption. This fragmentation of perspectives has led to a stalemate, hindering the progress Europe needs to build a resilient, sustainable, and healthy food system. 

Protein diversification offers a way forward. Rather than framing plant, animal, and novel proteins as competing alternatives, this approach seeks to rebalance protein sources—positioning them as complementary pillars of Europe's food future. A diversified protein landscape can deliver benefits for farmers through new income streams and reduced input costs, for consumers through healthier and more sustainable food choices, and for the environment through regenerative practices and reduced emissions. 

Yet for protein diversification to succeed, trust must be built across the entire value chain. Farmers and producers need clear signals that diversifying their production will be profitable and supported by reliably stable demand in a developing market. Consumers need assurance that diversified protein products are safe, nutritious, environmentally sound, and can be part of a healthy, but still tasty and affordable diet. Policymakers, producers, retailers, and civil society all have roles to play in creating the conditions for this trust to flourish. 

This European Food Forum event builds on growing policy momentum around protein diversification in Europe. The European Parliament’s 2023 Protein Strategy resolution called for comprehensive measures to strengthen EU protein production across all sources. The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture recommended developing an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods by 2026, and the Danish EU Presidency (July–December 2025) has prioritised protein diversification and the formulation of an EU protein strategy, underscoring the strategic importance of this agenda for Europe’s food future. By bringing together key actors from across the food value chain farmers, industry, retailers, consumer organisations, start-ups, and NGOs, this EFF event will examine achievements to date, highlight the remaining challenges, and identify further actions needed to enable a protein future that benefits all. 

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Agenda

Moderator: Marin Vandamme, Co-Founder, The Protein Project 

09:00 – 09:10 | Opening Remarks by MEP Biljana Borzan 

09:10 – 09:20 | Setting the Scene: What do we mean by protein diversification? 

An overview of the protein diversification landscape: opportunities for health, environment, and food security; the role of plant, animal, and novel proteins; and why building trust is central to achieving systemic change. 

• Professor Stacy Pyett, Programme Manager, Proteins for Life, Wageningen University & Research 

  
  

09:20 – 09:45 | Panel 1: Building Trust with Consumers 

• Olivia BROWN, Policy Officer, Euroconsumers 

How can we bring consumers on board with protein diversification—addressing not only trust, but also affordability, availability, and taste? 

• Els BEDERT, Director, Product Policy & Sustainability, EuroCommerce  

  What do consumers think about protein diversification? What are the positive signals and remaining bottlenecks? What can retailers do to increase consumer trust in alternative protein products? To which extent do they already engage in protein diversification?  

  
  

• Guillaume MILLET, President of Plant-Based Foods Europe, Vice-President Plant-Based of Danone 

How plant-based foods have succeeded in building trust, and what lessons can be drawn for other alternative proteins? 

Moderated Q&A 

09:45 – 10:10 | Panel 2: Building Trust with Farmers and Producers 

What is needed to give farmers and producers confidence to diversify their protein production—and trust that markets will be there? 

• Niels Peter NØRRING, Climate and EU Director, Danish Agriculture and Food Council 

  What do farmers need to trust that protein diversification is a viable path? Insights from the ground on business models, market access, and policy support 

• Claudia HAUSCHILD, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability Management, Rügenwalder Mühle 

What is needed to make protein diversification an attractive strategy for existing industry players? Which challenges are holding them back from doubling-down on the alternative protein market?  

• Carlo BULKMANS, Director Scientific Affairs and Regulatory, Vivici (Food Fermentation Europe) 

  What is needed to ensure emerging protein companies can trust the market, access financing, and scale their operations in Europe? 

  
  

• Hidde BOERSMA, Senior Policy Advisor, Agriculture and Conservation, WePlanet 

What is needed to ensure public trust in the production processes behind protein diversification—from animal welfare to environmental standards? 

Moderated Q&A 

10:10 – 10:55 | Panel Discussion 

What can the EU do to increase trust in a diversified protein value chain and show that it is fit for the future? 

A forward-looking discussion on EU policy levers—from the CAP and protein strategy to labelling, public procurement, and innovation funding—that can help build trust and increase support to accelerate protein diversification 

• MEP Biljana BORZAN 

• Brian VINTER, Vice-Dean, Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Presentation of the Tech Protein Strategy 2035 

• Siska POTTIE, Secretary-General, European Alliance for Plant-based Foods 

• Rafael PINTO, Senior Policy Manager, European Vegetarian Union 

• Olivier JANIN, Director General, Food Manufacturing Technologies Europe 

• Diana FILIP, Deputy CEO & Chief Development Officer, JA Europe 

10:55 – 11:00 | Closing Remarks by MEP Biljana BORZAN