Adoption of the EP Farm to Fork Report: A positive step in the transition towards sustainable food systems
The European Alliance for Plant-based Foods (EAPF) applauds the adoption of the Report on the Farm to Fork Strategy by the European Parliament on 20 October 2021. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have stated their support to move towards sustainable, healthy and resilient food systems that can respond to environmental challenges and meet evolving consumer demands.
The Report is the result of a joint effort across political groups to develop a policy framework that sustains and strengthens the commitment towards achieving the EU sustainability and health goals. EAPF particularly welcomes the Parliament’s support to:
- Rebalance European dietary patterns towards more plant-rich diets;
- Promote the consumption of environmentally-friendly products – such as plant-based foods – through, among others, financial incentives;
- Support the development of the plant protein sector in the EU;
- Reduce the environmental impact of the agricultural sector;
- Reduce overconsumption of carbon-intensive foods.
The Report constitutes an important starting point to develop even more ambitious actions and initiatives. In this regard, EAPF would like to stress the importance of plant-based products – made from whole plant based ingredients – in the transition towards more plant-based diets. Such products provide a more sustainable alternative to animal-based products, giving consumers concrete options to support a dietary change towards more plant-rich diets. They thus directly contribute to the achievement of the EU Farm to Fork objectives.
Siska Pottie, EAPF Secretary General, states: “EAPF thanks MEPs for their support to move towards more sustainable food systems with more plant-based foods. Plant-based products play an equally important role in shifting consumption patterns towards more plant-based diets, and are part of the solution to meet the EU food sustainability goals. Policymakers should accelerate such shift by developing a regulatory framework that creates a level playing field for plant-based foods”.
Read the full statement here.