Plan aims to increase EU-produced protein to 35% by 2035

The European Commission has introduced its first comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening the animal husbandry sector across the European Union. This initiative seeks to enhance the resilience of animal production, improve farm competitiveness, and reduce dependency on imported protein sources.

Strategy Overview

The newly adopted strategy outlines five key priorities for the animal husbandry sector. These include enhancing crisis resilience, boosting competitiveness, ensuring animal welfare, and promoting local value chains. A significant component of the strategy is the Protein Action Plan, which aims to increase the proportion of protein produced within the EU from 25% in 2025 to 35% by 2035.

Economic Impact

Animal husbandry is a vital part of European agriculture, contributing approximately 40% to the EU's agricultural value added. The sector generates an estimated annual turnover of €400 billion and provides employment to around 7 million people across 4 million farms. Many of these farms are located in regions with limited alternative economic activities.

Challenges and Goals

Despite its importance, the animal husbandry sector faces numerous challenges, including low profitability, rising production costs, volatile market conditions, animal diseases, societal expectations regarding animal welfare, and environmental concerns. The strategy aims to address these issues while maintaining the sector's role in ensuring food security and supporting rural development.

The European Commission's strategy marks a significant step in securing the future of animal husbandry in the EU, ensuring it remains a competitive and sustainable industry.

Source