New report launched at the European Parliament highlights farmers’ experiences of diversification across Europe
Yesterday, farmers from across Europe called for greater support to unlock the untapped potential of agricultural diversification. Speaking at the European Parliament event, ‘Grown in the EU: What Farmers Need to Make Diversification Work’, they described diversification as an opportunity to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of European agriculture.
The cross-party event was organized by the Coalition for an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods, of which ProVeg International is a member. It was co-hosted by MEPs Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP), Barry Cowen (Renew), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA), and Per Clausen (The Left), and opened with a keynote speech by Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen.
Farmers bring diversification stories to the European Parliament
The panel discussion brought together farmers from across the EU who are exploring new opportunities through protein diversification and plant-rich production. Their insights reflect the findings of Growing Resilience: Farm diversification stories from across the EU, a new report launched at the event by the Coalition.
Based on interviews with 33 farmers across 18 EU Member States, the report highlights both the opportunities and remaining barriers facing diversification.
Key findings include:
- 66.7% of farmers who diversified production reported a positive impact on their quality of life
- Diversification shows strong potential to support generational renewal in EU agriculture – while the average EU farmer is 57 years old, more than half of the interviewed farmers were under 40
- Many farmers expressed interest in diversifying into protein crops and other plant production, but significant barriers remain
The report also found that all participating farmers support coordinated action to strengthen European protein value chains, alongside national diversification strategies.
Ailbhe Gerrard, Irish farmer, said: “I am being more productive by being more diverse. We still need more support from policymakers to protect, encourage, and support a shift in farming.”
Turning farmer experience into practical policy solutions
Throughout the discussion, farmers highlighted the need for practical support mechanisms that help diversification succeed in practice.
Recommendations raised through the report include:
- Supporting diversification through the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), including investment support for on-farm and collective processing;
- Expanding training, research, and farmer-to-farmer knowledge-sharing on protein crops;
- Encouraging long-term and fair supply partnerships across food value chains;
- Prioritizing local and sustainable food in public procurement;
- And improving origin labeling, marketing standards, and VAT frameworks for plant-based foods.
“Protein diversification presents an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s food security and create new economic opportunities for farmers,” said Lucia Hortelano, EU Senior Policy Manager at ProVeg International. “Farmers told us clearly that support for diversification still exists mostly on paper. Translating shared EU objectives on protein and food security into instruments farmers can actually use, investment support, access to markets, a protein crop sector under the CMO, is where the next CAP must deliver.”
The event comes at a key moment for European agricultural policy, with discussions underway on the future Common Agricultural Policy, revisions to the Common Market Organization, and the European Commission’s forthcoming protein plan.
Commissioner Hansen said: “We need to support farmers who are making EU agriculture more resilient through diversity. The next CAP, the CMO and the soon-to-be-published Protein Plan will support this process. The political direction is clear.”
Read the full Growing Resilience report here.
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Contact details for press officers:
ProVeg International: Gemma Chapman | Advocacy Communications Manager | [email protected]
Notes for Editors:
- About ProVeg International: Our vision is a world where the food we eat is good for all people, animals, and our planet. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable global food system by making plant-rich foods and alternative proteins more accessible and appealing.
