Protein diversification in Europe: risks and opportunities for sustainable food systems

Europe's protein system relies strongly on livestock production and imported feed. This generates environmental pressures within Europe and beyond its borders, while increasing exposure to supply-chain disruptions, market volatility and geopolitical risks. Protein diversification should therefore be understood not as a rapid replacement for livestock production, but as a gradual rebalancing of Europe's protein supply and consumption patterns alongside continued efforts to improve livestock sustainability.