Europeans love their meat, but we're eating way too much of it—and it's harming both our health and the planet. A new report commissioned by the EU is shaking things up, revealing that our heavy consumption of animal protein is far beyond what’s recommended, contributing to climate breakdown and environmental destruction. Now, key players across agriculture, environmental groups, and policymakers are agreeing: it’s time to cut down on meat and rethink how we farm. This could be the start of a food revolution that shifts Europe’s diet towards healthier, more sustainable plant-based options.
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European diets are heavily weighted towards meat, with many citizens consuming far more animal protein than is deemed healthy. According to health guidelines, adults should eat no more than 70g of red and processed meat a day. However, studies show that Europeans consume, on average, nearly twice this amount. The overconsumption of meat is not only linked to various health risks, such as heart disease and cancer, but it is also a leading contributor to environmental damage.
The report underscores this issue, stating that European diets are significantly out of balance. It stresses the need for better education, stricter marketing regulations, and even voluntary buyouts of farms in regions where livestock farming is particularly intensive. These measures aim to steer Europe towards more sustainable and health-conscious dietary habits by prioritising plant-based proteins over animal-derived ones.
One of the report's key recommendations is the establishment of a "just transition fund" to support farmers in moving away from livestock-heavy operations and adopting more sustainable practices. Farmers, understandably concerned about the economic consequences of reducing meat production, have historically resisted such changes. Von der Leyen, addressing these concerns, assured that "Only if farmers can live off their land will they invest in more sustainable practices. And only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together will farmers be able to continue making a living."
This shift marks a departure from the often tense and confrontational atmosphere that has characterised discussions around agricultural reform. Peter Meedendorf, president of the European Council of Young Farmers, welcomed the outcome of these negotiations, noting that it signified a move away from setting unattainable goals for farmers to actually implementing collective and strategic changes in a way that benefits both farmers and the environment.
A crucial part of this transformation lies in reforming the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has long been criticised for prioritising large-scale livestock farming over more sustainable agricultural practices. CAP subsidies, which represent a third of the EU's budget, have disproportionately benefited larger farms, often to the detriment of the environment. A 2023 study published in *Nature Food* revealed that the EU allocates four times more financial support to animal farming than to plant-based agriculture, effectively making unhealthy and environmentally damaging diets "artificially cheap."
The report calls for a fundamental overhaul of this system, with a focus on redirecting subsidies towards practices that promote environmental sustainability. Ariel Brunner, Director of BirdLife Europe, hailed the report as "a victory for our farmers, our environment, and our future—if politicians will have the courage and integrity to act on it."
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of this shift will be changing deeply ingrained cultural habits. While the report stops short of setting explicit targets for reducing meat production, it makes several recommendations aimed at changing consumer behaviour. These include offering free plant-based school meals, implementing more detailed food labelling, and reducing taxes on sustainable and healthy food products. These measures aim to encourage Europeans to eat less meat without imposing strict mandates.
Agustín Reyna, Director General of the consumer group BEUC, acknowledged that while the report could have gone further in addressing issues around livestock farming, it presents a balanced and comprehensive vision. "Consumers are willing to play their part in the transition, yet they need a hand," he said.
The recommendations in this report come after seven months of negotiations between farming lobbies, environmentalists, and policymakers. These discussions, chaired by Peter Strohschneider, were an effort to reconcile the often conflicting interests of these groups. "To put it bluntly, things have developed in such a way that all too often agricultural production and its natural preconditions have become entangled in a lose-lose constellation," Strohschneider said.
The report outlines technological solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming, such as improved livestock feed and better manure management. It also calls for policymakers to classify the agri-food sector as a "critical entity" that deserves preferential treatment and increased financial support for adopting sustainable practices.
Europe faces a critical moment in its approach to food and farming. The recognition of our overconsumption of meat and the environmental damage caused by livestock farming signals the start of a long-overdue shift towards more sustainable diets and farming practices. As Greenpeace’s Marco Contiero observed, the discussions began on a highly polarised note but resulted in constructive engagement from nearly all parties. "If we are taken out of the usual state of confrontation—and unbalanced, unfounded statements—we see that we can agree on a large number of issues," he said.
While the report represents a significant step forward, the real challenge will be whether European policymakers and citizens have the will to follow through on these recommendations. If successfully implemented, this plan could usher in a new era of agriculture in Europe—one that benefits farmers, consumers, and the planet alike.
- Excerpts from the commissioned report on Europe's food and farming sectors.
- Quotes and insights from stakeholders like Agustín Reyna, Peter Meedendorf, Ariel Brunner, and Marco Contiero.
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