ESAAF high-level Science-Policy event

Diversifying Proteins for Sustainable Food Systems and Farmers

13-feb-2026 | European Parliament, Brussels

About the event

Organised by: European Science Alliance for Agriculture and Food (ESAAF) Date & Duration: 13 February 2026, 3.5 hours (09:30 - 13:00)

Location: European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Bruxelles, Belgium

Room: Spinnelli ASP 5E2

Format: Pitches followed by Roundtable

Participants: Scientists, EBAF members and DG AGRI, DG SANTE, MEPs

The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture (2024) calls on the European Commission to develop, by 2026, an EU Action Plan for Plant-based Foods and to foster innovation and investment in alternative proteins and to strengthen plant-based value chains from farmers to consumers. The recently published Vision for Agriculture and Food by the European Commission (2025) also stresses the need to expand and diversify protein production across the EU in alignment with sustainability goals, in order to strengthen food sovereignty. A comprehensive policy plan is announced to address these challenges, integrating policy, research and on the ground efforts to create a more self-sufficient and sustainable EU protein system.

These policy developments reflect a growing recognition that diversifying Europe’s protein sources, from crops and livestock to aquatic, microbial, and novel proteins, is essential to strengthen competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability across the agri-food system. This includes both protein crops and vegetables as part of plant-based products, while also leaving room for emerging technologies such as cell-based and precision-fermented proteins.

ESAAF brings together leading european public research institutes and universities with recognised expertise across protein systems, combining scientific excellence with strong applied research capacities. This positions ESAAF to deliver independent and evidence-based scientific input, reflecting Europe’s diversity of agri-food systems, to support the design and implementation of EU policies on protein diversification. This roundtable will bring together researchers and policymakers, to identify how science can concretely help design and implement Europe’s protein diversification agenda.

Objectives

  • Translate the Strategic Dialogue’s and Vision's protein-related recommendations into actionable scientific priorities.

  • Showcase cutting-edge research on plant, animal, aquatic, microbial, and alternative protein systems.

  • Discuss the economic and social dimensions of protein diversification

  • Identify opportunities for cooperation between ESAAF, EBAF, the European Parliament and the European Commission to support the Action Plan for Plant-based Foods and the forthcoming Protein Strategy.

Featured speakers

Program

Omnia

Location

European Parliament

Room: Spinnelli ASP 5E2

Rue Wiertz 60

1047, Brussels, Belgium