European Parliament ,
Brussels,
Belgium
The production and sourcing of proteins for the agrifood sector has repeatedly stimulated political debate at EU level. The COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine has made the need to move towards a greater European food production less dependent from few third country actors a top priority, especially in the area of plant proteins. This need has been heavily reflected by both the European Council; Versailles declaration of the Heads of State and Government of 10-11 March 2022, and the Commission; short-term and medium-term actions to enhance food security of 23 March 2022.
The seminar intends to bring together, field experts, interested stakeholders and policy makers in order to further develop protein production in an economically and environmentally sound way.
Among others, the seminar will focus on:
- Increase the EU production of sustainable produced protein crops in order to meet the demand.
- Availability of good plant materials. Investment in research and development with higher protein value and yields.
- Co-benefits of growing protein crops, nitrogen fixing, soils improvement etc.
- Investment in training and advisory for farmers, to spread the expertise on how to grow protein crops.
- Feed additives: New feed additives that reduce the emission from livestock’s.
- Sources of aquatic protein and different protein based feed for its production.
- Collaboration with the sector. Strategy developed from and for the sector.
- Enhance the whole protein value chain.
- Possibilities with alternative proteins, such as insects and algae
- The development and possibilities of plant-based proteins
Program
10.30 - 10.50 Opening session
Welcome & introductory remarks
- Emma WIESNER, Renew Europe MEP in AGRI and ENVI committees.
- Pierre BASCOU, Director General for Markets. DG AGRI, European Commission.
10.50 - 11.20 Panel I - Sources of plant and insect protein
- Göran BERNDES, Professor at Chalmers University of Technology - Protein extraction from grasslands. (online)
- Sandrine LAURET, Policy Manager at European Alliance for Plant-based Foods (EAPF) - From examples to reality: how European farmers and food processors can benefit from an EU Protein Strategy.
11.20-11.30 Questions from the audience
11.30-12.00 Panel II - Sources of aquatic protein and alternative feed for its production
- Christophe DERRIEN, Secretary General at International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) - Alternative feeds: insects
- Carlos BALD, Principal Researcher at AZTI Research Institute - Aquatic protein and its role in a sustainable food system
12.00 - 12.20 Debate and questions from the audience
12.20 -12.30 Closing session and conclusions
- Ulrike MÜLLER, Renew Europe MEP, AGRI coordinator
- Izaskun BILBAO, Renew Europe MEP, PECH coordinator
- Emma WIESNER, Renew Europe MEP in AGRI and ENVI committees
