Policies for a sustainable protein future
Plant-based and cultivated meat offer solutions to major national and global challenges.
As an NGO working towards a better food system, GFI Europe supports evidence-based policy and public research funding for these sustainable proteins.
Policy initiatives
The Good Food Institute Europe’s policy team focuses on three key areas to maximise the societal benefits of plant-based and cultivated meat.
Public sector investment in open-access research will maximise the societal benefits of sustainable proteins. Learn how GFI Europe secures public funding for research and development.
A clear regulatory path to market is crucial for consumer confidence in sustainable proteins. Learn how GFI Europe supports evidence-based regulation.
Clear labelling helps consumers to make informed and sustainable food choices. Learn how GFI Europe protects plain language for sustainable proteins.
Addressing Europe’s biggest challenges
Public R&D funding and supportive policies will ensure that sustainable proteins are affordable and accessible for all, helping to reduce the environmental impact of Europe’s food system, improve public health, and feed more people with fewer resources.
Meeting sustainability and health goals
Governments can’t meet their Paris climate agreement targets without building a more sustainable food system. Plant-based and cultivated meat address some of the major systemic causes of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Sustainable proteins are made in clean environments without exposure to faecal pathogens, and no antibiotics are needed – so these foods help to preserve life-saving antibiotics for human medicine. Their production eliminates zoonotic disease risks, helping tackle the leading causes of pandemics.
Transforming meat production will help governments to achieve their health and sustainability ambitions without relying on individual diet change.
Driving a strong economy
Scaling up the sustainable protein sector has the potential to add $1 trillion to the global economy, and countries like Singapore and Israel are already attracting major investment by providing supportive environments for plant-based and cultivated meat companies.
Europe has the scientific expertise and business leadership to become a world-leader in this field, but risks being left behind without public investment in R&D.
Just as they fund renewable energy development, the EU and national governments must support open-access research into sustainable proteins to maximise their societal benefits and create highly skilled jobs.
Creating choices for consumers
Today’s food system can’t keep up with growing global demand for meat.
Plant-based and cultivated meat expand the options available to consumers and deliver the foods people enjoy today – but produced in better ways.
We support evidence-based regulation so that more foods come to market safely and properly labelled, helping consumers to make sustainable choices.
Resources for policymakers
A menu of policy options for UK R&D to advance research and commercialisation of sustainable proteins in the UK
Why and how the UK government should invest in open-access research to capitalise on the potential of plant-based foods, cultivated meat and fermentation.
Techno-economic assessment of cultivated meat
Study of the cost of producing cultivated meat at scale, conducted by independent researchers CE Delft.
Lifecycle assessment of cultivated meat
Study of the environmental impact – including carbon footprint, land use, water use and energy use – of cultivated meat, conducted by independent researchers CE Delft.
Cultivated meat policy recommendations
How policymakers can maximise the societal benefits of cultivated meat in relation to climate change, antibiotic resistance and other areas of human, animal and planetary health.
Our submissions to policymakers
GFI Europe makes public submissions to policymakers to share our expertise on sustainable protein policy.
Our national-level work
Alternative Proteine in Deutschland
Wissenswertes zum deutschen Markt für pflanzenbasierte und kultivierte Fleisch-, Eier-, Milch- und Fischprodukte und für nachhaltige Lebensmittel auf Basis von Fermentation.
Sustainable proteins in the UK
Your guide to business, science and policy of plant-based and cultivated meat in the UK.
Our policy experts
Collaboration
GFI Europe works with allied organisations across the continent, including:
Latest policy news
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2022 has been another momentous year for plant-based foods, cultivated meat and fermentation.
Putting sustainable proteins on the table at COP27
GFI’s Seth Roberts was at COP27, talking to policymakers about how plant-based and cultivated meat can help build a more sustainable food system.
Green light for cultivated meat in the US should inspire European leaders to invest
Historic FDA decision paves the way for US consumers to access cultivated chicken. GFI Europe is calling on European leaders to ensure the benefits of cultivated meat are felt here…
Europe must build on research potential to become plant-based world leader
A new paper by the GFI Europe, Bridge2Food and the European Alliance for Plant Based Foods calls on the EU to create a long-term vision to make sure the continent’s…
GFI to bring food to the table at COP27
GFI will join 14 other organisations in co-hosting the first ever Food Systems Pavilion – to put food at the centre of discussions at the COP27 climate change conference.
Sustainable EU Food Systems consultation response
European Bioeconomy Strategy consultation response
EU Algae Initiative consultation response