Abstract
This article provides a description of the current European situation regarding protein supply. It calls for a more accurate assessment of the contribution of domestic feed materials to the EU protein balance sheet, in particular cereals. The article then looks at various options to improve the EU protein balance sheet and analyses the consequences of main EU policies in that regard, such as the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU biofuels policy. The last part of the article deals with the possibility to reduce protein consumption by the EU feed industry, by further increase of feed efficiency. Taking into account the need for the EU feed and livestock industries to remain competitive on a global market, as well as the strategic dimension of the EU protein deficit, this article calls for a pragmatic approach and recommends facilitating access to existing sources of vegetable proteins as a first step to improve the EU protein supply. The article also underlines the importance of research and development to improve the competiveness of EU protein crops, therefore reducing the need for public support.
Highlights
The debate around the European protein supply and the European protein deficit is attracting more and more attention
The article looks at various options to improve the EU protein balance sheet and analyses the consequences of main EU policies in that regard, such as the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU biofuels policy
The last part of the article deals with the possibility to reduce protein consumption by the EU feed industry, by further increase of feed efficiency
Summary
The debate around the European protein supply and the European protein deficit is attracting more and more attention. The EU protein deficit is not something new, the growing global demand for animal products, the limited availability of natural resources, such as land and water, bring. Of 45%, this represents 13.2 million tonnes of protein equivalent This is a very rough comparison[1] and the figures should be used carefully but it still shows that the contributions of EU cereals and of imported soybean to the European protein supply are of the same order of magnitude. This calls for a more sophisticated European balance sheet for proteins
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