The Foodrise report indicates that the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2020 allocated significantly more funds to support livestock farming with high emissions than to plant production. As a result, about 77% of all CAP subsidies—39 billion euros out of 51 billion—were directed towards animal products.
In particular, beef and lamb, which are major contributors to climate change, received subsidies in 2020 that were 580 times greater than those allocated for legumes such as beans and lentils.
Moreover, the dairy sector also received 554 times more CAP subsidies than nut and seed production, and in total, meat and dairy products received more than 10 times the funding compared to fruits and vegetables.
The Impact of Livestock Farming on the Environment
Animal products are responsible for 81-86% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU agricultural sector, while they provide only about 32% of calories and 64% of protein. Globally, the agricultural sector and food account for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, second only to fossil fuel combustion. According to CO2 Everything, a 100-gram serving of beef is equivalent to driving 78.7 km in a car and results in the emission of 15.5 kg of CO2.
In recent decades, the carbon footprint of livestock farming has significantly increased due to modern production methods and the large number of animals. Greenpeace emphasizes that about 60% of all mammals on Earth are farm animals, while only 4% are wild animals, and 36% are humans. Poultry accounts for 70% of all birds.
Each of these animals requires significant amounts of feed and space, leading to harsh conditions in industrial farms. Forests that absorb carbon are cut down to raise them. Numerous studies show that deforestation in the Amazon is linked to the growing demand for soy.
Despite stereotypes, soy is not actually intended for human consumption but is used as animal feed. WWF reports that nearly 80% of the world's soy harvest goes to feed animals, and its production has doubled in the last 20 years.
This situation is one of the main reasons why livestock farming pollutes the environment so significantly, in addition to fertilizer use and methane emissions from cows. We add an extra step in the food production process, wasting resources on growing feed instead of consuming them directly. According to Compassion in World Farming, for every 100 calories fed to an animal, we obtain only 40 calories in the form of milk, 12 calories of chicken, and just 3 calories of beef.
Unequal EU Subsidies
“It is scandalous that such a disproportionately large share of EU subsidies, amounting to billions of euros, is directed towards supporting high-emission meat and dairy production, distorting the diet of Europeans,” comments Martin Baumann from Foodrise (source in English).
“The situation with the CAP needs to change, and EU policymakers have a unique opportunity to shift course and take steps towards a healthy plant-based diet.”
Baumann also adds that such a transition could increase farmers' incomes, reduce dependence on imports, mitigate climate change, and improve the health of the European population.
“Plant-based products deserve a fairer distribution of CAP subsidies to ensure equal competitive conditions,” he asserts.
“Using EU funds to promote meat and dairy contradicts the EU's health and environmental goals and should be stopped immediately.”
Baumann urges EU policymakers to develop an Action Plan to promote plant-based products at all stages of supply and to create a fund to support farmers transitioning from livestock to plant production.
Changes in the EU Common Agricultural Policy
In 2024, the European Commission presented a report titled “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture,” which emphasizes that supporting the transition to plant-based products is critically important.
“By 2026, the European Commission must develop a Europe-wide Action Plan for the development of plant-based products to strengthen agri-food chains from farmers to consumers,” the report states.
A representative of the European Commission told Euronews Green that the CAP helps make the EU agricultural sector “a model of sustainable development,” noting that since 2003, most subsidies are no longer tied to production volumes.
“CAP subsidies now depend on compliance with various standards, such as environmental regulations and animal welfare rules,” he added. “Only about 10% of income support measures are directly or indirectly related to livestock farming.”
