At a meeting marking the ten year anniversary of its reference guide ‘Growing appetite for a healthy and sustainable diet: Soyfood production and consumption in Europe,' 'soyfood' manufacturers' group ENSA said EU institutions must "invest more in resource-efficient and healthy crops such as soy and other plant-based foods if they are to deliver on their commitment to move to more sustainable production and consumption."

Belgian Green MEP backed the group's calls; ENSA maintains that there is a growing trend in demand for plant-based foods in Europe and that the foods have a significant role to play in reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural production in the bloc.

Early next year, the EU Commission is due to release a communication on Sustainability in the food system. Those meeting in Brussels last week claimed increasing support for plant-based foods would boost production of healthy and sustainable foods – often alternatives to meat and dairy – with a reduced toll on increasingly scarce natural resources.

Reports from the UN and other key food policy organisations have drawn attention to the higher use of resources and pollution associated with animal agriculture, though attention is increasingly being paid to reducing many of the sector's negative externalities.

Even so, speaking at the event on 4th December, Bernard Deryckere, President of ENSA, said, "The modern agricultural sector is still characterised by unsustainable production methods which emit a significant amount of greenhouse gases and this needs to change. For example, using three times less land, 2.5 times less water and emitting 5 times less GHG Compared to dairy milk, soy drinks represent a viable solution for a resource‐efficient Europe. But despite the advantages of soy and plant‐Based foods being well‐known, these products still remain a niche sector in many EU Member states due to the lack of policy support."

MEP Bart Staes said EU policy makers are committed to an open debate on ways to increase agricultural sustainability and nutrition. He added, "We need a harmonised legislative framework in the EU to facilitate the distribution of more resource‐efficient alternatives to animal‐based production as well as more policy and educational initiatives to raise consumer awareness about sustainable foods available on the market."