New Report is Out!

April 2026

FUTURE-PROOFING THE CAP: REBALANCING EU SUBSIDIES TOWARD PLANT-BASED PRODUCTION

A Legal Assessment and Policy Proposal
for the Post-2027 CAP

Abstract:

This report provides a legal and policy assessment of how the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) shapes food systems, exposing a misalignment between public spending and EU climate, environmental, animal welfare, and food security objectives.

It shows that subsidies largely support livestock and feed-dependent systems, while under-investing in plant-based proteins for human consumption.

It identifies legal risks and growing exposure to judicial scrutiny, and proposes a reallocation of 20% of CAP support toward plant-based production to strengthen EU food security, plant-protein autonomy and sovereignty, and drive structural transition.

Report

Full document
53 pages

Download .pdf file

Executive Summary

Short version
4 pages

Download .pdf file

About the Authors

Report Coordinator
Dr. Sabine Brels (Director, Food Forward Europe)

Lead Author
Caroline Defois (Head of Research, Food Forward Europe)

Key Contributors & Supporting Institution
Helena Lettieri (Research Volunteer, Food Forward Europe), Cecily Luther, Serena Shah, Legal Clinic (University of Southampton, led by Dr. Omar Madhloom-Supporting Institution)

Reviewers & Contributors
Alessandro Ricciuti (Head of Animal Law Italia and Redefine Food, EU strategy lead at Food Forward Europe), Anna Spurek (CEO, Green REV Institute), ObSAF team

External Peer Review
Professor Daniel Sarmiento, professor in EU law and lawyer specialised in EU litigation.

Design and Layout
Flavia Groza, EyeSpark, eyespark.com

Referencing this Report
Food Forward Europe, Future-Proofing the CAP: Rebalancing EU Subsidies Toward Plant-Based Production, FFE Report, April 2026