INTERVIEW Alternative Proteins Magazine October 2025 49 ered a powerful correction to the European Commission's vision for protein. EU Member States rejected a strategy disproportionately focused on plants, demanding a truly inclusive approach that embraces all sustainable solutions—including insect farming. This political consensus is a game-changer for investors and innovators. It confirms that Europe is finally ready to back its ambitions with a regulatory environment fit for the 21st century. The Council didn't just voice criticism; it laid out a clear action plan: 1. Cut the Red Tape: With countries like Sweden and Finland leading the call, the Council demanded faster novel food authorisations to get innovative proteins to market. 2. Prioritise European Production: Member States called for binding targets and CAP support to build a sovereign protein supply chain. 3. Embrace Circularity: The Netherlands highlighted the absurdity of current regulations that stifle insect farming—a sector that uniquely upcycles food waste into valuable feed. This shift aligns perfectly with IPIFF's advocacy. We welcome Commissioner Hansen's commitment to address these points, recognising our sector's immense potential. The message from the Council was unequivocal: The future of EU protein is diverse, circular, and innovative. It's now time for the Commission to act on this mandate and deliver a strategy that harnesses the full power of European innovation. A recent LCA commissioned by DEFRA suggested that insect proteins could have a much greater impact on the climate than soybeans. Some stakeholders argue that the study has methodological limitations. How do you assess these findings, and what is IPIFF's stance on providing reliable sustainability assessments for insect protein? We welcome scientific scrutiny but share the UK Insect Bioconversion Association's significant concerns about the DEFRA study's methodology. Its conclusions are unrepresentative of the modern insect sector because they rely on outdated, small-scale data; ignore the core circularity of our waste-valorisation model; and were developed without industry input. In conclusion, the DEFRA study is a snapshot of a past that no longer reflects the reality of a rapidly innovating industry. The true picture of insect protein is one of a circular, low-impact solution, and we are committed to providing the robust data to substantiate this. We stand ready to engage in an informed, science-driven dialogue on building a sustainable food future. Beyond critiquing flawed studies, we are proactively building the foundation for better ones. China aims to reduce the share of soybean meal in animal feed to 10% by 2030 for greater selfsufficiency. The country is also promoting new sources, such as insect protein, as alternatives during this transition. How do you interpret this development in terms of global protein markets? China's new policy to reduce soybean imports is a pivotal signal of a strategic reordering in the global Photo: MDV Edwards | Shutterstock
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