Linking production, processing, and consumption of plant-based protein alternatives in Europe

To confront current sustainability challenges, the European Commission aims to transition towards plant-based diets as well as shorter, regionalized value chains. Legume-based meat and dairy alternatives (LBAs) are seen as an important tool in the food system transition, replacing protein from animals with high-protein plant-based sources. However, regionalized LBA value chains require the co-occurrence of legume producers, LBA manufacturers, and consumers, and we lack understanding of the current status and future potential for such value chains in Europe. In this article, we integrate publicly-available datasets with a web-derived inventory of LBA manufacturer locations to map the regional strength of LBA value chains across Europe. Using manufacturers’ visions and employee interviews, we complement the spatial analysis with an exploratory assessment of how actors perceive their role in a plant-based food system transition. Regions in north-western Europe demonstrate (moderately) strong value chains for regionalized LBAs, yet few regions contain all three value chain nodes. The absence of LBA manufacturers is the most widespread barrier for more regional value chains (particularly in Eastern Europe), suggesting a need for infrastructure and policies that incentivize innovation in the value chain and new connections between legume producers, processors, LBA manufacturers, and consumers. LBA manufacturers in our sample express diverse values and therefore could play complementary roles in sustainability transitions. However, global manufacturers are markedly less likely to have visions related to systemic change. Together, our results showcase the potential to expand regionalized LBA value chains to improve sustainability throughout the EU, but regionalisation may not be possible everywhere, highlighting the need for a cross-scale and context-specific approach to plant-based protein transitions.