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EU aims to cut dependency on U.S. soy, oilseed imports
Bloc wants 35% of oilseeds and protein crops used in animal feed to be EU-grown by 2035
Key Takeaways:
- The European Commission on July 7 set a goal for 35% of animal feed protein crops to be sourced domestically by 2035, up from 25% last year.
- The move aims to reduce reliance on imports from the U.S. and Brazil and address supply risks and environmental concerns tied to deforestation.
- The strategy includes boosting domestic production, diversifying imports toward partners like Ukraine and supporting farmers while scaling back strict emissions rules.
The European Union aims to increase the amount of protein feed crops, such as soybeans, that are sourced from within the 27-nation bloc, cutting its dependency on top suppliers like the U.S. and Brazil.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, wants 35% of oilseeds and protein crops used in animal feed to be EU-grown by 2035. That compares with 25% sourced domestically last year, according to the bloc’s livestock strategy and protein plan published on July 7.
READ MORE: China buys more U.S. soybeans as agricultural trade ramps up
Europe is one the world’s biggest suppliers of food products, from grains and dairy to pork and olive oil. But its livestock industry is heavily dependent on imports of protein crops, making the region vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Meanwhile, its citizens have long been concerned about deforestation in places like Brazil, with farmers staging protests in recent years against a trade deal with the Mercosur countries that include Brazil and Argentina.
The EU is also seeking to diversify its imports away from the Americas. An increase in trade from Ukraine is one way of achieving this, according to a commission official. Ukraine, which benefits from preferential trade rules, formally began the first stage of membership talks with the bloc last month.
Today, we act for EU agriculture.
2 strategies. 1 objective 👉stronger European food security
🐄Livestock Strategy
🫛 Protein Plan
For the 1st time, a single vision across the whole value chain.
↙️dependency
➕ resilience
➕ opportunities for farmershttps://t.co/bQiEjfD98U pic.twitter.com/SPP6gyGmsH — Christophe Hansen (@CHansenEU) July 7, 2026
The bloc will also look to use trade negotiations to boost Europe’s agriculture sector and enforce EU food safety standards, as previously reported by Bloomberg. The plan for livestock seeks to support a sector that generates 400 billion euros ($457 billion) in annual turnover and employs around 7 million people across Europe.
The strategy focuses on support for farmers and avoiding strict emissions-reduction criteria, a reversal from the EU’s Green Deal era. Still, it does include emissions monitoring and animal welfare measures, including a planned phaseout of cages for chickens and pigs.
