The latest release from the EUStrategy for European Life Sciences proposes, up to350 million euros in funding support will be provided to scale up the application of fermentation technology, to stimulate the potential of European food innovation, and to help the EU become a leader in the global life science sector by the end of this decade.

The strategy emphasizes that technology will play a key role in the development of new food ingredients, with advanced fermentation technologies, in particular, seen as having “ significant potential ” to produce sustainable food ingredients with a low environmental impact using renewable raw materials, covering a range of technological approaches including biomass fermentation and precision fermentation.

The process of biomass fermentation is similar to the production method of tempeh, which helps reduce waste by converting agricultural by-products into nutritious, delicious food and meat alternatives. Precision fermentation, on the other hand, is a process that has been used in the food industry for decades, such as rennet used in cheese production, and now European researchers and startups are using it to produce whey protein, as well as sustainable palm oil and chocolate ingredients.

While European start-ups and SMEs are at the forefront of driving these innovations, the strategy also points out that large-scale production still faces high costs and technological challenges. To this end, the European Commission plans to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing through the development of public-private partnerships and the organization of annual events to drive the commercialization of fermentation technologies.

GFI Europe believes that this strategy will help small and medium-sized enterprises commercialize the research results of the European scientific network in the field of food alternatives. A report released earlier this year shows that the alternative protein industry (including fermentation) could contribute 65 billion euros to the German economy by 2045 and create up to 250,000 jobs, provided that policy support is in place. Since such foods require less land, even a moderate push for protein production diversification could hope to divert 21% of arable land in the EU for organic farming or to enhance local food production.

Through the European flagship research project “Horizon Europe” providing150 million euros in funding to support the EU’s leadership in the sustainable bioeconomy and to drive the large-scale production of fermented food;

Under the“Horizon Europe”2026-2027program framework, an additional200 million euros are provided to support innovation and promote closer cooperation between researchers and businesses in the field of life sciences technologies (including alternative proteins) to drive sustainable development and key processes such as biomanufacturing;

Develop strategic research agendas for the food system, support open research, and address key challenges in improving the taste, texture, and cost of such foods;

Seeking scientific expert advice to enhance the public's understanding of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and addressing concerns from some consumers about plant-based meat and other foods.

GFI EuropeandPhysicians Association for Nutrition（PAN International）research found that the public'sUPFsmisconceptions may limit the acceptance of foods such as plant-based meat, despite studies showing that plant-based meat helps reduce "bad" cholesterol（LDL），reduce the risk of colorectal cancer，and improve intestinal health.

GFI EuropePolicy OfficerLea Seyfarthsaid: "We are pleased to see the European Commission recognizing the pivotal role of food innovation in driving the growth of the European life science industry and has proposed measures to unlock Europe's growing expertise in fermentation and other transformative technologies. The importance of food biotechnology has been elevated to the core of the Danish Presidency agenda, and this strategy is a significant step towards positioning the EU as a global leader in alternative protein, driving growth and reducing reliance on imports."