Beef and lamb get 580 times more in EU subsidies than legumes, study finds

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondentFebruary 19, 2026 at 06:00 AM

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A Foodrise report reveals a significant disparity in EU agricultural subsidies, with beef and lamb receiving 580 times more funding than legumes in 2020. The analysis, based on academic research, highlights that the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) disproportionately supports meat and dairy production compared to plant-based alternatives. Specifically, meat and dairy received €39 billion in subsidies, while fruits and vegetables received €3.6 billion. Researchers argue that these subsidies contradict EU strategies promoting plant-rich diets for health and environmental sustainability. The report suggests that reforms are needed to address the imbalance and consider the full chain of subsidies flowing to livestock through feed.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

France 30% Leiden University 40% Martin Bowman 60% Anniek Kortleve 60% Foodrise ×270% Common Agricultural Policy ×280% European Union ×690%

Keywords

eu subsidies 100% beef and lamb 90% legumes 80% common agricultural policy 70% meat and dairy 70% plant-rich diets 60% environmental impact 50% livestock 40% foodrise 40%