UFOP calls on the EU to reconsider soy classification amid production concerns

Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) has urged the European Union not to classify soybeans as a feedstock with a high risk of indirect land-use change (high-iLUC). The association has appealed to EU agriculture ministers and the European Parliament to reject the European Commission’s proposal.

UFOP stresses that the iLUC debate requires a more balanced and differentiated approach, as pricing dynamics and farmers’ crop choices are driven by multiple market factors. According to the association, rapeseed pricing is largely influenced by trends in the vegetable oil market, while soybeans are primarily driven by their high protein content, which plays a key role in both valuation and cultivation decisions.

The group also highlights that soy oil is widely used in biofuel production and contributes to EU member states’ quota obligations, meaning any restriction could affect the bloc’s energy policy targets. UFOP therefore calls for a methodological review of the current iLUC assessment framework.

The association further notes that soybeans, peas and field beans are key protein crops in the EU and are becoming increasingly important as non-GM protein sources. They also support crop rotation systems and strengthen the stability of protein supply chains across the region.

UFOP concludes that expanding soybean production within the EU is both necessary and desirable to ensure food and energy security. Additional demand from the energy sector, it argues, could further support the development of the crop and strengthen its role in European agriculture.

Tags: EU, soybean, restrictions