The regional hubs in Türkiye, Greece, and Ukraine have been strategically selected for their unique position to become key players in the production and value-added processing of plant-based proteins.

These countries boast established agricultural systems with high yields of crops that have significant potential to become primary sources of protein, including oilseeds (such as sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, and groundnut) and legumes (including lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, and lupin).

These countries are located at the crossroads of important regions such as the Balkans, Caucasus, the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Eastern Europe, providing access to a potential market of 600 million people. This geographic advantage positions them as pivotal players in the global plant-based protein market.

There is a significant gap between the innovative progress seen in these regions and the more established EU nations, which have made substantial investments in plant-based protein research and development.