This position is based at our Luxembourg headquarters and require regular office presence. The EIB offers you the opportunity to live and work in a truly international and multi-cultural environment.

The EIB, the European Union's bank, is seeking to recruit for its Projects Directorate (PJ) – Environment & Natural Resources Department (ENR) – Bio-economy Division (BIOEC), at its headquarters in Luxembourg: TRAINEE

Duration: 5 months (fixed start date: 1st September/October 2025)

(With possible extension up to 6 months if required by University)

Please note that, as marked on our Webpage, only applications from nationals of the Member States of the European Union, as well as citizens from countries that have been officially granted candidate status to join the EU, can be considered (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine).

Please note that applications from students under the Erasmus+ programme cannot be considered.

Please note that you are requested to limit your applications to a maximum of three traineeship publications. We will only consider and retain the first three applications submitted.

Objective of the traineeship

You will produce a report on the EU’s plant-based protein dependency, opportunities and challenges, analysing how European Investment Bank could address structural bottlenecks, support innovation, and align its investments in this space with broader EU goals (EU Vision for Agriculture and Food for 2030, Green Deal, Farm to Fork, Deforestation Regulation, etc.), supporting a shift toward more resilient, sustainable, and locally anchored protein production systems. The report will also examine how the EIB can play a catalytic role in fostering innovation and scale-up in the field of alternative proteins for human consumption, thereby contributing not only to food security and environmental goals but also to public health and dietary transformation objectives.

This Topic Encompasses Many Angles Of Study, And Depending On Your Background And Interests, Can Lead To a Deep Dive Into One Or Several Of The Following Sub-topics

• Historical, political & economical approach: Historical and structural factors behind EU protein dependency; impact of trade agreements (such as GATT and the Blair House Agreement) and EU prioritisation the cereal over protein crops, and current regulatory frameworks, structural bottlenecks and market gaps etc.
• Zootechnical, agronomic, or agro-industrial approach: Protein and nutrition needs of livestock and how to meet these needs (e.g., meadows (trefoil, alfalfa, etc.), alternative protein sources such as insect protein and algae, potential reintroduction of animal flour, etc.), potential of breeding alternative animal species; Is producing leguminous crop locally in Europe the best idea? Agronomic benefits and disadvantages of growing plant-based protein in Europe compared to the widespread cultivation of GM soybeans, which plant-based crops are best suited ?; Technical and economic viability of cultivating and processing high-quality protein crops for animal feed and human diets; Mapping of EU current protein collection and processing infrastructure, innovative protein extraction technologies, possibility to use by-products (like rapeseed meal, etc.).
• Foodtech and venture approach: Exploration of the different innovation (plant-based, fungi-food, lab-grown meat…) and recent venture capital financing rounds. Can Tech substitute farming? Plant based meat alternatives: Is there a continuous growth or is it just a hype? Precision fermentation: White elephant or true opportunity? Influence of demographics and cultural backgrounds, and real shift in dietary habits, role of public policy and institutional catering in mainstreaming alternative proteins; technological, financial, and regulatory bottlenecks to scale production.
• Broader systemic and exploratory approach on how to rethink our current agricultural systems: potential and limits of a deep agroecological transition to address EU Protein Dependency (e.g., returning to diversified, low-input farming systems, polyculture farms incorporating livestock for ecosystem services, recreating local value chains…), feasibility, limits, and constraint of such transition; how these transitions could integrate the development of sustainable, locally sourced proteins for human consumption, reducing pressure on land and imports while increasing circularity and resilience.
  
  

Responsibilities

You are expected to conduct research and analysis activity independently according to an agreed structure. You will hold weekly meetings with your supervisor and will agree on a working schedule at the beginning of the traineeship. Interviews with Environment & Natural Resources Department Bio-economy Division (ENR/BIOEC) division experts should be the starting point of the research/analysis activity. Your supervisor will facilitate interactions where needed. You will also be expected to assist the division in appraising ongoing projects and provide technical assistance in preparing reports, documents, and presentations related to the BIOEC Division's work.

Academic Qualifications And Professional Skills

• Final year of studies or University degree (preferably Master) ideally in one of these subjects: Agriculture / Agronomic Engineering or Economy, Environmental Engineering or Economy, Agro-industry Engineering, Natural Resources Economy, Rural Development, Agricultural and rural policies.
• Excellent knowledge of standard Microsoft Office tools.
• Knowledge of EU policies and regulation and relevant public / private markets in this field (Bioeconomy) would be an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English. Knowledge of other EU language would be an advantage.
  
  

Competencies

Find out more about EIB core competencies here

By applying for this position, you acknowledge the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the Information of the EIB Group. In case of selection for the position you agree to comply with all measures (policies, controls, document classification and management) implemented by the EIB Group to prevent unauthorized disclosure of any information or any damage to the EIB Group reputation.

We are an equal opportunities employer, who believes that diversity is good for our people and our business. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation/identity, disability or neurodiversity.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact the EIB Traineeship Recruitment team [email protected] who will ensure that your request is handled.

Your Application May Be Used For Another Campaign.

Please note that deadline for application is on the 20th May 2025.

More information on our EIB Traineeship Programme and Provisions for In-service training can be consulted on our EIB website; https://www.eib.org/en/about/careers/categories/traineeship-and-graduate.htm