News Legumes
What about the protein ambition?
The cultivation of protein crops is attracting renewed interest in the Netherlands. Both for locally grown animal feed and human consumption. Legumes such as field beans, soybeans and lupins are extremely suitable for this. What about this cultivation?
Statistics Netherlands recently published the provisional acreage figures for 2020. This also gives an idea of the state of the ambition to produce more locally grown protein. Remarkable shifts are noticeable.
Protein cultivation remains marginal
This year, 4.280 hectares of pulses will be grown in the Netherlands. This is an increase of 290 hectares compared to last year and the largest acreage in 20 years. Yet it still remains a very small arable crop. Only 0,9% of the total arable acreage is used for protein cultivation.
Field bean above 1.000 hectares
The cultivation of field beans has been on the rise since 2014. This was partly used by the arrival of hardy varieties. These are sown in October-November and harvested at the beginning of August. Field beans produce a relatively large amount of protein per hectare that is widely applicable. In addition, the beans can be consumed. The acreage has increased by 150 hectares this year to 1.100 hectares. The cultivation has doubled in 4 years. It is not a record, because in the 80s cultivation covered a considerable area. With the disappearance of incentive schemes and the arrival of cheap soy imports, cultivation has almost completely disappeared in our country.
Also in 2014, the cultivation of soybeans in the Netherlands started with serious ambitions. The Northern provinces even agreed to increase the acreage to 10.000 hectares. This year, however, the acreage of the protein-rich bean has plummeted to 140 hectares. A minus of 40% compared to last year. Part of this acreage is cultivated for fresh soybeans, which are sold as a vegetable crop. Due to the wet autumn last year, the harvest of this crop was problematic. The returns are not always easy either. Growers therefore have less confidence in soy. To make the bean successful, varieties are required that can deliver a good yield under Dutch conditions and, above all, are ready for harvest early.
Explosive kidney bean growth
There is another noticeable shift in the CBS list, namely; the acreage of kidney beans. This has exploded by 710 hectares to a total of 2.120 hectares. The area has not been this big in 20 years. It is a genuine Zeeland crop, where arable farmers have clearly found renewed interest. Cooperative CZAV is looking for ways to generate more sales for the brown bean and is working together with Meatless to use protein for the production of vegetarian meat.
Another reason for this increase must be sought in the weather. Little winter wheat and barley could be sown last autumn. The acreage of summer cereals increased, as did that of other spring crops. Zeeland arable farmers, who have been strongly influenced in recent years by erratic growing seasons, are also looking for alternatives for, for example, the cultivation of onions. Nationally, protein cultivation from legumes still has a long way to go. Various companies, such as Cosun and Avebe, focus on the vegetable protein market, which also appears to be very lucrative in these times. If it is to be interesting for the farmer, a fully-fledged sales market with profitable sales prices is required. As long as the import of cheap protein continues unabated, that will remain wishful thinking.
Niels van der Boom
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