Scaling up the cultivation of protein-rich crops is waiting for an impulse

The Netherlands wants to grow more vegetable proteins from its own soil for human consumption. A lot of work is still needed for this, according to the first results of the 2022 agricultural census of Statistics Netherlands. In the Netherlands, protein-rich crops are grown on 9.500 hectares for human consumption, as animal feed or as green manure. 6.700 hectares of this is alfalfa, which is grown as animal feed and green manure.

The protein-rich crops take up about 0,5% of the total Dutch agricultural area. The area of ​​protein-rich crops such as alfalfa, field beans and soybeans is 1% larger this year than last year, according to the agricultural census 2022 by Statistics Netherlands. The alfalfa area has been declining for years, this year by 8%. The acreage of soybeans doubled to 185 hectares.

Last July, the Minister of Agriculture, together with 56 parties, signed the new Green Deal Protein-rich crops. This should contribute to the National Protein Strategy that was presented in December 2020, which aims to make the Netherlands more self-sufficient in new and vegetable proteins over the next five to ten years. 

In the Netherlands, entrepreneurs mainly cultivate for human consumption. This mainly concerns soybeans and lupine beans, including as raw materials for meat substitutes, reports the CBS. Field beans and field peas are grown as forage crops. The area of ​​field beans grew this year by 538 hectares to 2.020 hectares, an increase of 36%. The acreage of sweet lupine grew 42% from 84 hectares in 2021 to 120 hectares this year.

Acreage of soybeans in the EU shrinks a fraction
The EU aims to reduce dependence on imported soy by, among other things, growing more soybeans itself. That is not possible for the time being. In the European Union as a whole, the acreage of soybeans decreased from 1.000 hectares to 940.000 hectares. The largest soybean growers in the EU are Italy, France and Romania, where soy is grown on 285.000, 154.000 and 139.000 hectares respectively.

Linda van Eekeres

Linda van Eekeres is co-writing editor-in-chief. She mainly focuses on macro-economic developments and the influence of politics on the agricultural sector.

l.vaneekeres@boerenbusiness. Nl

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