Offered: Limagrain
Growth for growing protein crops
The cultivation of protein crops in the European Union (EU) and the Netherlands is on the rise. Arable farmers and livestock farmers are more often including field beans in their cropping plans. At LG, sales of field bean seed have doubled in the past 2 years.
Interest in locally produced vegetable protein is increasing in various areas. In addition to new sales channels in human and animal food, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) also offers perspective. The EU Agriculture Commission is currently working on an EU protein plan to reduce protein imports. The plant is expected to be part of the CAP by the end of this year.
Valuable in the construction plan
When sales and balance offer sufficient prospects, cultivation quickly becomes interesting. Leguminous protein crops such as field beans are valuable. The crop itself binds nitrogen from the air and thus provides extra fertilization space for subsequent crops. As an intensively rooting rest crop, it has a healing effect on the soil and clears as early as grain, so there is every opportunity for a subsequent crop or green manure.
The sales opportunities for arable farmers are growing because animal feed producers have a greater demand for local and GMO-free raw materials. More vegetable protein is needed in human food, for example for the production of meat substitutes. On livestock farms, the crop can reduce the purchase of concentrates.
New winter variant
In 2016 LG introduced a new protein crop in the Netherlands: the winter field bean. Due to the sowing in the autumn, the yield potential of this winter variant is higher than with summer field beans. Yields of 7 to 8 tons per hectare are possible with an average protein percentage of 26 to 28%.
