Inside Grains & Commodities
EU does not fulfill protein ambitions
The area of protein crops is increasing in the EU, according to the European Commission. This is apparent from the recently published area forecast. If the forecast is correct, the acreage of peas, soya, field beans and lupins will be the largest in 4 years. However, there is also criticism of this growth. The German Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) calls the small increase in acreage 'a rather sobering development'.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe area of legumes in the EU will grow by approximately 2021% in 3 compared to 2020, amounting to approximately 2,5 million hectares. With 965.000 hectares, soy is the largest crop in this group and accounts for approximately 40% of the area. That is 3,2% more than last year and a record according to the Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft.
The cultivation of legumes in the Netherlands is very small
The area of peas and field beans is also growing by 3,3% and 3,1% respectively. Lupins are sown less often. The expected area drops to 169.000 hectares, 2,3% less than last year. In the Netherlands, the cultivation of legumes remains very small. The estimate predicts an area of approximately 2.000 hectares of field beans in the Netherlands. The area under soy, peas and lupins is too small to include in the forecast.
Unprofitable cultivation
According to the UFOP, European ambitions in the field of more own protein production are only being realized to a very limited extent. The committee believes it is important that more protein crops are grown in the EU, among other things to combat greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation in the Amazon and for GMO-free (feed) products. The big problem is that (feed) peas, soy beans and field beans do not yield attractive balances for European arable farmers. According to the UFOP, the EU is not taking sufficient measures to change this.
According to the UFOP, the consequences of the European Commission's 'farm to fork' strategy are reflected in the area development. Regional production must provide added value to the product. Growing legumes fits in with this as a crop for crop rotation and to stimulate biodiversity. In addition, legumes have the ability to fix nitrogen, which means less fertilizer is needed. But says the UFOP: "It all depends on whether the consumer is ultimately willing to pay for it."