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'The best protein from our own country'
In collaboration with an arable farmer or with their own cultivation, more and more livestock farmers are discovering the field bean. Without restrictive regulations, the acreage would grow much faster, says Nils van Straten of CAV Agrotheek. Field beans are the best alternative to soy.
The field bean is steadily gaining ground. Four years ago there was less than 300 hectares in the Netherlands, this year the area was 1.500 hectares. 10% of this is in the working area of CAV Agrotheek in North Holland. Technical advisor Nils van Straten of CAV Agrotheek expects the growth to continue. Because there are opportunities for both livestock farmers and arable farmers.
Alternative to soy
"Field beans are completely in line with this time. For livestock farmers, the cultivation of their own or regionally grown protein crops is becoming increasingly important. The use of imported soy is under discussion. In addition, there is an increasing demand for non-GMO soy in the market, making it very expensive. becomes," says Van Straaten. "Field beans are the best alternative. The quality of the protein is closest to that of soy."
rest crop
The benefits are also great for arable farmers. Van Straten: "You can incorporate field beans well as a rest crop, just like grains. Winter field beans and winter wheat are sown in the autumn and the harvest time is also comparable. The beans have a deep root, which is good for the soil structure." Added bonus: the legume's ability to fix nitrogen from the air. "We recommend a maximum of 20 cubic meters of slurry as starting fertilizer. You don't need extra nitrogen. This leaves you with about 60 kilos of space, which you can use for another crop. And you get a nice subsequent delivery of 50 to 80 kilos of nitrogen for the succeeding crop." winter field beans also match the greening requirements.
Collaboration arable farmer and livestock farmer
Viewed from the financial yield per hectare, wheat is still a strong competitor. Especially in view of the high grain prices of the past year. However, it cannot be ruled out that the beans will become more expensive. That depends on the still fledgling market for meat substitutes. Producers of veggie burgers and vegetable sausages are showing an interest in beans (protein), but this development is still in its infancy.
If demand from the food industry continues, it will become too expensive for livestock farmers to purchase field beans, Van Straten expects. In many cases it is better for them to work directly with an arable farmer. This is common in the working area of CAV Agrotheek, North Holland. Van Straten: "Exchanging land gives more space for potatoes or flower bulbs. The cattle farmer's grassland then turns into the rotation. This also includes the fact that the arable farmer grows field beans for the cattle farmer. Then it becomes a matter of awarding to each other. Of course a grower wants a good price, but he also wants to rent another 20 hectares of land next year."
Grow your own
Another option is to grow field beans yourself. "In terms of costs, that is more interesting. You then have no competition from the demand from human food." CAV Agrotheek supports livestock farmers with cultivation guidance. The advisor notices that the interest of dairy farmers is growing. In July, CAV Agrotheek and Limagrain organized a well-attended themed afternoon on field beans at a demo field in Slootdorp. Of the approximately fifty interested parties, half were livestock farmers. Van Straten knows that livestock farmers see field beans as an attractive option for protein from their own land and as a concentrate substitute.
The government should make room for a breakthrough, he says. Livestock farmers cannot properly combine field beans with the rules for the derogation. They stipulate that 80% of the land use is made up of grassland. "That's incomprehensible," he says. "The same government wants the acreage of leguminous plants to increase. According to the National Protein Strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the goal is a fivefold increase to 100.000 hectares by 2030. If you want that so much, it shouldn't be that difficult to find the conditions for the adjust derogation?"
Want to know more about field beans?
Read all about cultivation and nutritional value in our white paper
