The EU-funded Smart Protein Project was founded to develop alt-protein products that are healthy, environmentally friendly, and increase food security. And it thinks four crops — lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, and quinoa — could be the answer.
EU-Funded Research Explores Sustainable Protein Alternatives for European Agriculture
A recent EU-funded study, part of the Horizon Programme, showcases efforts to diversify protein sources and reduce the environmental impact of food production. The research focuses on plant-based proteins, legumes, and innovative food products as part of a wider strategy to address the environmental burden of animal farming, which is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Farm trials show agronomic benefits of legumes On her organic dairy farm in southeast Ireland, Marianne Mulhall has seen firsthand the benefits of crop rotation involving legumes like peas and beans. This method helps capture nitrogen from the atmosphere, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, which have become increasingly expensive. “This is good for farmers, as fertilizer prices have gone through the roof in recent …