Plant proteins the European perspective

Transcription

1 Plant proteins the European perspective Fred Stoddard Department of Agricultural Sciences, Univ. Helsinki frederick <dot> stoddard <ät> helsinki <dot> fi 12/5/2014 1

2 Quick background EU definition: protein crops = pea, faba bean, lupins (3 spp), dehydrated alfalfa Grain legume areas have crashed, production increased slightly over last 50 years We reported to the European Parliament, informing it about the potential value of the 9 options available to it for increasing protein crop production 12/5/2014 2

3 Using crop and soil science, economics and sociology to inform policy 12/5/2014 3

4 Area (Million ha) European legume areas have declined Soybeans Pulses, other Peas, dry Lentils Chick peas Faba beans Lupins Beans, dry Year 4

5 Growth in poultry and pig meat consumption is the major driver behind increased plant protein imports Growth in poultry and pig meat consumption is the major driver behind increased plant protein imports Million t FAOstat FAOstat Beef Poultry meat Net soya import (bean equivalent) Pig meat Grain legume production Fertiliser-N consumption 5 13

6 Why don t Europeans grow legumes? 12/5/2014 6

7 EIP-Agri Focus Group on Protein Crops 12/5/2014 7

8 Analysis of gaps EIP-AGRI: European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability Launched by the European Commission to promote rapid modernization by stepping up innovation efforts Focus Group on protein crops set up in 2013, met Oct 2013 & Jan members from 11 countries, including me Breeders, extension officers, feed scientists, feed manufacturers, advisors, farmers 12/5/2014 8

9 EIP-AGRI in a nutshell (from EIP advertising) Aim: Fostering a competitive and sustainable agriculture and forestry sector that achieves more from less Approach: Closing the innovation gap between research and practice and forming partnerships by: Using the interactive innovation model Linking actors through the EIP-AGRI Network 12/5/2014 9

10 Key factors determining alternatives to soya High ileal digestibility of the essential amino acid lysine NB: NOT simply lysine concentration Competitiveness of the alternative to arable farmers The availability of large volumes to the industry Defined and discussed at the first meeting in Oss, Netherlands Key constraints and opportunities identified by the panel 8 most important determined by a vote 12/5/

11 Our view of how the protein sources interacted with market levels Oil crops (soya, rape) Local market, local consumptio n Regiona l market, adapted crops Continental global market, large-scale production Starch crops (faba, pea) Forage crops (alfalfa, clovers) 12/5/

12 The 8 constraints and opportunities that we considered for the next 3 months 1. Breeding chain and genomics 2. Yield improvement and stability 3. Transition: developing or adapting a value chain 4. Crop diversity 5. Mixed cropping 6. Extension and farmer s unfamiliarity with protein crops 7. Diversification of the livestock chain 8. Sustainability and transparency demands 12/5/

13 At the second meeting (Valladolid), for each of the 8, we considered Knowledge infrastructure Physical infrastructure Market structure Co-operation and interaction Values and beliefs 12/5/

14 Part of the task: an economic exercise Given current prices of protein, starch and oil, how competitive are the crops? 12/5/

15 Yield increases needed to match value of wheat Crop Current yield (t/ha) Desired yield (t/ha) % increase Oil produced (Tg) Starch produced (Tg) Soya % Rape % Sunflower % Lupin % Pea % Faba bean % Alfalfa % /5/

16 Gaps are large but, for faba bean and alfalfa at least, achievable: desired yields already obtained by good farmers in many countries Legume starches have high value for some food uses than cereal starches: value gap is probably lower Giving incentive to food applications raises the potential value of the grain legume crop (meat and dairy substitutes) Concerted action on yield and stress resistances can accelerate reduction of the value gap And will benefit other regions if we go about it right So while all crops need adaptation to climate change, legumes need it more, and can help moderate it 12/5/

17 Attention needed: Crop breeding Public support identified as necessary Closing the yield gap (potential achieved) Agronomic interventions Crop diversity Gives many socio-economic and environmental benefits But the diversity of legumes spreads resources thinly Extension and farmers unfamiliarity 12/5/

18 An important additional conclusion Value-added chains are essential Generating food uses will allow the infrastructure and farmer experience to develop, which will then allow wider scale cropping for feed uses 12/5/

19 More detail EP report: s/etudes/join/2013/495856/ipol- AGRI_ET(2013)495856_EN.pdf EIP report: protein-crops EIP journal article: html 12/5/