European research on legume based cropping systems. Christine Watson, Fred Stoddard, Georg Carlsson, Erik Steen- Jensen & Donal Murphy-Bokern

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1 European research on legume based cropping systems Christine Watson, Fred Stoddard, Georg Carlsson, Erik Steen- Jensen & Donal Murphy-Bokern

2 What EU level systems relevant research is going on? FP7 Legume Futures ( ) FP7 Eurolegume ( ) FP7 Legato ( ) European Parliament Environmental impact of protein crops in the new CAP (2013) Marie Curie Training Network Legume Plus Future directions

3 Legume-supported cropping systems for Europe Assess the wider role of legumes in European farming systems -Agronomic, socio-economic & environmental criteria -Use of experimental and modelling approaches Design novel legume-based cropping systems for Europe Process level Crop production and quality N fixation in different legumes Nitrous oxide emissions Biodiversity Rotation generation Europe/Region Barriers to legume use Non-food uses of legumes N fixation at continental scale Impact of legume based rotation

4 How do the grain legumes compare? (kg of N per t of grain) Grain N Total N Fixed N N balance Residual N Chickpea Common bean Faba bean Lentil Lupins Pea Soya bean Vetches

5 Total 206 thousand t (Gg) of N fixed in Europe Vetches Chickpea Common bean Soya bean Faba bean Pea Lentil Lupin 5

6 Eurolegume

7 Project Objectives - Eurolegume Overall objective of the project is to improve the sustainable production of leguminous crops and their multipurpose use in a changing climate, ensuring new varieties and new food and feed products, broadening the production area and thus turning EU more competitive and sustainable. This general objective entails specific objectives, which involve: Description of Biochemical and morphological features of the most valuable genotypes of pea (Pisum sativum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and cowpea/black-eye-bean (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) local genetic resources for the development of new varieties for food and feed and further use in breeding; Development of new food and feed products with a comprehensive characterization of the nutritive value from available European varieties of pea, faba bean and cowpea; Selection from germplasm bank and native strains of most appropriate rhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi to support nitrogen fixation and development of new, commercial inoculants; Introducing of leguminous (pea, faba bean and cowpea) in the production agricultural systems in order to enhance the sustainability (i.e. keeping a reduction on gas emissions) of these systems and improve the yield and the economical overall benefit of the farmers; To give an added-value (as feeds) to products from legume grain production residues

8 To contribute to the increased sustainable reintroduction of grain legumes in European cropping systems Pea, faba bean, and with specific objectives on white lupin and grass pea Focus on the identification and testing of novel legume breeding lines possessing valuable characters such as disease and pest resistance and quality for human consumption.

9 Legato - WP5 Grain legume crop diversification and symbiotic performance Task 5.1: Design and multi-criteria sustainability assessment of GL-based systems Task leader: INRA Grignon Task 5.3: Preventing biotic stress (disease, pest and weeds) by crop diversification Task leader: CSIC Task 5.2: Agronomic performance of diversified GL crops Task leader: SLU Task 5.4: Inoculation requirement of pea and faba bean and selection of strains Task leader: INRAMontpellier

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11 Project objectives LegumePlus will provide training for 14 Early Stage Researchers and 2 Experienced Researchers in professional skills in the context of research on bioactive legumes. The objectives and contributions of LegumePlus cover the mechanisms of bioactive constituents in forage legumes in order to Achieve better protein use efficiency (Objective 1); Reduce methane gas production (Objective 2); Enhance the quality of milk and meat products (Objective 3); Inhibit parasitic worms (Objective 4); Integrate and generate knowledge to improve selected European legumes (Objective 5). This research will develop new targets for plant breeders to develop improved legume cultivars.

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13 EIP-Agri Focus Group on Protein Crops 6/16/

14 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 2014, then a broader meeting Nov members from 11 countries Breeders, extension officers, feed scientists, feed manufacturers, advisors, farmers 6/16/

15 The 8 constraints and opportunities that we considered for 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 6/16/

16 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 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 6/16/

17 CAP Reform Proposals CAP Reform Agreements New CAP implementation EP report Protein Crops EIP Focus Group Report DAFA Legumes Research Strategy and Federal Protein Crops Strategy Thematic Networks H / FP7 Legume Futures FP7 Legato FP7 Euro Legume

18 Some thoughts to take home Many relevant national projects Growing more legumes requires farmers to want to grown them future research much reflect this! Needs interdisciplinary approaches. Changes are needed in the genetic material but importantly in farming systems and the supply chain Need a joined up approach to technical change and innovation Thematic Networks are an opportunity now!

19 Useful links EP report: n/2013/495856/ipol-agri_et(2013)495856_en.pdf EIP report: EIP journal article: 21/ocl html