Pulses - EU Commission expects increasing harvest volumes
The European Commission forecasts an increase in legume harvests in the EU of a good 10 percent for 2024.* The picture for Germany and Austria for field beans, grain peas, sweet lupins and soybeans is different in some cases. In this year's harvest report, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food states that the demand for vegetable protein sources is increasing, which creates incentives for more domestic cultivation and promotes the use of these plants in food and animal feed. Both people and the environment benefit from pulses and their cultivation. They are an integral part of the "Planetary Health Diet".
The total area under protein crops in the EU is around 1.7 million hectares, the same level as the previous year. The four most important European grain legumes - grain peas, field bean, soybean and sweet lupin - are the main contributors to this growth.
The lion's share of arable land is used for the cultivation of soybeans, which are also classified as a legume. With a share of over 70 percent of the total harvest, soybeans are the dominant legume crop in the EU.* However, the estimates for soybeans in particular have been revised downwards due to the poor weather.
Protein crops in Germany and Austria
In Germany, the situation is somewhat different. Here, grain peas are the most widely cultivated legumes. This year, the area under cultivation increased by a good 9 percent to 129,000 hectares and the EU Commission's preliminary estimates document a massive increase in harvest volume of around 42 percent to 378,000 tons. Field beans in Germany also recorded a significant jump of just under 42% to 248,000 tons, with the area under cultivation almost identical to the previous year. Overall, the area under cultivation for the four crops mentioned increased by 3% to around 258,000 hectares**.
In Austria, the area under pulses is essentially constant compared to the previous year. The number one crop by far is soybeans. As in many parts of Europe, there has been a weather-related decline in harvest volumes. According to the EU Commission, the harvest fell by around 7 percent to 251,000 tons. The other protein crops only play a subordinate role. However, the harvest remains above the average of recent years due to good yields from the cultivated areas.***
Plant-based nutrition is a trending topic
Plant proteins are becoming increasingly popular in Europe. One reason for this is the increasing desire for balanced and sustainable alternatives to animal products. The proportion of people who eat vegetarian or vegan products every day has doubled in the last four years to around 10 percent.****
Field beans, soybeans, grain peas and sweet lupins have a high protein and fiber content. They are also a source of vitamins B1, B2 and folic acid as well as magnesium, iron, copper and zinc.
Pulses are not only an important part of a plant-based diet, but also have numerous benefits for the environment and nature. It is therefore a logical consequence that pulses are an integral part of the Planetary Health Diet. This is a nutritional concept developed by the Eat-Lancet Commission and provides for an intake of 75 g of pulses per day. In the Planetary Health Diet, the Commission shows how a future world population of 10 billion people in 2050 can be provided with a healthy diet within the Earth's ecological limits.
Positive contribution to the environment and domestic agriculture
A special role in the environmental benefits of pulses is played by rhizobia - bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants. The plants supply the bacteria with vital nutrients through photosynthesis. The bacteria, in turn, are able to bind nitrogen from the soil air and release it to the plants. This benefits not only the "living community", but also the environment and agriculture, as less nitrogen fertilizer has to be used in arable farming. After the harvest, nitrogen-rich plant residues remain in the fields, which in turn serve as fertilizer for subsequent crops such as wheat. The cultivation of legumes enriches the crop rotation, their flowers are an important source of food for insects and their roots loosen the soil. This improves soil quality and has a direct effect on the ecosystem. For example, studies have shown that the cultivation of legumes helps to increase earthworm populations. Earthworms play a key role in the ecosystem, particularly in aerating the soil and breaking down organic matter, which promotes soil fertility.
Sources:
*European Commission - Statistics on oilseeds and protein crops
** Federal Statistical Office - Evaluation "Arable land by main crop groups and crop types"
***Green Report 2024, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Austria
****BMEL Food Report 2024
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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