The Processors and Growers Research Organization (PGRO) recently published its report, Blueprint for UK Pulses in a post-Brexit world, arguing that the changes and challenges of Brexit present an opportunity for growers, researchers and traders to realize the full potential of pulses such as peas and beans or vegetable legumes.
The UK, like other European markets, relies heavily on imported soy for its feed protein requirements - the PGRO argues that increased UK pulse production would significantly offset such a trading and environmental imbalance.
"UK-produced pulses and legumes can be used to a much greater extent in animal production systems to reduce the reliance on imports. The main barrier to date is the continuity and reliability of supply. Policy encouragement for greater pulse and legume production would drive a consistent supply which feed producers could rely on. This would reduce their need to make forward commitments to soy and other imported raw materials," noted the report.
Roger Vickers, chief executive of PGRO, says the evidence for pulses and the environment shows that their inclusion in farming rotations significantly improves biodiversity, crop productivity and soil fertility while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
He acknowledges the challenges in developing a more dynamic UK pulse sector – the fact that pulses have a niche crop status has traditionally minimized commercial investment in them, resulting in limited productivity improvements.
Actions needed
The PGRO is confident that the UK can achieve the benefits of having a strong and healthy pulse sector, and its new report identifies strategic actions to achieve this.
The organization urges incentives for the feeding of UK-produced plant proteins to drive local demand and fuel production, and it outlines the importance of educating growers and the supply chain about the environmental and economic benefits of pulse production.
It also stresses the need to establish a market and research development platform - trade and research organizations must identify research priorities for pulse cultivation funding initiatives with a unified approach.
In addition, it wants public funds for public good research directed at agronomic risk reduction, developing UK traits for genetic improvements, pulse crop diversification and added value processing.
"The UK has many excellent academic researchers with world-leading expertise in legumes. If they were sufficiently supported by policies directed at the improvement of sustainable productivity, environmentally sympathetic production and legume performance, they would make a significant contribution to increased production efficiency and reliability. Associated investment in applied research with partnering organisations, networked for effective knowledge exchange to growers, would achieve rapid results."
Lupin cultivation in the UK
In March 2015, scientists at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) reported on the findings of a three-year industry backed project on growing lupins - LUKAA – in which they were involved. They concluded that such crops would provide a viable alternative source of soy grade protein for animal and fish feeds in the UK.
As well as IBERS, LUKAA included 10 industrial partners and another UK research institute.
“If the benefits anticipated by the engagement with this crop including those relating to food security and the reduced environmental impact from a shorter supply chain are to be realized, then suppliers and feed manufacturers need to work together to establish a stable platform for production,” said the researchers when publishing the outcomes of that project.
We recently reported on the first trials in a UK project looking at growing pulses, namely organic blue and white lupins, as a homegrown protein source for livestock production. The growers saw mixed results.
The initiative, which is backed by the UK Soil Association and Innovative Farmers, saw 12 organic farmers growing small plots of either blue or white organic lupins in 2017. The white variety largely failed, but the blue showed promise and could be competitive with either beans or cereals.
"The first year could not be called a success in crop yield terms. The weather pattern of dry drilling time and wet harvest time could not have been worse. We suffered a large number of complete failures and only a few crops showing commercial sized yields but in terms of learning what not to do it was very useful.
"We have learnt the key importance of seed bed preparation and seed variety, and this year we will build on the lessons of last year to show that we can achieve a reliable protein crop with the potential to replace beans as a cash legume in organic arable systems," Nigel Mapstone, project lead and ruminant expert, Mole Valley Farmers, told us.
Lupins can be used in dairy rations, with minimal processing, and, such, there would be no need to set up the kind of processing infrastructure linked to soybean cultivation.
The main problem in growing them organically is weeds. The farmers in this field trial used a range of weed control measures, with mechanical weed control proving the most effective.
Mapstone said the team is planning the second year of the Innovative Farmers field trials with a lot of confidence and enthusiasm. "As word spreads, more organic arable farmers are expressing interest in the project and the prospect of a new cash crop."