Abstract

Partial shifts from animal-based to plant-based proteins in human diets could reduce environmental pressure from food systems and serve human health. Grain legumes can play an important role here. They are one of the few agricultural commodities for which Europe is not nearly self-sufficient. Here, we assessed area expansion and yield increases needed for European self-sufficiency of faba bean, pea and soybean. We show that such production could use substantially less cropland (4–8%) and reduce GHG emissions (7–22% current meat production) when substituting for animal-derived food proteins. We discuss changes required in food and agricultural systems to make grain legumes competitive with cereals for farmers and how their cultivation can help to increase sustainability of European cropping systems.

Keywords

Yield gap analysis; Faba bean; Soybean; Pea; Protein production

Published in

Global Food Security
2023, Volume: 39, article number: 100723

SLU Authors

• Lothrop Stoddard, Frederick

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Helsinki

• van der Wel, Jop

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Wageningen University and Research

• Watson, Christine

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

• van Ittersum, Martin

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Wageningen University and Research

UKÄ Subject classification

Food Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100723

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128286