The European Commission forecasts an increase in harvest volumes in the EU for legumes of a good 10 percent by 2024.* For Germany and Austria, the picture is somewhat different for field beans, grain peas, sweet lupins and soybeans. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food is reporting this year Harvest report finds that demand for plant-based protein sources is increasing, which creates incentives for more domestic cultivation and promotes the use of these plants in nutrition and animal feed. Both people and the environment benefit from legumes and their cultivation. They are an integral part of the “Planetary Health Diet”.
The total area cultivated for protein crops in the EU is around 1.7 million hectares, which is at the same level as the previous year. The four most important European grain legumes – grain pea, Field beans, soybeans and sweet lupine – contribute significantly to this growth.
The lion’s share of the cultivated area is used to grow soybeans, which are also legumes. With a share of over 70 percent of the total harvest, soybeans are the dominant legume in the Union.* However, the estimates specifically for soybeans have been revised downwards due to the bad weather.
Protein plants in Germany and Austria
In Germany the situation looks somewhat different. Grain peas are the most commonly grown legumes here. The cultivated area increased this year by a good 9 percent to 129,000 hectares and the EU Commission documented in its preliminary estimates a massive increase in the harvest volume of around 42 percent to 378,000 tons. Field beans in Germany also recorded a significant jump of almost 42 percent to 248,000 tons with almost the same cultivated area compared to the previous year. Overall, the cultivated area for the four mentioned grows by 3 percent to around 258,000 hectares**.
In Austria, the area cultivated for pulses is essentially constant compared to the previous year. The number 1 crop is by far the soybean. As in many parts of Europe, there is also a decline in harvest volumes due to the weather. According to the EU Commission, the harvest will fall by around 7 percent to 251,000 tons. The other protein plants only play a minor 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-based proteins are becoming increasingly popular in Europe. One reason is the increasing desire for balanced and sustainable alternatives to animal products. The proportion of people who use vegetarian or vegan products every day has doubled to around 10 percent in the last four years.****
Broad beans, soybeans, grain peas and sweet lupins have a high protein and fiber content. In addition, they are z. B. 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 legumes are an integral part of the Planetary Health Diet. This is a nutritional concept that was developed by the Eat Lancet Commission and calls for a consumption of 75 g of legumes 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 health-promoting diet within the earth’s ecological limits.
Positive contribution to the environment and local agriculture
The so-called rhizobia – bacteria that enter into a symbiosis with the roots of the plants – play a special role in the environmental benefits of legumes. 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 not only benefits the “living community”, but also the environment and agriculture, because less nitrogen fertilizer has to be used in agriculture. 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 the soil quality and has a direct impact on the ecosystem. For example, studies have shown that growing legumes helps increase earthworm populations. Earthworms play a key role in the ecosystem, particularly in aerating the soil and breaking down organic materials, which promotes soil fertility.
Sources:
*European Commission – Statistics on oilseeds and protein crops
** Federal Statistical Office – Evaluation of “Arable land according to main crop groups and crop types”
***Green Report 2024, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Austria
****BMEL Nutrition Report 2024
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About “THE FOUR FROM HERE!”:
“THE FOUR FROM HERE! Grain legumes from Europe for a sustainable diet” is a sales promotion campaign financed by the European Union with the goals of imparting knowledge about European grain legumes, improving their image and thus encouraging behavioral changes among consumers to promote a balanced and sustainable diet. This campaign is run by the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants. V. carried out from February 2024 to January 2027 in Germany and Austria.