EU funds Integrated Project for the promotion of vegetables
Ever since BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) revealed the danger of using animal derived protein to feed livestock, the EU has wanted to encourage farmers to grow protein-rich legume crops for animals. Indeed, grain legume crops such as peas, beans, field beans, chickpeas, lupins and lentils are currently underused by European farmers, despite having the advantage of reducing fertiliser and pesticide inputs. At present, Europe imports 70 per cent of its plant-derived protein, mostly as soya. For this reason, the European Commission is providing funding under the 'Food quality and safety' thematic priority of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to a extensive new Integrated Project called Grain Legumes ('New strategies to improve grain legumes for food and feed') for the promotion of plants as an attractive alternative source of protein for both livestock and humans. Scientists from 17 European countries and Australia will use the latest genetic technologies to develop new varieties of legume, as well as finding new ways of growing, treating, processing and using them. 'The strategy,' explained Dr Noel Ellis, the project coordinator from the John Innes Centre in the UK, 'is to accelerate plant breeding by using genetic testing techniques that can be applied equally to marker-assisted breeding or for the development of transgenic crops in response to the demands of users and consumers'. Currently, grain legumes, although better for the environment, are underused by European farmers, mainly due to yield inconsistency and a lack of relevant research into the effects of legume seed composition on the quality of animal feed. The project will, therefore, develop two complimentary approaches to realise the potential benefit of grain legume use in European feed. The first one is to improve the quality of legume seeds as a source of feed and the second is to stabilise the crop yields for legumes to encourage increased use by farmers. The objectives of Grain Legumes are fourfold, explained Dr Ellis, 'to define the impact and potential of improved grain legumes on animal feed; to understand the factors affecting grain legume seed quality and use; to develop the genomics and post-genomic tools needed to improve and sustain grain legume seed quality and supply; and to coordinate and integrate grain legume research, provide training in emerging technological approaches, and disseminate the results and transfer technology to industry.' The project will also develop links with other programmes on legume genomics to avoid duplication of effort, and an interactive technology transfer platform will be created to keep European plant breeding, food and animal feed companies informed of the results. 'The eventual outcome should be legume crops that are more attractive to European farmers so that, in future, Europe's citizens and animals can look forward to eating more locally grown pulses,' concluded Dr Ellis.