22.03.2023
The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the "Model Demonstration Network for the Expansion and Improvement of the Cultivation and Utilization of Grain Legumes in Germany" (LeguNet) with around 5.2 million euros. The aim is to promote the cultivation, processing and utilization of legumes such as peas, beans and lupins with regional partners throughout Germany by 2025. The project joins the various nationwide networks already successfully funded by the BMEL's protein crop strategy since 2014. The new network builds on the experience gained and now brings together the work across different crop types.
The grain legume network will bring together stakeholders from research, extension, breeding, production, processing, trade and associations and demonstrate best practice examples. The demonstration of successful practical examples from agriculture and the downstream sector as well as the networking of the aforementioned actors takes place on a regional and supra-regional level.
In this context, ZALF is responsible for regional management in Berlin and Brandenburg as well as for the coordination of nationwide environmental assessments. In this context, ZALF accompanies on-farm trials and supports the development of value chains for legumes. As a follow-up project to the model demonstration network on lupins and soybean, in which ZALF was already involved, LeguNet opens up to all grain legumes. Besides the common grain legumes, chickpea, lentil and common bean are now also in focus, and thus also targets human nutrition to a greater extent than before, because there is a great need and interest in protein-rich alternatives to meat. In addition, ZALF is evaluating the environmental performance of legumes in crop rotations, for example the effect on greenhouse gases. The project is in close exchange with the CiLaKlima and Valpro Path projects, which are also based at ZALF. Since the approval in spring 2023, the first on-farm and on-station trials on various grain legumes have thus already been planned. Network building in the region is also underway and interested actors are welcome to join.
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