There is a chance to catch up with some of the case study leaders in the TRUE project (‘TRansition paths to sUstainable legume based systems in Europe’) through video interviews recorded during a meeting of the Atlantic Legume Innovation Network held earlier this year.
The project has established three of these innovation networks to reflect Europe’s pedo-climatic regions (the others are Continental and Mediterranean), each bringing together a collection of the project’s 24 case studies. These case studies reflect the make-up of the project, which includes not only researchers but growers and processors.
In the recently uploaded videos, Geoff Squire, from Scotland’s James Hutton Institute, which is coordinating the project, discusses the positive role legumes can play in more sustainable agricultural systems, for example, by improving soil health. He stresses the need to change behaviour right through supply chains, from farmers to processors and consumers, and the importance of creating new products in addition to growing more legumes and growing them better (new products include feed for aquaculture and bean-based beer).
An interview have also been conducted with Francis Rayns, from Coventry University’s Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, who is leading two case studies, including an examination of heritage varieties which offer particular beneficial qualities but are no longer commercially available. Also interviewed is Dave George, from Stockbridge Technology Centre, who is leading a case study demonstrating how, using precision agriculture techniques, cereals can be grown with a legume undercrop.
Ultimately, the project has two major objectives: identifying the “key factors that demonstrate successful use of legumes in a range of production systems with related quality chains, and the historical drivers that supported the transition” and “a final Decision Support Tool for primary producers, agronomists, processors, associated businesses and decision makers to determine a range of options for successful transitions that include a range of legume species to match the pedo-climatic zones and farm network types”.
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